Coronavirus cases continue to increase

Officials continued to confirm new, local cases of the novel coronavirus this week.

Whereas Lincoln County was home to just seven infected patients a week ago, the number of cases increased to 25 by Sept. 30. The county caseload jumped after a weekend surge that saw nine residents fall ill.

The uptick came as Montana again broke records for daily new case totals. The state recorded 348 new cases on Sept. 30. Yellowstone, Cascade and Flathead counties are the hardest hit by the pandemic.

Lincoln County officials reported six new cases on Monday: four men and two women. Of those, five showed symptoms of COVID-19 and one was deemed either asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic.

Four of the new cases contracted the illness from a known patient, officials said. Two suffered from unknown exposure.

Officials added another case Tuesday: a man in his 40s with unknown exposure to the virus.

Three additional cases were confirmed Wednesday, the day the state saw a new record in case numbers. The patients were described as men, one in his 40s, one in his 70s and one under the age of 19. Two contracted the virus from known patients. The third is considered an unknown exposure.

All three showed symptoms of COVID-19.

By Sept. 30, three patients in Lincoln County had been hospitalized.

Since the pandemic began, the county has seen 131 cases and three deaths related to the coronavirus. While COVID-19 poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with underlying conditions, most people recover from the virus.