BILLINGS – Yellowstone County health officials reported Wednesday an additional death due to COVID-19.
RiverStone Health said in a press release that on Feb. 23 a woman in her 70s died at a Billings hospital.
So far, 236 Yellowstone County residents have lost their lives to the pandemic. This includes nine people who have died in February and 21 who died in January.
New cases of the virus are being reported daily and 31 patients with COVID-19 related illness were hospitalized this week at Billings Clinic or St. Vincent Healthcare, the press release states. Among those patients, 11 were in intensive care and four were intubated as of Tuesday.
All residents need to their part help stop the spread of this potentially deadly virus to family, friends and coworkers, the agency said. Until all who want a COVID-19 vaccine can be vaccinated, everyone should continue wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings, keeping six feet away from people outside your household, frequently washing hands and staying home if you are sick.
The Unified Health Command (RiverStone Health, Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare and Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services) continues to hold free, community vaccine clinics at Cedar Hall at MetraPark. All appointments for this week’s clinics have been filled. More clinics will be scheduled for the week of March 1. Advance appointments are required. Please check mtreadyclinic.org for availability and scheduling.
COVID-19 vaccination clinics are open to Yellowstone County residents in the 1A and 1B priority groups, which includes healthcare workers, first responders, people age 70 and older, people age 16 to 69 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness, and Native Americans and other people of color who may be at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness.
COVID-19 information is updated regularly online at covid.riverstonehealth.org.