COVID surge continues in area

While the omicron variant-driven surge may be subsiding in some parts of the United States where it surged the earliest, cases are still high in this part of Montana.

Blaine County Health Department reported Friday that it was notified of 35 new cases that day with transmission very high.

"Blaine County has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases since last week," the department said in a release Friday, adding that the county is also seeing other viral activity to include influenza and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus.  Influenza vaccine is still available at the Blaine County Health Department, the release said, telling people to call for an appointment. 

The release also asked Blaine County residents to be vigilant.

"Wash your hands, cover your cough and sneeze, stay away from sick people, stay home when you're sick," it said. "All of these mitigation efforts will help control the spread of illness."

Hill County Health Department reported 50 new cases Friday.

The total number of active cases in Hill County is 267 while Blaine County has 207 active cases, although health officials are saying that, with the higher transmission and often less-severe symptoms of the omicron variant, the more important number is hospitalizations and deaths.

Officials in other states where the new case numbers seem to be dropping are warning that hospitalizations and deaths generally lag behind the new case reports.

Hill County had two new hospitalizations last week which were quickly released and reported one active hospitalization Friday.

Numbers on the state level and for Chouteau and Liberty counties were not available by printing deadline today.

The Blaine County release also listed vaccination opportunities - officials say the best protection against the omicron variant, as with all variants of the virus that causes COVID, is vaccination and booster shots - listing what is available including boosters for 12 to 17 year olds five months past their second dose of Pfizer vaccine.

The Hill County Health Department release asked people to be understanding with delays in their contacting reported cases.

"Due to the recent increase in cases, please know that we are working as quickly as we can to get through all of the positive tests, however we are not able to reach everyone in one day," the release said. "If you are showing symptoms and have been tested and not yet heard from us regarding your results, please stay home until you get a call from us or you have been symptom free for 48 hours."

Officials are urging people to take every step they can to protect themselves and slow the spread of the virus, with the most crucial getting vaccinated or a vaccine booster if they have not done so yet.

The vaccines for COVID-19 have remained effective at preventing hospitalization and death through out the pandemic and the rollout of boosters for the vaccines provide an extra layer of protection that drastically reduces the chances of people getting seriously ill.

Aside from vaccination, much of the same procedures are still recommended to slow the spread of the virus, including omicron. Wearing masks while in public areas is still a key way to slow the spread of - and reduce the chance of contracting - the virus, with recommended masks still effective at reducing the spread of the variants of the virus, including omicron.

Avoiding being in large groups of people outside of a person's household when possible also will reduce the chance of contracting the virus, as will regular handwashing and people covering their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow.

In Hill County, vaccinations and booster shots 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 its 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 406-395-4486.

Blaine County Health Department said it continues to offer first and second dose and booster dose walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations Thursdays from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 4:30 p.m. at the health department at 420A Ohio Street in Chinook. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines available including pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for 5 to 11 year olds.  

People can call the Fort Belknap Health Center, public health nurse at 406-353-3250 and pharmacy at 406-353-3104, to schedule vaccinations and booster shots.

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.