Toole County reports 6th COVID-19 death

(KPAX) Officials in Shelby announced on Wednesday that there has been a sixth COVID-19 death in Toole County.

The Toole County Public Health Department says the patient was a man in his 70s.

"At this time, there are six active cases in Toole County, all of which consist of close contact transmission within local congregate settings. All close contacts with these cases have been placed on quarantine and are only released from quarantine when they meet the CDC recommended protocols for ending quarantine," the health department said in a statement.

"However, as many of you know, it is possible for carriers of the virus to be asymptomatic, and therefore spread the virus unknowingly. Due to this, please continue to follow the Governor’s directives for shelter in place. As a county and a state, we are getting closer every day to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Please remain patient and vigilant so we can overcome this together."

To date, there have been 29 confirmed cases in Toole County, and 17 patients are listed as recovered. There is currently one patient hospitalized due to COVID-19.

A second COVID-19 related death in Flathead County was also reported Wednesday morning.