As of Saturday, September 5, 2020, Montana reports 8,164 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 146 new cases reported in the last day: 23 in Deer Lodge County, 15 in Flathead County, 14 in Big Horn County, 10 in Roosevelt County, 9 in each of Rosebud, Cascade, and Yellowstone Counties, 8 in Gallatin County, 5 in each of Lake, Missoula, and Silver Bow Counties, 4 in Richland and in Sweet Grass Counties, 3 in each of Fergus, Glacier, and Musselshell Counties, 2 in each of Carbon, Custer, Garfield, Hill, and Toole Counties, and 1 in each of seven more Montana counties: Beaverhead, Dawson, Granite, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln, Park, and Sanders Counties. Statewide, 477 people have been hospitalized, and 151 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. Yellowstone County has had 2,239 cases so far. Gallatin County has had 1,105. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,829. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, with 737 active cases. Gallatin County has 32. 116 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 188,000 Americans have died. There have been 6,240,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Coronavirus rules led Northeastern University to dismiss 11 students over a gathering in violation of university and public health protocols that prohibit crowded gatherings.”. the first-year students were dismissed after they were discovered together in a room at the Westin Hotel in Boston on Wednesday night. The Westin is one of several Boston hotels being used to house students at local colleges and universities during the pandemic. The students are among about 800 in a study-abroad program who are currently staying in two-person rooms at a Westin Hotel in Boston. The university said, “Those people who do not follow the guidelines — including wearing masks, avoiding parties and other gatherings, practicing healthy distancing, washing your hands, and getting tested — are putting everyone else at risk.” The dismissed Northeastern students were asked to vacate the hotel and are required to undergo coronavirus testing at the university before departing. Anyone who tests positive will be moved into wellness housing at the school until they recover.
Official letters sent to 115 students threatened to rescind their admission if they didn’t send a reply acknowledging that they would comply with the school’s code of conduct.

Authorities are evacuating Bridger Canyon due to the Bridger Foothills Fire, which began Friday afternoon. The fire has jumped Bridger Canyon Road and structures are burning. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to evacuate residents. Brackett Creek residents have been notified of possible evacuations, the county is encouraging voluntary evacuations. Effective immediately all trails and roads in the Bangtails are closed. All residents of Jackson Creek Road all the way to I-90 need to evacuate immediately, per Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office’s update as of 4 p.m. Saturday. Evacuations of Kelly Canyon are underway. Residents of Bridger Canyon who have not been contacted by the sheriff’s office yet are asked to evacuate voluntarily.

The fire has burned 475 acres and threatens 250 homes. Firefighters assigned to the fire have been injured, but the sheriff’s office did not have more specific details. As of 1:30 p.m. Saturday, all trails in the Bridger Mountains have been closed by Custer Gallatin National Forest. As of Saturday morning, 110 personnel are fighting the fire. Two large air tankers, four single engine air tankers, and four helicopters with buckets were dropping water and providing structure protection. Bridger Canyon Road is currently closed to non-residents between Story Mill Road and Sedan. Fire officials ask that people stay out of that area.

The American Red Cross of Montana has opened an evacuation center for those displaced by the Bridger Foothills Fire. The evacuation center is located at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 4383 Durston Road. Red Cross responders will provide families with water, food and updated information and connect them with community resources. Masks are required. Families in need of services can call the Montana Red Cross at 800-272-6668.