As of Friday, December 4, 2020, Montana reports 66,436 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,254 new cases reported in the last day: 175 in Lewis & Clark County, 160 in Flathead County, 148 in Missoula County, 113 in Cascade County, 111 in Gallatin County, 92 in Silver Bow County, 88 in Yellowstone County, 63 in Ravalli County, and more new cases in 35 more Montana counties. Statewide, 2,810 people have been hospitalized, and 483 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 16,492. The most active cases are in Yellowstone and Flathead County, Cascade, Lewis & Clark, and Missoula Counties. 727 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 276,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 14,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Rising case loads and hospitals full to capacity have caused some Montana medial facilities to cancel all elective (non-emergency) surgeries indefinitely. St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena has canceled all non-emergency surgeries. And some of the larger hospitals in the state are operating at near or full capacity with rising COVID-19 infections.

Amid a mounting second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Connecticut passed a grim milestone on Thursday days after the state recorded its 5000th Covid-related death, with, stunningly, one in every 700 Connecticut residents now having died after contracting Covid-19 over the past nine months. Just three days ago, we reported that 1 In Every 800 North Dakota Residents are Now Dead From Covid. North Dakota has become the eighth deadliest state in the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

Missoula is holding its annual Parade of Lights as a REVERSE Parade of Lights this Saturday. 100 lighted floats that, in a typical year, would parade down Higgins Avenue in Missoula will instead be parked or stationed along Campus Drive at the University of Montana, and Missoulians will drive through the parade instead of the floats driving by them. People can stay safe and distanced in their cars. The entrance to the REVERSE Parade of Lights is on Sixth Street in front of the UM Adams Center. The event in Missoula goes 5 to 8 p.m. this Saturday.

The Montana Legislature is slated to convene January 4 in its biannual regular legislative session, but Helena officials are asking the Montana Legislature to meet remotely this session. In a typical year, legislators descend upon Helena, along with lobbyists, special interest groups, staff hired just for the session, high school students who serve as pages, and many more people, from all corners of the state. With the coronavirus pandemic surging, the Helena City Commission, the Lewis and Clark County Commission and the mayors of Helena and East Helena are asking lawmakers not to gather at the state Capitol building for the session set to start Jan. 4. Their letter follows ones by the Lewis & Clark county health officer and the county health board last month, telling lawmakers the safest way to meet was virtually. The virus is spreading uncontrolled throughout the state, with 16,492 active cases reported Friday and 483 people hospitalized. The Helena hospital is full to capacity. In their letter, the commissioners and mayors noted the surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, saying they support the health officer and health board’s previous recommendations.

“Limiting travel and person-to-person contact right now is one of the best things we can do to protect the most vulnerable, ensure our medical system is not overrun, and still allow legislative business to occur,” the letter reads. “We recognize there may be some hybrid alternatives, but our plea remains the same: please protect our community and those around the state from unnecessary disease transmission. Where possible, have as many people as feasible participate virtually, limiting the number of people at the Capitol at any given time. For those participating in-person, follow public health guidance: wear face coverings, physical distance, and follow proper sanitation protocols.” The situation is all the more dangerous because many legislators return to their homes all around Montana on weekends, which could further spread illness to communities outside the state capitol.