Originally published on December 18, 2020 5:56 pm
When Montana Governor elect Greg Gianforte assumes office Jan. 4, he’ll inherit an ongoing response to the worst public health crisis to face the state in a century. The current U.S. Congressman says he’s holding off on releasing specifics about protecting public health while reopening businesses until he’s sworn in.
But in an interview with Yellowstone Public Radio’s Rachel Cramer, Gianforte says he’ll lead by example by masking up while in the capital and getting a vaccine when it’s available.
Earlier this week, Governor elect Greg Gianforte sent a letter to state lawmakers outlining COVID-19 protocols his office plans to take during the pandemic.
Originally published on December 18, 2020 9:17 am
A district court judge ruled from the bench Wednesday that a Bozeman bar must comply with a county health order intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Gallatin City County Health Board and health officer took Rocking R Bar to court after the popular watering hole intentionally stayed open late nine times in Nov. despite a health order curfew and warning.
Montana statute gives the public health officer the authority and duty to take actions to protect the public from infectious disease. Gallatin County says a Nov. 6 health order requiring bars, tasting rooms, distilleries, casinos and restaurants to close early was made in an effort to flatten the surge of COVID-19 cases, keep hospital beds open and improve contact tracing.
Originally published on December 15, 2020 7:42 pm
More than 3,000 people in Montana have been hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19. One hospital in Billings has started celebrating each recovered patient s return home with a new code: Joy.
Just a week ago, machines were artificially doing the work of Ellen Edlund’s lungs and heart.
Edlund, a 20 year Billings Clinic registered nurse hospitalized with serious complications from COVID-19, credits her recovery to her colleagues’ expertise and an outpouring of community support and prayer.
On Monday, a wheelchair carried her out of the hospital through a tunnel of cheering health care workers as the opening notes of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” pumped through the hospital speakers, a new signal for each COVID-19 patient who leaves the Billings Clinic.
Originally published on December 15, 2020 7:05 pm
Ten large Montana hospitals this week are beginning to vaccinate frontline health care workers against COVID-19. The shot won’t be mandatory at one Helena hospital, which still expects most of its employees to get vaccinated.
Spokesperson Katie Gallagher said Tuesday roughly 70 percent of the 1,200 St. Peter’s Health employees who responded to a recent survey want or are interested in getting vaccinated. She said staff members wanted more information about the science behind the vaccine and known risks and benefits.
“Our staff had the same exact questions the the community has around efficacy, around how long the vaccine’s going to last,” Gallagher said.
Originally published on December 10, 2020 7:49 pm
Montana’s Attorney General on Wednesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a Texas lawsuit attempting to challenge election results in four swing states that went for President elect Joe Biden. Congressmen Greg Gianforte Thursday also signed onto an amicus brief backing the challenge, along with 105 other Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Support of the lawsuit is the latest example of state GOP officials casting doubt on the November election results.
In a news release, Montana Attorney General Tim Fox acknowledged the high court is unlikely to take up the case, but said it “raises important constitutional questions about the separation of powers and the integrity of mail-in ballots in those defendant states.