COVID-19 Updates for Stillwater County

Stillwater Billings Clinic

4/13/21

Media Update

For immediate release:

April 13, 2021

Please call (406)322-1070 for any media related questions.

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JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE ON HOLD

April 13, 2021 – Columbus, Montana. Stillwater Billings Clinic and Public Health continue to work together to vaccinate the Stillwater county public with the Moderna Vaccine. The single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is currently unavailable to area residence as health officials await further guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Federal Drug Administration.

As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data regarding six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J & J vaccine.

“We encourage our patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccine is one of the ways we can continue to remain on our downward trajectory. Frequent handwashing, safe social distancing, and wearing masks are strongly encouraged and contribute to slowing the spread,” says Kirby, Johnson, Interim CEO at Stillwater Billings Clinic.

Stillwater County vaccination clinics will continue at the Little Metra in Columbus, utilizing the Moderna vaccine distributions allocated by the State. If you have any questions, please call

406-322-1070 or 406-322-1000.

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4/13/21

FEMA Announces COVID-19 Funeral Assistance:

FEMA has announced that the COVID Funeral Assistance registration process will open on Monday, April 12. Registrations will be taken by staff at a call center established specifically for this assistance. The call-center numbers and operating hours are as follows:

(844) 684-6333
(800) 462-7585 for TTY

Available Monday-Friday, 7 am to 7 pm Mountain Time

The FEMA.gov webpage for Funeral Assistance has been updated with this information, at the link: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance [fema.gov]To learn more, please visit: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes

4/6/21

Update for Stillwater County COVID 19 Vaccine Schedule

COVID19 Vaccines will be available for individuals ages 18* and older for Stillwater County residents the following dates and locations.

We ask that you wear a short sleeve shirt under your sweater or jacket for easy access to your shoulder. Please bring your insurance information with you as well. We do ask that all patients remain for 15 minutes following injection to ensure no adverse reactions occur.

There will be Moderna vaccines offered at all clinics, if available, Johnson & Johnson Vaccine may be offered. Due to limited supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, we cannot guarantee doses to be available each clinic. Also, due to age limitations, both Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are only available to those individuals aged 18 and older. Please call Stillwater Billings Clinic if you are needing to get a vaccine for individuals aged 16-18.

**First and second doses will be available for individuals during all clinics. If you are coming for a 2^nd dose, please bring your immunization card!**

Friday April 9^th – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Columbus Pavilion “Little Metra”

Thursday April 15^th – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Columbus Evangelical Church

Friday April 16^th – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Columbus Pavilion “Little Metra”

Thursday April 22^nd – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Columbus Pavilion “Little Metra”

Friday April 23rd – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Columbus Pavilion “Little Metra”

Friday April 30^th – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Columbus Pavilion “Little Metra”

3/22/21

3/15/21

Attention Stillwater Residents

If you are age 60 and older and need a COVID-19 vaccine, please come to the EVANGELICAL CHURCH in COLUMBUS, MT (2 East, 1^st Ave North, Columbus) on THURSDAY March 18^th, between the hours of 9 am – 2pm or until vaccine runs out!
Wear a short sleeve shirt under your coat or jacket to get to the top of your shoulder for the injection.
Bring a copy of your insurance card with you.
*If you have received a vaccine in the past 2 weeks, you will need to wait to get your COVID vaccine until 2 full weeks have passed.
If you have previously called and were placed on the waiting list, or have not signed up yet, try to attend this clinic.*

*More clinic dates and appointment times will be available in the near future if you are unable to attend this one.

3/02/2021

2/23/2021

Media Update

For immediate release:

February 23, 2021

Please call (406)322-1070 for any media related questions.

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Thirteen COVID-19 Related Deaths in Stillwater County

February 23, 2021 – Columbus, Montana. Stillwater County reports an additional COVID-19

related death, bringing the county to thirteen total deaths.

The individual was a male who passed away in an out-of-county hospital, from complications

of COVID-19.

Dr. Cody White, Stillwater County Public Health Medical Director stated, “Our heart-felt condolences

go out to the family of this patient. Please continue to take all of the appropriate protective and

preventative measures that help to slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes wearing a mask

and physically distancing when around others, avoiding crowded areas, staying home if you are

ill and frequently washing your hands.”

