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Montana COVID-19 Report (Thursday, Dec. 17)

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There were 723 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Montana on Thursday, and the statewide death toll reached 887, according to data compiled by MTN News during a 24-hour period.

Yellowstone County reported one additional death on Thursdaybringing the total number of deaths in the county due to COVID-19 to 146. Dawson County reported two additional COVID-19 deaths, and Lewis and Clark and Ravalli counties each reported one additional death due to the virus.

The number of active cases in the state is currently 8,893, according to MTN News, and there has been a cumulative total of 75,893 cases of the virus in Montana. Of the total cases, 66,113 have recovered.

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There are currently 306 people hospitalized for treatment of the virus, and the cumulative number of hospitalizations is 3,199.

The number of tests performed in the state has reached 742,540, an increase of 6,481 during the previous 24-hour reporting period.

The numbers reported by MTN reflect the latest data from the Montana COVID website, along with supplemental data received from county health departments.

Note: As COVID-19 cases escalate in Montana, the disparity between state data from DPHHS and local data from county health departments continues to grow.

MTN has decided to use a combination of these sources to deliver more accurate information across all media platforms. We feel this is a more truthful accounting of the situation in Montana.

Local county health departments may be alerted to cases before Montana DPHHS. As those counties share that information with the public, MTN feels it should be reflected in our reporting. Using that local data means there will be times when MTN coronavirus data does not align with the state report.