As of Monday, September 28, 2020, Montana reports 12,413 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 306 new cases reported in the last day: 40 in Yellowstone County, 36 in Glacier County, 31 in Toole County, 29 in Roosevelt County, 28 in Flathead County, 23 in Cascade County, 21 in Hill County, 15 in Gallatin County, 11 in Big Horn County, 9 in Silver Bow County, 8 in Pondera County, 6 in Rosebud County, 5 in Jefferson County, 4 in each of Blaine, McCone, and Richland Counties, 3 in each of Lincoln, Stillwater, Teton, and Valley Counties, 2 in each of Carbon, Madison, Mineral, Park, Prairie, and Sweet Grass Counties, and 1 in each of eight more Montana counties: Fergus, Lake, Musselshell, Phillips, Powder River, Ravalli, Sheridan, and Wheatland Counties. Statewide, 698 people have been hospitalized, and 158 people are currently being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. Yellowstone County has had 3,244 cases so far. Gallatin County has had 1,369. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 3,400. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, with 943 active cases. Gallatin County has 182. 174 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 205,000 Americans have died. There have been 7,160,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Businesses could face billions of dollars in lawsuits from employees who were infected with coronavirus at work and brought COVID-19 home to family and relatives. Around 9 percent of U.S. coronavirus deaths stem from take-home infections — and the lawsuits could cost businesses as much as $21 billion. Take-home cases have been around for decades in asbestos litigation, and courts have split on whether a business has an obligation to members of the public who have never been on their premises. The U.S. workers compensation system generally makes it difficult for workers to sue for Covid-19. The system caps liability for businesses and bars costly lawsuits in return for quick payments to employees, who do not need to prove fault. But coronavirus cases brought home by a worker could establish a strong “causal chain” linking the sick family member to the worker and then to the business and the business’s alleged failure to adopt safety measures.

Young people are at risk of severe COVID-19 illness. The CDC finds that coronavirus infections are now highest among young adults ages 20 to 29, who accounted for more than 20 percent of all confirmed cases from June to August. While young adults may think they are strong and invincible, doctors warn that COVID-19 can strike them with a vengeance. Recently, the family of Dr. Adeline Fagan announced that the 28-year-old Houston OB-GYN resident died from the virus after a long hospital stay. New findings reveal how severely young adults can be affected by COVID-19. Among more than 3,200 young adults hospitalized with the disease, 30 percent required intensive care or mechanical ventilation and nearly 3 percent of young adults died. Another three percent had to be discharged to another health care facility to continue their recovery. As young adults return to college campuses — and parties — multiple outbreaks already have been reported by various universities across the nation. Doctors are concerned about the spreading infections and the serious cases in young adults. COVID-19 is life-threatening for all ages.

Montana reported 306 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, with large increases in Cascade, Glacier, Hill, Toole and Roosevelt counties. Glacier County, which contains portions of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, reported 36 new cases. The Blackfeet Nation has been hit hard by the virus, and on Monday the tribe reported 118 active cases on its reservation. The tribal nation entered a mandatory two-week shutdown on Monday to prevent the spread of the virus. State officials said recently the increase in cases in Montana is caused by schools reopening, Labor Day weekend gatherings and the continuing spread of the virus in congregate living settings, such as nursing homes and jails.