Stillwater County Public Health continues to vaccinate in the community as vaccine is assigned and

allocated by the State. If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccination, contact Public Health at

322-1070 to be put on the waiting list.

Out of respect for the family, no further details will be released regarding recent death.

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1/22/2021

Media Update

For immediate release:

January 21, 2021

Please call (406)322-1070 for any media related questions.

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STILLWATER COUNTY COVID-19 RELATED DEATHS REACHES TWELVE

January 21, 2021 – Columbus, Montana. Stillwater County reports an additional COVID-19 related

death in the county, bringing our total deaths to twelve.

This individual was a female in her 80’s and passed away in an out-of-county hospital.

Dr. Cody White, Stillwater County Public Health Medical Director stated, “It is heartbreaking as we

continue to lose patients to this virus. As we work with the state’s allocations to vaccinate against

COVID-19, we must continue to do our part and continue wearing masks, washing hands, and

practicing safe physical distancing. Most of all, stay home if you are not feeling well.”

Public Health urges individuals to get on the list to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Please

call 322-1070 and leave a message with the following information: contact name (spell it out), date

of birth, and phone number. Public Health will contact individuals and coordinate scheduling as vaccine

arrives and is available.

Out of respect for the family, no further details will be released.

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1/20/2021

MediaUpdate_Phase1bVaccinationPlan_1_20_21

Media Update 

For immediate release:

January 20, 2021

Please call (406)322-1070 for any media related questions.

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STILLWATER COUNTY TO MOVE INTO PHASE 1(B) OF VACCINATION DISTRIBUTION PLAN

January 20, 2021 – Columbus, Montana. Stillwater County will be moving into Phase 1b of the COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Plan, in accordance with the State of Montana.

Allocations for Phase 1b have not yet arrived in the county but the first shipments of vaccines for individuals in the Phase 1b group are scheduled to begin arriving within the coming week.

Once COVID-19 vaccines arrive for Phase1b, Public Health will work proficiently to begin vaccinating individuals within this group. Public Health urges individuals wishing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, to contact the office at 322-1070, in order to be placed on the list. Public Health is experiencing a large volume of calls and it is recommended for callers to leave a contact name (spell it out), date of birth, phone number, and individuals will be reached and scheduled in coordination with arrival of vaccines.

Please continue to take all of the appropriate protective and preventative measures that help to slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes wearing a mask and physically distancing when around others, avoiding crowded areas, staying home if you are ill and frequently washing your hands.

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These stats are according to MT Maps and do not reflect real-time numbers.

1/15/2021

Governor’s New Directive, beginning on Friday, 1/15/2021

1/11/2021

1/8/2021

These stats are according to MT MAPS and may not reflect real-time numbers.

1/7/2021

Updates to Montana COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Plan

1/6/2021

Media Update

For immediate release:

January 6, 2021

Please call (406)322-1070 for any media related questions.

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STILLWATER COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE

January 6, 2021 – Columbus, Montana. Governor Greg Gianforte announced on Tuesday that the statewide mask mandate, along with other COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted but will not happen immediately. In yesterday’s press conference Gianforte also announced the recent revision to tiers and distribution plans of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Phases 1b and 1c of the states COVID-19 vaccination plan have been re-prioritized and county public health officials have been asked to wait on further guidance of the new plan from the state. Stillwater County Public Health currently has no information as to when the vaccine will be readily available to those who meet the criteria of newly revised criteria.

“Stillwater County Public Health is and will continue placing people on a waiting list based on tiers directed from the state’s guidance,” said Dr. White, Stillwater County Public Health Medical Director. “As more information is received from the state level, such as time frame and vaccine quantities, public health will use the wait list to contact and schedule appointments on that list.”

Please watch the Stillwater County News and Stillwater Billings Clinic website for more information.

For further questions regarding who falls into these categories and/or to get on the wait list, please contact public health at (406)322-1070.

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These are statistics as of noon today and may or may not reflect real time numbers.