Butte-Silver Bow Health Department confirms three new COVID-19 fatalities – KXLF Butte News

BUTTE — The Butte-Silver Bow Health Department announced Wednesday three additional COVID-19 fatalities in Butte-Silver Bow.

The fatalities involve two men in their 70’s and a woman in her 60’s, according to Health Officer Karen Sullivan.

According to Sullivan, as of Wednesday morning, Butte-Silver Bow had 197 active cases of COVID-19 – with 43 of those cases, or almost 22 percent of the total active cases – ages 17 and younger. Of those 43 cases, 26 were ages 11 or younger, and therefore ineligible to be vaccinated. Median age for all active cases is 35.

Those seeking a COVID-19 test may call Southwest Montana Community Health Center at 723-4075. Testing is also available at select area pharmacies, and home tests are now available over the counter. Sullivan said those testing positive at home can seek guidance from the Health Department at 497-5008 or 497-5041. Testing is also available through St. James Healthcare, with drive-through testing near the St. James Healthcare Foundation building occurring weekdays at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. A provider order for testing is required.

Testing is also available through the Butte Native Wellness Center, 55 E. Galena, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, and 8 a.m. to noon Thursdays and Fridays. Testing may be coordinated at 782-0461.

The Montana Technological University community – faculty, staff and students – is asked to seek testing through orediggerrx@mtech.edu.

As of Wednesday, the Health Department was reporting 55 newly confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, a test positivity rate of 7.8 percent, and 90.22 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population. The Harvard Global Health Institute says that communities sustaining more than 25 cases per 100,000 population should be implementing mitigation measures, such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

The CDC lists Butte-Silver Bow’s transmission rate as high.

Sixty-three percent of eligible Butte-Silver Bow residents are vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, with pop-up clinics planned as follows:

• Thursday, Sept. 23, Butte Civic Center, Vaccine Sweepstakes event, 1-2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 25, Uptown Butte Farmers Market on Park Street, 10 a.m.-noon

Third shots are now being administered to those who self-attest to being immune-compromised and those on immunosuppressant therapy.

In addition to the pop-up locations, vaccines are also available at Safeway on Massachusetts; Walgreens; CVS; Walmart; the Medical Arts Pharmacy next to St. James Healthcare; the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department; and Southwest Montana Community Health Center.