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The latest news about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Montana.

Active COVID hospitalizations reach record high in Montana

St. Peter's Health in Helena, MT.
Shaylee Ragar
/
Montana Public Radio
St. Peter's Health in Helena, MT.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Montana hit an all-time high Wednesday, with 510 people needing hospital care due to the coronavirus. The state’s previous high for hospitalizations was 506 on Nov. 20, 2020, when the state had roughly twice as many active COVID-19 cases.

Public health and medical experts say the delta variant has made people sicker, and more COVID patients have landed in intensive care units.

According to state data, over half of the patients in ICU beds as of Monday morning were there for COVID-19. However, large hospitals like Billings Clinic say their ICU has swelled to about double its normal size, largely due to COVID patients.

Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.
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