(UPDATE, 2:35 pm) The City-County Health Department in Great Falls announced on Friday afternoon that there have been nine more COVID deaths in Cascade County since December 4th, bringing the total number of deaths to 91 in Cascade County.
These individuals were a man in his 50s; two women in their 70s; four men in their 70s; a woman in her 80s; and a man in his 80s.
(1st REPORT, 11:48 a.m.) There were 889 new COVID-19 cases reported in Montana on Friday, and the statewide death toll has now reached 822, according to data compiled by MTN News during a 24-hour period. The number of deaths is an increase of 10 since yesterday.
The number of active cases in the state is currently 10,102, according to MTN News, and there has been a cumulative total of 72,333 cases of the virus in Montana. Of the total cases, 61,409 have recovered. There are currently 372 people hospitalized for treatment of the virus, and the cumulative number of hospitalizations is 3,039. The number of tests performed in the state has reached 711,734; this is an increase of 9,209 from yesterday's report.
The counties with the most deaths to date are:
- Big Horn: 54
- Blaine: 21
- Cascade: 82
- Flathead: 44
- Gallatin: 30
- Glacier: 30
- Hill: 33
- Lewis & Clark: 24
- Missoula: 45
- Roosevelt: 47
- Rosebud: 26
- Silver Bow: 37
- Yellowstone: 129
SOURCES: The numbers reported above reflect the latest data from the official Montana COVID website as well as supplemental data from county health departments. The disparity between numbers provided by the MT Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS) and numbers from county health departments continues to grow as COVID cases escalate in Montana. MTN News uses both state and county data to provide more accurate and timely information. As a result, numbers reported by MTN will not align with the DPHHS figures.
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VACCINE: DPHHS has released a draft vaccine distribution plan; there will be three phases of distribution. DPHHS says the vaccine will not be mandatory, and that everyone who wants to get it will be able to eventually. Click here for details.
CONTEXT: Not every person who tests positive actually becomes ill or exhibits symptoms. Many do not; of those who do become sick, some experience mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization. Others experience more severe symptoms, and some do require hospitalization. Every person who tests positive for COVID, however, has the potential to spread the virus to other people, including family members and friends, which is why public health officials continue to encourage everyone to wear a mask and maintain at least the recommended six feet of "social distance" when in public. The CDC released data in late August which emphasizes that people with contributing or chronic medical conditions are at much greater risk of dying from COVID-19. Click here to read more.