Another death, rising COVID cases in area

Hill County Health Department reported Thursday another COVID-19-related death, bringing the total in Hill County to 49.

The report comes as the delta variant-driven surge brings more new cases in the area and the number of active cases rises throughout this area because the number of new cases is higher than the number of people meeting the criteria to be considered recovered.

Hill County now lists 105 active cases, while Blaine County, which listed 13 new cases Thursday, has 54 active cases.

The number of active cases in Hill and Blaine counties had been dropping slightly as more people recovered than were confirmed with new cases.

The total of active cases in Hill County listed Wednesday, with 18 new cases and 30 recoveries, was 96. The listing Thursday raised the total by nine cases.

In Blaine County, the number of active cases started rising in Tuesday’s report, with a net gain of two cases that day. The total of active cases listed Thursday is 12 higher than that day.

And the number of new cases is going up rapidly in Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, with those numbers either included in Chouteau or Hill county numbers, and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, with those numbers included in either the Blaine or Phillips county numbers.

Rocky Boy Health Department reported Thursday 17 new cases but the totals were not available as the department worked to confirm the totals.

Fort Belknap reported six new cases with 23 active cases.

Havre Public Schools is also continuing to report cases associated with the school district, which are included in the numbers released by Hill County Health Department.

Havre schools reported three new cases in a release Thursday, bringing the total since Tuesday, the start of the school week, to 13 so far this week.

The total number of confirmed cases associated with the district since school started Aug. 25 is 31 confirmed cases.

Across the nation, and in this area, a much-higher rate of young people are being confirmed with the virus.

Whether that is due to the much-more contagious delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 being more likely to infect young people or just because more older people are vaccinated is unclear.

The vast majority of people contracting the virus during this surge is in unvaccinated people, with health officials saying the vaccines available in the U.S. continue to be effective at keeping people from getting COVID-19, from getting very sick and from dying, including from the variants that have been identified.

The top message from health officials continues to be for people to get vaccinated, and also to stay home if they don’t feel well, regularly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap or with a hand sanitizer including at least 60 percent alcohol, regularly wash and sanitize surfaces, and wear a mask when in indoor public spaces.

Thursday’s update from Blaine County Health Department said the department will continue to offer walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations Thursdays at the health department at 420A Ohio Street in Chinook. People can call 406-357-2345 with questions.

The Fort Belknap update Thursday said COVID-19 vaccinations are available and free for the general public for people 12 and older. People can call 406-353-3219 to schedule an appointment and walk-ins are welcome, it said.

In Hill County, vaccinations are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, 406-395-4305; the Hill County Health Department, 406-400-2415; Northern Montana Health Care’s Specialty Medical Center at 406-265-7831 or it’s family Family Medical Center at 406-265-5408; Western Drug Pharmacy, 406-265-9601; Gary & Leo’s Pharmacy, which takes walk-ins; Walmart; and the Rocky Boy Health Center, 406-395-1655.

Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Department, 406-622-3771, and Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588.

People can call Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517 to schedule a vaccination.