Montana surpasses 1,000 active COVID cases for the first time since mid-May

HELENA – Montana reported 231 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to 1,046. This is the first time since mid-May that the total number of active cases of COVID-19 exceeds 1,000 in the state.

Active hospitalizations also stand at 93. This is nearly double the numbers seen during most of May and June.

Flathead County has the most active cases with 252, followed by Cascade County with 158.

The two counties also have the lowest vaccination rates of the most populous counties in the state, with Flathead accounting for 39% of their fully vaccinated eligible population and Cascade 44% of their fully vaccinated eligible population.

Yellowstone County reports 137 active cases with 46% of their eligible population vaccinated, Missoula County has 124 active cases with 61% of their population fully vaccinated, Gallatin County has 69 active cases with 55% of their eligible population fully vaccinated and Lewis and Clark County report 53 active cases with 55% of their eligible population fully vaccinated.

Governor Greg Gianforte on Twitter has repeatedly encouraged Montanais to talk to their doctor about the possibility of getting the vaccine. He tweeted on July 22, “COVID-19 vaccines save lives, and the proof is in the numbers. The unvaccinated Montanais represent 94% of new hospitalizations linked to COVID. “

The governor recently pushed back on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for K-12 schools to continue to require masks.

As of Wednesday, more than 441,000 Montanais are considered fully vaccinated, or 48% of the eligible population.

Statewide, more than 1,704 have died from the virus since it was first detected in Montana.