Full Text
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Johnson, Public Information Officer, Big Horn County (406) 679-0572 Big Horn County Announces 36th Death from COVID-19 Five additional cases of coronavirus HARDIN, MONTANA (October 19, 2020) – Big Horn County today announced the 36th death of a County resident due to complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The decedent is a man in his 70’s who was hospitalized prior to his death. This is the 13h death recorded in October. The County’s fatality rate remains at 2.9% (36 deaths out of 1,228 total cases). The Big Horn County COVID-19 Response Unified Coalition shares in the sadness of his family, friends, and the entire community of Big Horn County during this difficult time. Big Horn County added an additional five new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, October 18, 2020, for a total on the day of 27. All five presented with when tested and likely contracted the virus through community spread, as there are no known contacts with previous cases at this time. The new cases are: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Under age 10 - - - Age 10 – 19 - - - Age 20 – 29 - - - Age 30 – 39 - 1 1 Age 40 – 49 - 1 1 Age 50 – 59 1 1 2 Age 60 – 69 - - - Over age 70 1 - 1 Totals 2 3 5 Total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Big Horn County: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Recovered Active Deaths Under age 10 51 55 106 Age 10 – 19 90 102 192 Age 20 – 29 108 97 205 Age 30 – 39 107 114 221 Age 40 – 49 80 60 140 Age 50 – 59 78 65 143 Age 60 – 69 69 63 132 Over age 70 53 36 89 Totals 636 592 1,228 1,037 155 36 Recoveries in Big Horn County remain at 1,037. 36 persons are deceased. Of the 155 active cases, 135 patients are quarantining and recovering at home. The number of Big Horn County resident patients currently hospitalized in the region is 20. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 2 Month Number of Cases Number of Deaths April 3 - May 27 - June 44 3 July 249 5 August 357 8 September 294 7 October to date (10/18/2020) 254 13 Total since Pandemic Began 1,228 36 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