It’s cold and flu season and on top of the ongoing pandemic people are focusing on who is required to get their COVID-19 vaccine and who isn’t. Montana’s House Bill 702 became law earlier this year and it prevents employers from discriminating based on vaccine status or having an immunity passport. That means all vaccines inc...
Montana Breaks Record For COVID-19 Hospitalizations
More Montanans were hospitalized for COVID-19 Wednesday than at any point previously in the pandemic. There were 510 Montanans reported hospitalized, topping the previous high of 506 last November before a vaccine was available. From July to September, cases were 4.4 times higher for those not fully vaccinated and hospitalizations were 5.1 tim...
Northern & Southern Borders To Open To Fully Vaccinated Travelers
The United States will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month for vehicle rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico. That will end a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The new rules will be announ...
Over 50% Of Montanans Now Fully Vaccinated
As of the latest report Montana’s eligible population of fully vaccinated people against COVID-19 has reached 493,475. That means 53% of those eligible have been vaccinated. Big Horn County leads the state with 55% of its eligible population being fully vaccinated Garfield County is the lowest with 26%. 1,033,867 total doses have been adminis...
Montana Hospitals Lacking COVID Information For Pregnant Women
Hospitals in Montana don’t universally have systems to collect information on how many pregnant women contract COVID-19 or the outcomes for their pregnancies and babies so the state doesn’t have detailed data either. According to a story by Holly Michels from Lee Newspapers Montana State Bureau the doctors who work with pregnant women say they...
Missoula Judge Rejects Challenge To Mask Mandate
A district judge in Missoula has denied a request by several parents to halt mask mandates in Missoula schools while a legal challenge of the mandates is underway. Northern News Network’s Eric Young has more. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/10-05_537_2.mp3
Doctor Shares Message To Patients Wary Of Vaccination
Despite Montana hospitals being well over capacity due to the latest surge of COVID-19 cases there are many residents still hesitant to get vaccinated. As a strategy to dispel his hesitancy against the initial series of COVID-19 vaccines Dr. Seth Cohen from the University of Washington Medical Center shares his approach with his patients. http...
Changes Coming To Postal Service May Affect Delivery Times
Americans who have been frustrated with the slow service of the U.S. Postal Service since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially living in rural Montana who may depend on the mail for medications, will have a longer wait time. Starting Friday, the Postal Service is implementing new service standards which will mean an increased tim...
ARPA Funds Approved To Improve Veterans’ Homes
The ARPA Health Advisory Commission has voted unanimously to spend $1.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to improve veterans’ homes in Columbia Falls and Glendive through the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress earlier this year. Tuesday’s recommendations still need final approval from Governor Greg Gianforte. https://nor...
DPHHS Releases New Data On 2021 COVID-19 Cases For Montana
The Department of Public Health and Human Services has released a new report with Montana-specific COVID-19 data. Northern News Network’s Eric Young has the details. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9-28_637.mp3