BILLINGS – Yellowstone County health officials reported Monday another county resident has died from COVID-19 illness.
RiverStone Health said in a press release that on Feb. 17 a woman in her 90s died at a Yellowstone County nursing home. The death brought the number of Yellowstone County lives taken by the pandemic to 233.
“Each COVID-19 related death in our community reminds us that we all must be vigilant to minimize the spread of this virus,” said John Felton, Yellowstone County Health Officer and President & CEO of RiverStone Health. “My heart goes out to the family and friends of the woman who passed away on Feb. 17 and to all who have lost loved ones in this pandemic.”
“While we await sufficient vaccine supplies to protect everyone against this virus, everyone needs to take precautions,” Felton said. “Please wear a mask when you are in public or within six feet of someone who doesn’t live with you, keep your distance, wash your hands and stay home if you are sick.”
The press release states the Unified Health Command (RiverStone Health, Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare and Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services) are holding free, community vaccine clinics at Cedar Hall at MetraPark. All appointments for this week’s clinics had been filled by Monday morning. More clinics will be scheduled for the week of March 1. Advance appointments are required and can be made online at mtreadyclinic.org.
These clinics are open to Yellowstone County residents in the 1A and 1B priority groups, including 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.