Coronavirus cases dropping, first vaccines roll out to hospital workers

The number of active coronavirus cases have dropped dramatically in Flathead County and across the state in the past few weeks.

On Monday, the number of active cases reported in the Flathead was about 666.

That number was above 2,000 a few weeks ago.

All told, 51 people have died in the Flathead since the start of the pandemic. Seven died last week. Three of the deaths are associated with three different residential care facilities, the city-county health department noted in a release.

It did not name the facilities.

Things seemed to be getting better in Columbia Falls schools, as there were no active cases reported last week in the student body, though two staffers — one at each elementary school, reported cases.

Schools are out for a couple of weeks due to the holiday break.

During last week’s school board meeting school administrators noted that students who had been opting out of in-person classes were starting to return, particularly the students that weren’t doing well.

They also reported that test scores were down, but have since rebounded, as students returned to in-person learning.

Since the return of school, about 11% of School District 6’s staff have contracted the virus — or 33 people, while the number of students is 90 to date, which is about 4.32% of the student population.

The first vaccines rolled out last week, with some 972 nurses and doctors at Kalispell Regional and North Valley hospital getting shots of the Pfizer vaccine.

Gov. Steve Bullock announced that the state’s anticipated allocation of vaccine doses through the end of the year has been reduced by the federal government by 20% from 60,000 down to 48,000 along with other states across the nation.

 “It’s disappointing news that our anticipated allocations of the vaccine have been reduced, but our priorities remain the same to protect those most vulnerable to severe disease or death from the virus and those who have been serving on the frontlines,” said Gov. Bullock. “We are best utilizing the resources available to further reduce the strain on our hospitals and to save lives.”

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services allocated this week’s shipment of 6,825 Pfizer doses to what will be the first of ongoing allocations to long-term care facilities, which includes nearly 300 nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This is a reduction from 10,725 previously anticipated doses. The federal government is contracting with CVS, Walgreens, and Big Sky Managed Care Pharmacy to offer on-site Covid-19 vaccination services for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The doses will be provided directly to the participating pharmacies to administer.

Additionally, the state is expected to receive 18,300 doses of the Moderna vaccine this week. This is the same as previously anticipated, but the number will likely be reduced in coming weeks. The Moderna vaccine includes 100 doses per box and does not require ultra cold storage like the Pfizer vaccine, making it more easily delivered to rural settings or small facilities. The Moderna vaccines will be shipped to Critical Access Hospitals and Community Health Centers for health care workers on the frontlines of the pandemic.

But as Christmas approaches, health officials continue to urge people to wear masks and avoid large gatherings.

The county’s positivity rate was still about 16% from Dec. 3 to Dec. 16, which is higher than it should be. For control of the virus, it should be about 5 % or less, health officials say.