Here is the most recent information about COVID in Montana as of the morning of Tuesday, December 8th:
- New cases: 728
- Total cases: 69,936
- Active cases: 16,992
- Current hospitalizations: 479
- Total hospitalizations: 2,909
- Recoveries: 52,153
- Deaths: 792
State and local reports show an increase of nine deaths since Monday. Those deaths were reported in the following counties: Lewis & Clark (4); Fergus (3); and Dawson (2).
The counties with the most deaths to date are:
- Big Horn: 50
- Blaine: 20
- Cascade: 82
- Flathead: 44
- Gallatin: 25
- Glacier: 30
- Hill: 32
- Lewis & Clark: 22
- Missoula: 45
- Roosevelt: 45
- Rosebud: 25
- Silver Bow: 37
- Yellowstone: 127
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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- Privacy laws and HIPAA: Click here for details
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.