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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Johnson, Public Information Officer, Big Horn County (406) 679-0572 Big Horn County Announces 52nd Death from COVID-19 10 newly-confirmed cases added HARDIN, MONTANA (December 8, 2020) – Big Horn County today announced the 52nd death of a County resident due to complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The decedent is a woman in her 50’s who was hospitalized prior to her death today, Tuesday, December 8, 2020. The Big Horn County COVID-19 Response Unified Coalition wishes her family, friends, and the entire community of Big Horn County peace and comfort during this difficult time. This is the 4th death recorded in December. The County’s fatality rate is 2.6% (52 deaths out of 2,011 total cases). Big Horn County added 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Two patients were (without and eight presented with when tested. Four likely contracted the virus through community spread and six cases could be traced by public health to previously-known cases of coronavirus. One previously-reported patient, a woman in her 60’s, was removed from the total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 below as she was later determined to be a duplicate reporting from November. The new cases are: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Under age 10 1 - 1 Age 10 – 19 2 - 2 Age 20 – 29 - 1 1 Age 30 – 39 1 - 1 Age 40 – 49 - - - Age 50 – 59 1 1 2 Age 60 – 69 2 1 3 Over age 70 - - - Totals 7 3 10 Total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Big Horn County: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Recovered Active Deaths Under age 10 77 81 158 Age 10 – 19 165 159 324 Age 20 – 29 175 147 322 Age 30 – 39 169 157 326 Age 40 – 49 144 107 251 Age 50 – 59 144 104 248 Age 60 – 69 123 98 221 Over age 70 95 66 161 Totals 1,092 919 2,011 1,813 146 52 ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 2 Recoveries in the County remain 1,813. 52 persons are deceased. Of the 146 active cases, 130 patients are quarantining and recovering at home. The number of Big Horn County resident patients currently hospitalized in the region is 16. Month Number of Cases Number of Deaths April 3 - May 27 - June 44 3 July 249 5 August 357 8 September 294 7 October 456 17 November 473 8 December (12/08/2020 to date) 108 4 Total since Pandemic Began 2,011 52 With the rising trend in new COVID-19 cases, it is more important than ever to follow the three W’s: Wash your hands; Watch your distance from other people; Wear a mask. The County asks all residents to please continue stay home more often and to avoid events or gatherings. Also, the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Public Health ask everyone to wear a mask and social distance when outside of their homes and in public. Masks are required when engaged in indoor activities, such as shopping. Masks are not necessary in the event that residents are outdoors and unlikely to come within six feet of other people, such as while taking advantage of our beautiful county, to work, recreate, or exercise outside. Tracking down contacts to a positive case (contact tracing) is one of the best tools public health can use to slow the spread of the virus. If you believe you were in the presence of a recently confirmed COVID- 19 case for more than five minutes, please call public health so that a nurse may interview you and determine what level of exposure you have: • IHS Public Health Nursing: (406) 638-3478 • Big Horn County Public Health: (406) 665-8720 Big Horn County is the sixth largest county in Montana, at approximately 5,023 square miles, and with a population exceeding 13,000. The local government was established January 13, 1913. Hardin is the County Seat. For more information about the County’s COVID-19 response, please visit our Facebook page at