As of Friday, November 27, 2020, Montana reports 59,796 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 148 new cases reported in the last day: 81 in Missoula County, 13 in Cascade County, 12 in Park County, 11 in Lincoln County, and more new cases in 13 more Montana counties. Statewide, 2,526 people have been hospitalized, and 452 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 15,849. The most active cases are in Yellowstone and Flathead County, Cascade, Lewis & Clark, and Missoula Counties. 657 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 265,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 13,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban again tested positive for the virus and reported mild symptoms. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon tested positive for the virus, his office said Wednesday, and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he is quarantining after Covid-19 exposure and tested negative on Wednesday.

110 contracted medical staff have arrived in Montana to assist hospitals in responding to the spike in COVID-19 cases. The 110 health care workers are part of an anticipated total of 200 to be deployed in the state before Thanksgiving and who will remain until the end of the year. The governor’s office requested a total of 278 medical staff. The workers, including registered nurses and respiratory therapists from around the country, will aid hospitals that are at or near capacity as part of a contract between the state and NuWest, which provides traveling health care workers. Nurses are being paid $88 an hour along with $1,057 for expenses each week and a $500 relocation payment. Most nurses are assigned to Benefis Health System in Great Falls, Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, and Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Medical staff are also being deployed to hospitals in Bozeman, Missoula, Great Falls, Livingston and Butte. Hospitals in Great Falls were at 82% capacity and those in Billings were at 88% capacity, the state reported. Last week, hospitals in those cities were above 90% capacity. The workers will help fill in for nurses who are ill or in quarantine due to exposure to the virus

Cascade County has had eight more coronavirus-related deaths since Monday, according to health department officials, including a teacher in the Great Falls Public Schools who has died of COVID-19.

Great Falls Public School District trustees voted to approve a proposal to give “essential worker” stipends to district staff. Board members agreed that the stipend was well-deserved because of the district staff’s hard work during the pandemic. All staff members regularly working over 20 hours a week will get $500; staff working less than 20 hours a week will get $250. The district said that 1,329 staff members will qualify for the $500 stipend, and 172 will get the $250 stipend. The money will come from the district’s federal “CARES Act” grant. The stipends will be paid on December 10th.

Gallatin County health officials have filed a lawsuit against the Rockin’ R Bar for violating the 10 p.m. closing time set by the health board to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The lawsuit asks a judge to issue a preliminary injunction ordering the bar to comply with health orders and rules set by the county health department and Gov. Steve Bullock. Earlier this month, Gallatin County’s health board passed new restrictions meant to slow the spread of coronavirus. The rules restrict most gatherings to 25 people, reduces most businesses’ capacity to 50% and required bars and restaurants to close by 10 P.M., except for carry-out and delivery services. Bullock made the 10 P.M. closing time a statewide rule last Friday. He also announced more money for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but said that money would be contingent on businesses following the health rules. The county sent warning letters to Rocking R Bar and JRs Lounge in Belgrade last week for staying open past 10 P.M. on several instances. JRs Lounge has come into compliance with the rules. The Rocking R Bar has not.