COVID-19
The latest news on COVID-19 and how it affects Northwest Montana.
Gianforte asks Biden to end Covid public health emergency
Gov. Greg Gianforte and a consortium of Republican governors sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday asking…
Montana coronavirus death toll rises to over 200
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana reported more than 700 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday and has topped 200 deaths since the pandemic began in mid-March. An increasing number of cases in the state's most popul…
Flathead County COVID-19 numbers surging
Local health-care officials are urging the public to practice aggressive public health safety measures as COVID-19 cases in Flathead County continue to explode…
Montana reports 501 COVID-19 cases in new daily record
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana health officials said Saturday that 501 more people have tested positive for COVID-19, setting a new daily record.
Inadequate child care costs Montana $232M annually
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated child-care challenges for families in Montana, but the take-away from a new state study shows the care issues are not a s…
Montana reports record number of COVID cases in September
Nearly half of Montana’s confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in September as the state continues to see record numbers of cases.
Bullock urges local steps to stop virus
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock urged local officials where coronavirus cases are surging to adopt stricter measures including shutting down bars in some hotspots to halt the virus' spread.
Flathead’s COVID death toll rises to 19
The Flathead City-County Health Department announced Wednesday that three more individuals have died from COVID-19, bringing Flathead County’s total death toll to 19.
Report: Whitefish Care failed to protect residents from COVID
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services recently conducted a multi-day survey in which staff discovered the Whitefish Care and Rehabilitatio…
Families recount loved ones’ declines at Whitefish facility
In a recorded video chat dated Aug. 18, Deb Johnson can be heard coaching her 92-year-old father, Elton “Ott” Johnson, through a breathing exercise.
Veterans Home working to contain COVID outbreak
The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls is working to contain a COVID-19 outbreak that has infected a total 17 staff members and residents, with nine of those cases being considered “active,” as of Tuesday morn…
Kalispell Public Schools: Bonuses offered to recruit and retain subs
Substitutes who work for extended periods of time in Kalispell Public Schools will start receiving bonuses as part of a new recruitment and retention incentive…
Veterans Home reports first COVID cases
The Montana Veterans Home confirmed it had its first case of coronavirus in a resident at the home last week, despite stringent protocols in place for the facility. Two employees also tested positive for the illnes…
As COVID climbs, Blackfeet Reservation steps up vigilance
Facing an influx in COVID-19 cases, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council recently announced it will not order all reservation residents to quarantine for 14 days as they did recently for Babb and St. Mary, but the…
Whitefish schools poised to extend hybrid learning
At a school board meeting on Thursday, the Whitefish School District will recommend continuing with a hybrid model of remote and on-site learning through Oct. 9 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and the resultin…
Bigfork cancels volleyball matches after COVID-19 contact
Several players put into quarantine