Montana sees decrease in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations

Montana has seen a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations over the past few weeks.

A readout for Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) from the state’s health department showed a decline of 43 percent decline in cases this week compared to the week prior, The Associated Press reported.

In that same time, hospitalizations decreased 16 percent in the state after a surge of new COVID-19 cases in September. 

Data gathered from the AP in the last two weeks showed Montana is now ranked 29th for COVID-19 cases in the country, down from its No. 1 spot in September. 

Eighty-three percent of hospitalizations and 77 percent of COVID-19 deaths have been of unvaccinated individuals in Montana from the beginning of April to the end of November, according to health officials, the AP reported. 

Fifty-two percent of Montana’s population is fully vaccinated. 

The decline in cases comes amid concerns that another spike could occur from the new omicron variant that was first discovered in South Africa. The new strain was first reported in the U.S. this week, and thus far, it has been detected in 12 states.

Scientists and public health officials are still working to figure out how transmissible the variant is and if current vaccines will protect against it.

The omicron variant is spreading rapidly in South Africa, and infections have been reported in dozens of countries around the world.