Dillon Tribune

COVID-19

Local

04/14/2021 - 12:00am
Two COVID variant cases ID’d in county, vaccination continues
A second coronavirus “variant of concern” was reported in Beaverhead County over the past couple of weeks. The variant is one of the California mutations. Variants of concern tend to be more easily transmitted or may cause more severe disease....
Vaccine clinics head to Armory this week
County vaccinates over 1,800 residents, 8 new COVID cases
Vaccine clinics moving to Armory
Coronavirus variant case detected in Beaverhead County
County sees uptick in new COVID cases, vaccination efforts progress

State

04/14/2021 - 8:50am
Gianforte Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Vaccine Passports
HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte issued an executive order April 13 prohibiting the state-sponsored development and required use of so-called vaccine passports in Montana.  "I strongly encourage Montanans to get a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine, which...
Emergency Rent, Utility Assistance Available for Montanans Financially Impacted by COVID-19 
Vaccine administration barriers in pharmacies reduced
Vaccine distribution expanded to most vulnerable Montanans with Phase 1B+ 
Phase 1B vaccination group expanding March 8
Gianforte issues new directives, lifts mask mandate

Nation

05/19/2020 - 12:52pm
Telehealth providers awarded $260,000 in COVID-19 grants
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded $264,651 in grants to Montana organizations to increase telehealth capabilities in response to the coronavirus...
FBI warns of coronavirus scams
IRS creates web tool for non-filers to get economic impact payments
UPDATED: USDA institutes measures to help rural communities, businesses affected by COVID-19
IRS takes steps to provide taxpayer relief related to coronavirus
President extends 'slow the spread' campaign to end of April

Vaccine distribution expanded to most vulnerable Montanans with Phase 1B+ 

HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the state will expand its efforts to protect the most vulnerable Montanans by entering Phase 1B+ of the state’s vaccine distribution plan on March 8, 2021.

In Phase 1B+, COVID-19 vaccines will be available to Montanans 60 years of age and older and Montanans 16 to 59 years of age with additional qualifying medical conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease.

Barrett Hospital not providing COVID-19 vaccines in clinic, partnering with public health

Barrett Hospital and HealthCare is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccines through it's clinic as of March 1. 

The hospital instead will partner with Beaverhead County Public Health to provide the vaccines through their regularly scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

"We feel one location and process will better serve those wanting to be vaccinated, and in a more timely manner," a press release stated.

Nearly 1,000 county residents fully vaccinated

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Beaverhead County has almost a thousand of its residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and Montana is the highest in the nation in vaccine administration.

Phase 1B vaccination group expanding March 8

HELENA – The phase 1B vaccination group will expand beginning March 8, as more vaccines become available to the state.

Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the change March 2.

In Phase 1B+, COVID-19 vaccines will be available to Montanans 60 years of age and older and Montanans 16 to 59 years of age with additional qualifying medical conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease.

COVID-19 vaccine clinics arrive in Lima and Wisdom, more doses needed

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Phase 1B Wisdom and Lima residents had an opportunity this week for the coronavirus vaccine to come to them.

Beaverhead County Public Health held a vaccination clinic on Tuesday in Lima; Wisdom’s clinic is today, Wednesday. There will also be a clinic Friday at the University of Montana Western.

Weekly vaccination clinics continue to be offered, though they are by appointment only to ensure no doses of the limited-supply COVID-19 vaccines are wasted. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 406-683-3203.

Gov. Gianforte lifts statewide mask mandate

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One local school district celebrated the return to mask-optional schooling this week, based on the lifting of the statewide mask mandate.

Gov. Greg Gianforte lifted the mask requirement Feb. 12, after signing legislation that shields businesses, health care providers, nonprofits and places of worship from coronavirus-related lawsuits, provided they take measures to protect individuals from COVID-19 and follow public health guidelines.

Gianforte issues new directives, lifts mask mandate

HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte issued two new directives and an executive order Feb. 12, one of which lifts the statewide mask mandate.

The first directive rescinds and replaces all prior directives implementing Executive Order 2-2021, which the governor issued on Jan. 13, 2021.

Consistent with the governor’s announcement on Feb. 10, the new directive allows the statewide mask mandate to expire. Local jurisdictions may still choose to implement their own mask requirements.

Gianforte signs liability protections bill into law

HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill No. 65 into law Feb. 10. The new law shields businesses, health care providers, nonprofit organizations, and places of worship from coronavirus-related lawsuits, provided they take measures to protect individuals from COVID-19 and follow public health guidelines.

Vaccinations continue, one new county case

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The downward trend of new cases continued this week in Beaverhead County, mirroring a similar decline statewide.

Vaccination efforts continue, with the second Phase 1B vaccination clinic adding just over 100 more people in the county to the “fully vaccinated” list.

Beaverhead County added one new COVID-19 positive case this week (a woman in her 20s), for a total of 853 cases with one active as of Tuesday. Statewide, there were 1,904 new cases over the past week and 66 deaths. As of Tuesday, the state counted 96,288 total cases and 1,315 deaths.

County COVID vaccinations off to a good start

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Beaverhead County’s first jab at vaccinating specific groups against COVID-19 is going well, county public health officials say.

Public Health Director Sue Hansen said 259 doses of the coronavirus vaccine were administered at the first Phase 1B vaccination clinic Friday. Eighteen second doses were administered as well, and some of the vials had extra doses which allowed medical staff to vaccinate even more people.

“I think the clinic went pretty well,” she said, and they had “ample opportunity” to give at least 500 doses if there was enough vaccine allocated.