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Montana Reports Two New Virus Deaths in Assisted Care Facility

The state reported a single-day record of 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the third time the state set a record this week

By Associated Press

HELENA – Two more people have died as a result of a coronavirus outbreak at a memory care facility in Billings, bringing the number of deaths associated with the facility to five, Yellowstone County health officials said.

The new deaths were announced Friday, as the state reported a single-day record of 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the third time the state set a record this week.

A man in his 90s died Thursday in a Yellowstone County hospital while a man in his 80s died at the Canyon Creek Memory Care facility. Both men were residents of the facility, which has reported 66 cases of the virus, including 45 among residents.

“We share in the grief of each family member and friend that has lost a loved one to COVID-19 related disease. We must never forget that each person who passes is more than a number; they were somebody’s father, mother, sister, uncle or husband,” John Felton, Yellowstone County Health Officer and RiverStone Health President, said in a statement.

Friday’s cases raised the state’s total known COVID-19 cases to 1,593, including 465 in the past week. Twenty-one people are hospitalized and 28 have died. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.