Dillon Tribune

COVID-19

Local

COVID
05/04/2022 - 12:00am
30th Beaverhead resident dies from COVID
A woman in her 60s died last October from COVID-19, public health officials announced last week. The death was determined through death record reconciliation, Beaverhead County Public Health Director Sue Hansen said. The person died at home, so the...
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
Beaverhead County suffers 25th COVID death, case counts subsiding

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

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

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."

COVID vaccine will be offered to Phase 1B next week

Beaverhead County’s COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be offered to residents in the next eligible group starting Jan. 29.

Montana moves to Phase 1B vaccine distribution

HELENA – Governor Greg Gianforte announced Jan. 19 that Montana is moving into Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

In Phase 1B, COVID-19 vaccines are available to Montanans 70 years of age and older, 16 to 69 years of age with a high-risk medical condition, and Native Americans and other persons of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications.