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Active COVID hospitalizations reach record high in Montana

Shaylee Ragar

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Montana hit an all-time high Wednesday, with 510 people needing hospital care due to the coronavirus. The state’s previous high for hospitalizations was 506 on Nov. 20, 2020, when the state had roughly twice as many active COVID-19 cases.

Public health and medical experts say the delta variant has made people sicker, and more COVID patients have landed in intensive care units.

According to state data, over half of the patients in ICU beds as of Monday morning were there for COVID-19. However, large hospitals like Billings Clinic say their ICU has swelled to about double its normal size, largely due to COVID patients.

Copyright 2021 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

Aaron is Montana Public Radio's Flathead reporter.