As of Monday, July 20, 2020, Montana reports 2,621 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 88 new cases reported in the last day: 34 new cases in Gallatin County, 15 in Yellowstone County, 12 in Flathead County, 8 new cases in Cascade County, 4 new cases in Big Horn and in Missoula County, 3 new cases in each of Lake, Lewis & Clark, and Lincoln Counties, and 1 new case in each of Madison and McCone Counties. Statewide, 167 people have been hospitalized, and 48 people are currently being treated in the hospital for COVID-19. Yellowstone County has had 717 cases so far, surpassing Gallatin County, with 615 cases so far. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, with 485 active cases. 39 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 143,000 Americans have died. In Montana, in just twenty days, since July 1, more than half of the state’s 2,621 confirmed virus cases have arisen, more than in the past five months.

Twenty-eight states, and the District of Columbia, now require masks outside the home to slow the virus’ spread. Countries around the world also are requiring people to wear face masks. France has made face masks compulsory in all enclosed public spaces amid a fresh bout of COVID-19 outbreaks. Anyone caught without a mask faces a fine of 135 Euros, or about $154 US dollars. Spain’s north-eastern region of Catalonia has a stay-at-home order in effect for millions of its citizens, with new cases threatening to overwhelm local health systems. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania and Montenegro are also reporting large rises in confirmed cases.

The Bahamas will ban most international flights as the number of coronavirus cases in the Caribbean nation surges. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced a series of coronavirus-related restrictions and said, “We cannot allow our hospitals to be overrun.” The number of cases had almost tripled since the Bahamas reopened its borders July 1.

Several school leaders in Montana have put small-scale plans in place to address what they view as a long-simmering equity issue: students’ home internet access. Public school districts in Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls all began or will begin to pay for home internet access, a priority for those who champion the “homework gap” — a documented problem where students who lack home internet access struggle more in school. Billings has paid for 20 families’ internet access so far at a cost of about $6,000. In Missoula, the district paid for about 125 hot spots that cost about $21,000. Great Falls plans to deploy hot spots beginning in August or September so that students can learn from home.

The University of Montana and Carroll College in Helena sent alerts to students and employees last week about confirmed cases of coronavirus at their campuses, while Montana State University has not sent alerts about cases on the Bozeman campus. In Bozeman, Gallatin City-County Health Officer Matt Kelley said new coronavirus cases were tied to parties and bars, and that five recent cases involved MSU students. Reporters confirmed that at least one coronavirus case was an MSU football player. Tracy Ellig, MSU vice president for communications, said that MSU would not release any information if any students on campus this summer had tested positive for the virus or were in quarantine.