BILLINGS — The coronavirus pandemic in Montana continued to grow as the state recorded a record number of cases Saturday, surpassing the high marks reached two days earlier.
Montana recorded 346 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday morning, an increase from 323 cases Friday and 333 cases Thursday, The Billings Gazette reported Saturday.
Montana experienced a record number of new case totals in eight of the previous 11 days.
State health officials reported one new death from the virus Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 171.
As of Saturday, Montana had 2,987 people known to be currently infected by COVID-19, with 147 people hospitalized.
The state reported 8,749 people have recovered from the virus.
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.
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.