Park City-County Health Department Provides COVID-19 Update

Park County Health Officer Dr. Laurel Desnick provided an update on COVID-19 cases in Park County on Friday.

In the update, Desnck said that the recent COVID-19 outbreak at the Livingston Health and Rehabilitation Center has now claimed four lives, and many more people have been infected.

The facility is using all available resources from the health department, the state, and internally to bring the outbreak to an end. Desnick said that in addition to cases in the nursing home, cases in the community are also increasing.

Many of the new cases in Park County are being spread within family groups, at work, and at social events, Desnick said. Residents are encouraged to get tested if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with an infected person.

Three cases of the U.K. variant were reported in Gallatin County this week. Desnick says that none have been identified in Park County so far. The same prevention strategies apply to the new variants as well as the old ones. A well-fitting mask is more important than ever.

Social distancing, washing your hands regularly, and avoiding large crowds will all help to prevent a further spike in cases in our communities. Earlier this week, Governor Gianforte expanded the number of people eligible for vaccination in a new phase 1B plus. This includes persons 60 and older, as well as those with several new medical conditions including moderate to severe asthma, stroke, liver disease, and dementia.

More information can be found on the Park City-County Health Department website.