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…
Idaho governor calls in help amid surge in Covid patients
Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Tuesday called in 220 medical workers available through federal programs and mobilized 150 Idaho National Guard soldiers to deal with…
Judge offers reduced fines in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines
A judge in Wyoming is offering defendants a break in their court fines if they agree to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the Casper Star-Tribune reports.
Covid forces Idaho hospitals past capacity, toward crisis
Hospital facilities and public health agencies are scrambling to add capacity as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise statewide. But many Idaho res…
With hospitals overwhelmed by virus, Idaho seeks volunteers
Idaho's hospitals are bursting at the seams as coronavirus numbers continue to skyrocket across the state, prompting state leaders to call on residents to serv…
Masks will be optional at Kalispell Public Schools
Wearing masks will be optional — but strongly encouraged — at Kalispell Public Schools following a unanimous decision by the school board on Tuesday.
Weary businesses confront new round of mask mandates
Businesses large and small, from McDonald's and Home Depot to local yoga studios, are reinstituting mask mandates as U.S. coronavirus cases rise. Bars, gyms an…
VA requires COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers
The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, as the aggressive d…
Sparked by pandemic fallout, homeschooling surges
Although the pandemic disrupted family life across the U.S. since taking hold in spring 2020, some parents are grateful for one consequence: They're now opting…
Flathead COVID cases, hospitalizations surge amid low vaccine rate
Flathead County has become Montana’s COVID-19 hot spot in recent weeks, with the area now reporting roughly 30% of the state’s active caseload.
Sanford Health makes COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory
A dominant health system in the Dakotas that bills itself as one of the largest health organizations in the country said Thursday it is making COVID-19 vaccina…
Big Idaho health care providers mandate staff COVID vaccines
Three of Idaho's largest medical care providers announced Thursday that they would require COVID-19 vaccines for eligible employees.
Montana governor lifts state of emergency for coronavirus
Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday announced he is lifting Montana's state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic, more than 15 months after it was imposed un…
Big gaps in vaccine rates across the U.S.
A steady crowd of people flowed into the New England Patriots' stadium for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week in Massachusetts, which is neari…
Wildland firefighting force urged to get vaccinated
With a potentially ferocious wildfire season threatening to ignite across the western U.S., a push is on to persuade wildland firefighters to get vaccinated ag…
Virus strains from India, Brazil reach Montana
The coronavirus variants linked to deadly waves of infection in India and Brazil have been spotted in several Montana counties, but the message from Flathead C…