Six Deaths Reported Due to COVID-19 Outbreak at Brendan House

[mahatmakanejeeves]

News & Features

Six Deaths Reported Due to COVID-19 Outbreak at Brendan House

Fifty-four residents of KRH long-term facility have tested positive, in addition to staff

BY MYERS REECE // NOV 23, 2020

Six residents of Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s Brendan House have died due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the 110-bed long-term care facility, while 54 residents have tested positive for the disease altogether, as of Nov. 22.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the Brendan House deaths were included in the Flathead City-County Health Department’s recent confirmation of three additional deaths in the county, or when all of the facility’s deaths will be officially registered, given the reporting lags between death and county confirmation.

The residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolated in the Brendan House and are “being closely monitored and receiving appropriate care,” according to Kalispell Regional Healthcare (KRH).

The hospital said in an update that employee surveillance testing resulted in additional positive staff members on Nov. 18, although the total number of infected employees was not provided. KRH stated that positive staff members are immediately quarantined and remain “out of the facility until approved for return to work by the Flathead City-County Health Department and Employee Health Services.”

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[MontanaMama]

1. Montana is a mess right now.

We were doing so well in the spring and summer...we've had an influx of folks from all over the country moving here to ride out the pandemic. Cases have gotten steadily worse. I don't anticipate it getting better when the thug governor is sworn in.

[2naSalit]

2. No shit.

I am seriously contemplating moving to another state, I don't think I can bear to watch. I planned to live out the rest of my days here but I may have to go to a blue state to relieve some serious stress. It really is a dilemma.

My county is only getting more ignorant. Every time I go out, like today, I see fewer people doing anything to avoid getting infected, nothing when given a choice. I was in a non-food store for a few minutes and nobody was wearing a mask and one guy took his mask off when he walked in.

I went to town to shop for groceries and town was packed, everything that was open was full. I couldn't go to the grocery store, the parking lot was full, and I checked three times over two hours. I ended up making a 70 mile round trip for three items at the healthfood store. There's no place to hang out while waiting. I guess I'll just be there at opening tomorrow or just before closing. Or I can get a couple things for a 60% mark up from an already 20% markup at the mercantile down at the river and go to town after Thursday.

I don't see where people aren't planning to go ahead as usual and ignore precautions. Our county is at 97% risk and the one hospital is full. 25 beds, 2 ICU. That's what we have for the whole county. And all the temporary visitors seem to be plentiful so, once I get my groceries, I am not going anywhere.

[MontanaMama]

3. I'm with you.

If I could leave...I’d probably do it. My kiddo is only a sophomore in high school. We still own two businesses with a handful of employees so I’m stuck for the moment. I’ve been making noises about retiring in Oregon...I was born there and would love to get back. I will wait to see where the boy ends up going to college and start making a plan from there.

My neighbor is an ICU nurse here. She calls work Covid Alley and there’s no sign of it going away soon. I see masks on everyone in the places I go...but that’s mainly the Good Food Store and Costco. Both those places are strict about masks. I tell my guys at home and at work that if they don’t put what they need in my list, it isn’t going to get bought. I make one trip out a week if that. That’s it.

I am sick about how Montana voted. Every bad choice possible.