As of Tuesday, November 24, 2020, Montana reports 57,504 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 974 new cases reported in the last day: 140 in Cascade County and in Flathead County, 94 in Yellowstone County, 92 in Lewis & Clark County, 80 in Gallatin County, 59 in Missoula County, 41 in Custer County and in Silver Bow County, and more new cases in 38 more Montana counties. Statewide, 2,420 people have been hospitalized, and a record 467 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 16,188. The most active cases are in Yellowstone and Flathead County, Cascade, Lewis & Clark and Missoula Counties, and Gallatin County. 630 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 258,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 12,500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The CDC is warning Americans: Do not travel for Thanksgiving. Citing an “exponential growth” in Covid-19 cases, federal public health officials urge people to stay home. Even spending the holiday nearby — like at a neighbor’s house just down the street — can be risky, the CDC said. There is no question that when multiple households gather, cases of COVID-19 rise dramatically. Spikes occurred after Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day. Thanksgiving — the most heavily traveled holiday in the U.S. — is sure to follow suit. But the holiday is a particular challenge with the potential to be even more dangerous. Colder weather across much of the country means open-air gatherings are impractical and consistent mask use is impossible while eating and drinking. The holiday also comes as average daily cases in the U.S. are higher than at any point in the pandemic.

With vaccines coming but in limited supply, sorting out priority becomes the priority. Pfizer, BioNTech and AstraZeneca are developing COVID-19 vaccines that in their first rounds of tests have achieved “more than 90%” efficacy, and the world is starting to focus on the limited initial supplies of COVID vaccines. New modeling looked at 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries to identify individuals at the highest risk of COVID-19 death, which could help guide the necessary vaccine rationing. Most models identify critical workers like health care workers and first responders as those to receive a vaccine first, along with essential workers. Then the prioritization can consider high-risk populations, teachers and students, and others.

Bozeman Health is working to expand its capacity at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital and Big Sky Medical Center as an increasing number of patients are hospitalized with COVID-19. The two hospitals have been between 70% and 90% full for much of the last few weeks, and there were days this week when all the beds at both facilities were occupied. Bozeman Health has limited the number of in-patient, non-emergent surgeries. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 surge, Bozeman Health has been adding new beds, and is working with the Disaster and Emergency Services Division of the Montana Department of Military Affairs to add 20 temporary acute and critical care beds, all of which hinges on having enough staff. Bozeman Health is facing a severe employee shortage. Earlier this month, the organization began allowing staff members who may have been exposed to the virus but were asymptomatic to return to work after seven days rather than the recommended 14. In the coming days, Bozeman Health will receive 21 contract workers that the state is bringing in from across the country to address Montana’s shortage of health care workers.

Last week, legislators from all around Montana converged in Helena to prepare for the upcoming 20/21 Montana Legislative Session. Most Republican legislators attended in person and did not follow health directives like wearing masks and keeping a social distance from one another. Most Democrats participated remotely or complied with mask-wearing and social distancing in the capitol. The Lewis & Clark County health officer issued a letter before the caucuses, and Governor Bullock implemented new restrictions on gatherings to no more than 25 people where masks and social distancing aren’t followed, but Republican legislators did not respect either the health officer’s order or the governor’s directives. Members of leadership from both political parties in the House of Representatives and the Senate are talking to try to prepare for the session, slated to begin in January, at a time when public health officials warn that both COVID and the flu are worst for transmission and illness. In the past many months, legislative meetings have been conducted remotely, and in preparation for the session, remote capabilities have been installed. Legislative leaders can decide to conduct the legislative session remotely…if they have the political will to do so, to try to slow the spread of coronavirus and the flu.