Montana is the hottest spot in the entire nation for COVID-19 infections when it comes to the hospital admission rate per capita, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Through Sept. 23, the latest week of data available, there were 115 new hospital admissions for COVID in Montana, which was a 32% change from the previous week. That's by far the highest rate of any state or territory in the country.
And on Wednesday, health officials in Missoula announced they've seen an increase in the levels of detected COVID-19 in wastewater samples from people flushing toilets in the city.
“As we’re seeing an increase in COVID in our wastewater surveillance and an increase in outbreaks, it’s important for people to be sure to take precautions," said Cindy Farr, director of Health Promotion at Missoula Public Health. "It is especially important to be a good neighbor and protect those most vulnerable to severe illness from COVID."
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Missoula Public Health communications officer Lily Walsh said that unlike test results, sampling wastewater provides data on the number of people infected, including those who are asymptomatic or go untested.
From samples taken of sewage flowing into Missoula's wastewater treatment plant, health officials found a rapid increase in the amount of viral RNA produced by the virus.
County officials use a number called "wastewater effective concentration copies" to measure the amount of virus in the sewage. In April of this year, the number was around 500,000. It steadily decreased to near zero in mid-July before skyrocketing to over 1 million in August.
Farr said that autumn and winter provide more opportunity for people to get an upper respiratory illness. Members of the public are encouraged to report positive at-home COVID tests to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services so that officials can keep a better pulse on how many cases are currently in the county. Click here to submit a report of a positive at-home test to DPHHS. (The online address for the reporting website is bit.ly/45j4YMQ.)
Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should take a test either at home or with a health care provider. Symptoms of COVID include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or running nose or nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
If you are experiencing symptoms, stay home. If you have been exposed to COVID, wear a mask for 10 days and monitor symptoms.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID should isolate from others for five days after symptom onset. That person should also notify close contacts that they tested positive.
David Erickson is the business reporter for the Missoulian.
