Montana at new high for hospitalizations

HELENA, MONTANA » Montana has set a new high for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 — 510.

The number reported Wednesday surpassed the previous high of 506 hospitalizations recorded Nov. 20, 2020, before any coronavirus vaccines were available.

Gov. Greg Gianforte issued a statement urging Montanans to get vaccinated, but added that “we will not mandate them.”

Meanwhile, the school district in Livingston, Montana, shifted its middle and high school classes to remote learning to slow the spread of the coronavirus among students. Officials said few students have used masks.

The school board voted Tuesday to have remote learning for its 740 middle and high school students until Oct. 25, because there are 17 coronavirus cases each at Park High School and Sleeping Giant Middle School.