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There have been 286 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours in Montana, with a total of 1,851 active cases in the state as of Thursday. The last time the state exceeded 1,800 active cases was in February, according to data from MTN.
Flathead County added the most new cases, with 62 reported Thursday, bringing the active total to 453. Yellowstone and Missoula counties saw the second largest increase in new cases, both reporting 31 new cases. Yellowstone is now at 249 active cases, while Missoula is at 192
Two new deaths were reported Wednesday; the total number of Montanais who have died from COVID is now 1,720, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
The number of people currently hospitalized with COVID is 135, up 10 from Wednesday. The cumulative number of hospitalizations in Montana due to the virus is 5,804. To date, about 1 in 20 (4.9%) COVID cases reported in the state have resulted in hospitalization.
The number of state residents who have been fully immunized to the virus is now 445,438 (roughly 48% of the state’s population). The total number of doses administered is 900,987. If you wish to be vaccinated, contact your county health department, or Click here.
There have been 117,610 cumulative cases of COVID in Montana. The cumulative number of recoveries is now 114,039. The total number of COVID tests administered in Montana is 1,517,776.
Visit the DPHHS website anytime for current state data and county-specific information.
Adam Meier, director of the DPHHS, said in a press release on Thursday that COVID-related hospitalization data for the past eight weeks from June 5 to July 30 shows that 89% of Montanais hospitalized had not received the COVID vaccine. The data includes 358 hospitalizations of Montanans during this period. Hospitalizations ranged from 1 to 97 years of age, with a median age of 64 years.
The DPHHS also reports that the average daily number of hospitalizations for COVID has slowly started to increase to the current average of 95 people. This includes a 44% increase from the week ending July 23 to the week ending July 30.
For the background, as of last November, the average daily hospitalizations for COVID were 427 people, which was the month with the highest number of COVID cases and hospitalizations reported.
According to the DPHHS, the trend of new COVID-19 positive cases continues to increase. For the week ending June 25, 359 cases were reported and for the week ending July 30, 1,180 cases were reported statewide.
“These data illustrate just how effective the COVID-19 vaccine is in preventing serious disease when you consider how far we’ve come since the vaccine first became available,” Meier said. “The data is also a reminder of how important it is to get the vaccine. It’s now a vaccine-preventable disease, and the last thing we want to see are more cases and hospitalizations. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best tool we have for preventing serious illness and hospitalizations. The fall and winter months are fast approaching. Now is the time to get vaccinated. “
DPHHS officials also say the number of people receiving their first dose of the vaccine has started to increase steadily in recent weeks, after declining in June and the first part of July. For example, for the week ending July 23 through the week ending July 30, there was an 18% increase in the number of people receiving their first dose. “It’s an encouraging sign to see more and more people deciding to get vaccinated, and I hope this trend continues in the weeks to come,” Meier said.
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