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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 13 Newly-confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Includes two age 70 and over HARDIN, MONTANA (December 16, 2020) – Big Horn County added 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Two patients were (without and 11 presented with when tested. Five patients likely contracted the virus through community spread and eight cases could be traced by public health to previously-known cases of coronavirus. The new cases are: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Under age 10 1 1 2 Age 10 – 19 - 2 2 Age 20 – 29 1 - 1 Age 30 – 39 1 - 1 Age 40 – 49 1 2 3 Age 50 – 59 1 1 2 Age 60 – 69 - - - Over age 70 1 1 2 Totals 6 7 13 Total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Big Horn County: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Recovered Active Deaths Under age 10 81 84 165 Age 10 – 19 170 168 338 Age 20 – 29 179 151 330 Age 30 – 39 176 164 340 Age 40 – 49 149 111 260 Age 50 – 59 150 107 257 Age 60 – 69 128 102 230 Over age 70 101 68 169 Totals 1,134 955 2,089 1,910 121 58 Recoveries in the County remain at 1,910. 58 persons are deceased. Of the 121 active cases, 100 patients are quarantining and recovering at home. The number of Big Horn County resident patients currently hospitalized in the region is 21. ---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 456 17 November 473 8 December (12/16/2020 to date) 186 10 Total since Pandemic Began 2,089 58 With the holiday season, 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