COVID-19
The latest news on COVID-19 and how it affects Northwest Montana.
Health officer: Pause on J&J won’t dampen vaccination efforts
Flathead County's health officer says the national pause on Johnson and Johnson doses won’t dampen local vaccine...
State and local authorities push for more vaccine doses
Montana State and Flathead County authorities push for more doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Lake County extends mask mandate for 30 days
Lake County Commissioners on Tuesday extended the county’s mask mandate for 30 days in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Hospital relocates virus testing sites
Kalispell Regional Healthcare relocates its COVID-19 testing sites
Districts continue to require masks in schools
School districts around Northwest Montana will continue requiring masks as part of COVID-19 mitigation measures, even though a statewide mandate was lifted b...
Montana governor lifts statewide mask mandate
Montana's statewide mask mandate that had been in place since July was lifted Friday by Gov. Greg Gianforte. But some cities and counties are keeping local m...
Whitefish ski resort will continue with masking requirement
Face coverings will continue to be required at Whitefish Mountain Resort, even as Gov. Greg Gianforte lifts the statewide mask mandate on Friday.
Governor signs liability shield, intends to lift mask rule
Saying he will lift a statewide mask requirement later this week, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill Wednesday intended to protect businesses and heal...
Health department overwhelmed with vaccine requests
Flathead City-County Health Department officials say those looking to be vaccinated may wait weeks for call back.
Montana vaccine effort ramping up, hospitalizations decline
HELENA (AP) — Montana's effort to vaccinate health care workers and those over age 70 against the coronavirus continues to ramp up while cases and hospitaliz...
Gianforte relaxes COVID-19 restrictions on businesses
HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Wednesday that he is removing existing health mandates issued by his predecessor, saying the restrictions...
Bill would shield Montana businesses from COVID lawsuits
A bill introduced in the Montana Senate last week would shield businesses, nonprofits and health-care providers from lawsuits related to COVID-19 as long as ...
State prioritizes over 70, underlying conditions for vaccine
HELENA (AP) — Montana's new plan for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine now prioritizes people age 70 and older and those with specific underlying health cond...
Montana Legislature highly recommends face masks, for now
HELENA (AP) — Montana's legislative leaders are highly recommending but not requiring face coverings for people participating in the Legislature, after Frida...
Hamilton's Rep. Bedey tests positive for COVID-19
State Rep. David Bedey has tested positive for COVID-19, the Legislature’s coronavirus panel said Thursday night.
COVID-19: Health officer says Flathead County 'not out of the woods' yet
Even though the number of local COVID-19 cases is dropping, Flathead County won't be "out of the woods" until the daily number of lab-tested cases is 30 to 3...