Montana sets daily COVID case record

Montana hit a dubious milestone Monday with the state tracking map listing 5,057 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, far and away a new record for daily cases.

The number of new cases dropped to 2,860 on this morning’s update, still far higher than daily totals in previous surges.

Officials are saying that parts of the U.S. may be past the peak of the omicron-variant driven surge, but Montana is behind the curve, still seeing large increases.

Officials also say the number of cases, both new cases and active cases, is not the most important number. Those numbers are hospitaizations and deaths.

That is because the variant is extremely contagious and likely to cause both reinfections in people who already have had COVID-19 and breakthrough infections in vaccinated people — although vaccinated, boostered people still are less likely to get infected and are much less likely to have serious symptoms or die from the disease — but is likely to be milder in symptoms for all infected.

The variant still does cause serious illness and death, and with the enormous numbers of new cases are leading to crowding in hospitals around the country.

Those numbers are creeping up in Montana. Hospitalizations were listed this morning at 331, up from 284 in Friday’s update. Deaths in Montana rose form 2,976 Friday to 2,987 in this morning’s update.

Hill County reported 81 new cases from Saturday through Monday with three hospitalizations.

The numbers continue to hit Havre schools as well.

An update from the school district this morning said one new case in someone associated with the district was confirmed Friday and 14 more Monday.

Blaine County Health Department said in its update Monday that it was notified of 59 new cases.

Some new options are arising for tracking. In its update, Hill County Health Department said people can report at-home test results at its online confidential self-reporting form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7fy69WS-PbLa9esAIegD_f2MZeqSvomjr9WgTEp7RPUI0BQ/viewform or by going to the Hill County Health Department website at https://hillcountyhealth.com, clicking on “COVID-19 Updates” and “Click Here to Report your COVID-19 Home Test Kit Results.”

The department release added that, due to the recent increase in cases, department staff members are working as quickly as they can to get through all of the positive tests, however, they are not able to reach everyone in one day.

“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,” the release said.

The Havre school district said that if any person associated with the district is at risk of exposure, the Hill County Health Department or Havre Public Schools Nurse Jeri Zorn may be in contact with that person to determine a safe and appropriate course of action, adding that people who feel sick or ill still are recommended to seek out their medical provider for specific instructions.

“The school district may be in contact with the health department and reviewing the Centers for Disease Control guidance to complete cleaning the school and other related facilities,” the release added. “The other steps taken by the school district include the continuation of social/physical distancing, encouraging face coverings, and frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing. Contact the superintendent for details about these measures. School officials will continue to monitor the situation and will provide further information if and when it becomes available.”

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 throughout 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.

People can contact the Blaine County Health Department at 406-357-2345 and 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.