For the first time since May 2021, Yellowstone County has had an entire week with no residents dying of COVID-19 illness. The pandemic death toll stands at 550 residents lost to the virus, the same number reported on March 28. Sixty-three of those deaths occurred in 2022.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 virus remains in our community, RiverStone Health officials said Monday. A small number of positive tests continues to be reported and, as of Monday, four Yellowstone County people were hospitalized with COVID-19 illness. None of them were in intensive care.
Altogether in the week ending on April 2, a daily average of six people (including Yellowstone County residents and others) were hospitalized in Billings with COVID-19 illness and an average of two were in intensive care with one patient on a ventilator.
This is a huge turnaround from the weeks of the COVID-19 omicron variant surge in January and February when nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported among Yellowstone County residents in a single week. Billings’ two hospitals then had between 40 and 90 COVID-19 inpatients daily. Up to 20 patients were in the ICU and most of them were on ventilators.
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While the pandemic virus is much less prevalent now than earlier this year, experience with COVID-19 shows that it can return and surge again. Vaccination remains the safest, most effective measure for reducing the risk of serious illness and death from this virus. Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available by appointment at RiverStone Health Clinics in Billings, Bridger, Joliet and Worden. Call 406-247-3382 or 406-247-3350.
Free at-home COVID-19 test kits may be picked up at any RiverStone Health Clinic during regular operating hours or in the lobby of the Lil Anderson Center, the four-story building at RiverStone Health, 123 S. 27th St.
