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More Than 30 Inmates at Yellowstone County Jail Have COVID

Thirty out of 70 men in one housing unit have tested positive

By Associated Press

BILLINGS — More than 30 inmates at the Yellowstone County jail in Billings have tested positive for COVID-19, an inmate at the Cascade County regional jail in Great Falls has also tested positive and a resident died at a long-term care facility in Flathead County where there has been an outbreak of the respiratory virus, officials said.

Thirty out of 70 men in one housing unit at the Yellowstone County jail tested positive, Sheriff Mike Linder said. Those who have tested positive are being isolated, but re not showing symptoms.

In Great Falls, one inmate at the regional jail tested positive for COVID-19 after showing symptoms, Cascade Copunty Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said.

Montana has reported over 6,400 cases of COVID-19, including 221 announced Saturday and Sunday. The number of infections is believed to be much higher because not all people have been tested and because people can have COVID-19 without having symptoms. Ninety people have died and 111 remain hospitalized, state officials said.

The state has just over 1,500 people known to be currently infected, with just over half of them in Yellowstone County.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.