COVID cases keep popping up in region

Editor's note: This version corrects the number to contact Northern Montana Care Center.

Though numbers remain down compared to last fall and early winter, COVID-19 cases are still being confirmed in this part of Montana and still impacting local residents.

Blaine County Health Department reported Friday that it had seven new cases confirmed Thursday and Friday, with nine active cases including one hospitalization.

"This bump in active cases is telling us people are still encountering the effects of this pandemic, and those effects can be devastating," the release from the Blaine County Health Department said. "The vaccines that are free to everyone and widely available are still our best tool to fight this."

And Christen Obresley, administrator at Northern Montana Care Center which is conducting twice-weekly testing, said a new case was confirmed last week, shutting down inside visitation until July 8.

The closure will prevent people from visiting relatives inside the facility over the Independence Day holiday.

Obresley said residents are not in quarantine or isolation, but Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandates prevent visitation in the facility for two weeks. She said family members of residents can call 406-265-2238 for more information.

Hill County Health Department reported two new cases Wednesday and two new cases Thursday with four active and no active hospitalization.

The directors of the Hill and Blaine county health departments have not responded to requests for an update by printing deadline this morning..

The state COVID-19 tracking map this morning listed no new cases for Hill County and listed four active cases in the county with no new or active cases in Liberty or Chouteau counties.

And the new cases come as new variants of the virus - the latest of great concern the Delta variant that devastated India and now is causing severe problems in Britain - that appear to be much more contagious are spreading.

The Delta variant has been spreading rapidly in the U.S., causing a greater and greater percentage of new cases, and has been confirmed in Montana as well.

Health officials say the variants do not appear to be a great concern for fully vaccinated people - the vaccines appear to be effective against known variants so far - but people who are not vaccinated or have only had one of the two shots in vaccines needing a series are at greater risk of contracting the disease.

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use in people 12 and older and take a series of two shots to be fully effective.

The Moderna vaccine, which also takes two shots, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only takes one shot, are only approved for people 18 and older at this point, although studies are being conducted for 12 and older for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and studies also are being conducted for younger children.

The Blaine County release said the health department there is actively vaccinating people 12 and older with the COVID-19 vaccine. People can call the health department at 357-2345 if they have questions.

Hill County Health Department has been holding vaccine clinics the third Tuesday of the month and held a Pfizer vaccine clinic Thursday.

People can call the department at 406-400-2415 if they have questions.

The Chouteau and Liberty county health departments also have been offering vaccinations including with the Pfizer vaccine.

People can call the Chouteau County Health Department at 406-622-3771.

People can call the Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517.

The health departments at Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian reservations also have the Pfizer vaccine and are offering it to all.

People can call the Rocky Boy Health Department at 4066-395-1655 and the Fort Belknap Health Department at 406-353-3219.

And other options also are available.

Northern Montana Health Care's flu clinic is taking calls at 406-262-1585 to schedule vaccinations.

In Havre, Gary & Leo's Pharmacy is taking walk-ins seven days a week for vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson, and Western Drug at 406-265-9601 is taking calls to schedule Moderna vaccinations and taking walk-ins for Johnson & Johnson.

Bullhook Community Health Center is booking vaccinations at 406-395-4305 , and its pharmacy also is taking calls at the same number to tell people about vaccine availability.

People can also call Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588 to schedule a vaccination.

People can also call Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588 to schedule a vaccination.