Flathead City-County Health Department officials confirmed five additional COVID-19-related deaths on Monday, bringing the county’s total number of fatalities to 44.

The five deaths are associated with an unnamed long-term care facility, according to a press release. The majority of Flathead County’s COVID-19-related deaths thus far have occurred as a result of outbreaks in long-term care facilities throughout the valley.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to all loved ones,” said Tamalee St. James Robinson, interim health officer for the health department. “We continue to ask all Flathead residents to take the necessary preventative steps to protect our most vulnerable community members.”

As of Monday, an ongoing outbreak at Brendan House in Kalispell appeared to be nearing an end. According to the long-term care facility’s website, 44 residents have recovered from the virus since the facility’s first COVID-19 cases were discovered Nov. 4. There are currently two active cases among residents.

It is unclear if any of the five recent deaths are associated with Brendan House. However, according to a spokesperson with Kalispell Regional Healthcare, the parent company of the long-term care facility, 12 residents have died as of Monday. That’s up from the six COVID-19-related deaths that were reported in late November.

According to state data, there are currently 2,075 active cases of the virus in Flathead County, which is the third-highest total in the state behind Yellowstone and Cascade counties. Statewide, Montana has experienced more than 68,000 cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak began in March. A total of 742 Montanans have died from the virus.

For more information on COVID-19 and Flathead County cases, go to the Flathead City-County Health Department’s website at https://flatheadhealth.org/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or [email protected]