Dillon Tribune

COVID-19

Local

11/22/2022 - 12:00am
Two residents die from COVID-19
Beaverhead County lost two of its residents to COVID-19, public health officials reported last week. A woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s both died in October at county health care facilities, Public Health Director Sue Hansen said. They are the...
30th Beaverhead resident dies from COVID
Beaverhead County new COVID cases decline
New COVID cases decline, deaths increase statewide
Free COVID tests, case investigations change in Beaverhead
County records three new COVID-19 deaths

State

02/02/2022 - 12:00am
Montana counties ready to distribute free rapid COVID tests
HELENA, Mont., Jan. 27 (AP) – Montana counties are preparing to distribute 650,000 rapid COVID-19 tests at no cost to residents, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Thursday. The state health department spent $5.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief money to...
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations declining in state
Gianforte promises to fight federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Montana and Alberta announce vaccination program for Alberta truckers 
Gianforte signs bill expanding telehealth
Gianforte Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Vaccine Passports

Nation

11/02/2022 - 12:00am
Massive learning setbacks show COVID’s sweeping toll on kids
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated poor children’s wellbeing, not just by closing their schools, but also by taking away their parents’ jobs, sickening their families and teachers, and adding chaos and fear to their daily lives. The scale of the...
Telehealth providers awarded $260,000 in COVID-19 grants
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

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.

Unused vaccines redirected in Montana

HELENA – Montana officials received approval to redirect 19,500 unused COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable residents, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Feb. 2.

"Every dose Montana receives is critical, which is why I promised you in my first week in office that we wouldn’t let vaccines sit on shelves. Today, we’re following through on that promise," Gianforte said. "By working together, we can protect more Montanans and save more lives."

Phase 1B vaccinations begin countywide

Beaverhead County residents in the next phase eligible for the coronavirus vaccine can sign up to receive it starting this week.

COVID-19 vaccination tracking website launched

HELENA – Montana's COVID-19 vaccination tracking website launched Jan. 25.

"With over 77,000 safe and effective vaccine doses administered in Montana, we continue to make strides to protect the most vulnerable. We can make even greater progress if the federal government increases our supply," Gov. Greg Gianforte said. "I encourage Montanans to use this dashboard to stay up to date on our progress to save lives and make the vaccine available to everyone who wants one."