BILLINGS — Yellowstone County health officials said a recent review of state health records has revealed an additional 15 deaths due to COVID-19.
In a press release issued Tuesday, RiverStone Health said the deaths occurred between Sept. 22 and Dec. 3 but were not reported to the local health department until last week.
"After reviewing more than 300 case reports the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services sent last week, RiverStone Health has determined that 15 of those cases involved deaths that had not been previously reported to the public," the press release states.
Including these additional 15 deaths, 144 Yellowstone County people have died of COVID-19 illness, the agency said.
The newly reported deaths involved residents who all died in hospitals. Some had been living in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Others had been living in private homes.
The victims include:
- A woman in her 80s who died on Sept. 22.
- A woman in her 80s who died on Sept. 23.
- A man in his 50s who died on Oct. 8.
- A woman in her 70s who died on Oct. 13.
- A man in his 60s who died on Oct. 24.
- A woman in her 70s who died on Oct. 29.
- A woman in her 80s who died on Oct. 30.
- A man in his 90s who died on Nov. 5.
- A man in his 60s who died on Nov. 8.
- A woman in her 90s who died on Nov. 17.
- A woman in her 80s who died on Nov. 28.
- A woman in her 70s who died on Nov. 28.
- A man in his 80s who died on Dec. 1.
- A man in his 80s who died on Dec. 2.
- A woman in her 80s who died on Dec. 3.
“The loss of life in this pandemic is terrible and shocking,” said John Felton, Yellowstone County public health officer and RiverStone Health CEO. “Our hearts go out to all the families, friends and coworkers of our Yellowstone County neighbors who have died.”
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services online map indicates 145 deaths have occurred in Yellowstone County as of Dec. 15. Local health officials said they are working with DPHHS to reconcile that discrepancy.