State reports two more Hill County deaths

The state COVID-19 tracking map update this morning listed two more COVID-19-related deaths than the Hill County Health Department reported in its last update Tuesday, with 71 deaths listed in the county.

The tracking map listed three news cases in Hill County with 20 active cases.

Hill County Health Department Facebook page said the department was closed to the public today to catch up on administrative duties although it would continue to monitor and respond to public health issues. Calls to the department this morning from Havre Daily News were not answered.

The state tracking map listed no new deaths in Blaine County, which its health department listed Wednesday as at 28, or in Choutueau County with eight deaths and Liberty County with two deaths.

The new deaths come as countries are implementing travel restrictions and imposing quarantines related to a new variant detected in several countries in southern Africa where the spread of the virus is surging. Scientists are concerned that the variant may be much more transmissible and resistant to vaccines.

No proof that those factors are true has been confirmed, but fears are leading to the restrictions including restricting travel from the countries and requiring quarantines for citizens of the countries imposing the restrictions if they are returning from the region.

Leading epidemiologists are urging people remain calm until more is known about the variant.