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…
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 hospitalizat…
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 a…
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 th…
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 condit…
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 Friday'…
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 35 …
Whitefish to require masks after Gianforte rescinds mandate
Montana's new governor says he will rescind a statewide mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, but people will still be required to don face cov…
Gianforte sets guidelines for lifting mask mandate
Montana's governor said he will lift the statewide mask mandate put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after more vulnerable people receive vacc…
Teepees in Billings honor tribal members lost to COVID-19
BILLINGS (AP) — On Dec. 29, 14 flags flew parallel to the seven teepees standing against the wind on the Rims in Billings during a small ceremony acknowledging…
North Valley receives 400 doses of Moderna vaccine
North Valley Hospital in Whitefish received its first delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine - 400 doses in total - late Tuesday afternoon.
Flathead Valley health workers get COVID vaccine
Front-line staff at Kalispell Regional Healthcare rolled up their sleeves Thursday to receive the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Montana prison reports 6th virus death, another has 65 cases
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Montana State Prison reported its sixth death from a coronavirus outbreak Wednesday, while a prison in Dawson County reported the same day an outbreak of at least 65 people.
Brendan House reports no active COVID cases; reopens to admissions
More than a month after COVID-19 cases began emerging at Brendan House in Kalispell, the long-term care facility is now reporting zero active cases among its r…