COVID-19 Update As Of Oct. 18

It has become more challenging to track the full extent of COVID-19 outbreaks due to the widespread use of at-home tests. However, hospitalizations remain a reliable indicator of the severity of the virus in our community.

In the past month, Valley County has reported 30 individuals who sought medical care and tested positive for COVID-19. Of these, six were hospitalized, with three of the hospitalizations involving people under the age of 35. Notably, four of these hospitalizations have occurred within the past week.

We encourage everyone to continue taking precautions to protect our community and healthcare professionals. To reduce your risk of infection:

- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

- Use hand sanitizer when hand washing isn’t possible.

- Practice physical distancing at public events.

- Stay home if you’re feeling unwell.

- If you have been exposed to COVID-19, wear a mask in public spaces.

- Test if symptoms arise.

COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are available at the Valley County Health Department. You can also monitor local health trends by visiting the Montana Department of Public Health’s dashboard: https://dphhs.mt.gov/.../Pan.../Pan-RespiratoryDashboard.

To learn more about the difference between COVID-19 and Influenza, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/flu-vs-covid19.html.