As of Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Montana reports 70,133 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 747 new cases reported in the last day: 131 in Gallatin County, 81 in Yellowstone County, 72 in Missoula County, 71 in Flathead County, 43 in Lewis & Clark County, 33 in Cascade County, and more new cases in 33 more Montana counties. Statewide, 2,963 people have been hospitalized, and 490 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 17,294. The most active cases are in Yellowstone and Cascade Counties and in Flathead and Lewis & Clark Counties. 771 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Twenty-nine more deaths have been logged in the past two days. Nationwide, more than 289,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 15,500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

For the first time, more than 3,000 Covid-related deaths were recorded in a single day in the United States on Wednesday. The previous single-day record was set April 22, when 2,861 deaths were reported. More than 290,000 people have died from the coronavirus across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic this spring.

Two more Philadelphia police officers have died of Covid-19, which the Philadelphia police department characterized as line-of-duty deaths. Captain Frank Millilo died on Dec. 3 and officer Tab Ali died on Nov. 23 after contracting the coronavirus. Four Philadelphia officers have died of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

A Texas doctor died of COVID-19 in the intensive care unit he oversaw. Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza, 51, a pulmonologist, had been treating hundreds of serious Covid-19 cases in Houston until he contracted the coronavirus in October. He was treated by his colleagues in the same intensive care unit he ran. But after spending two weeks on a ventilator, Araujo-Preza died Nov. 30.

The greater Sacramento region is under a stay-at-home order after hospital capacity hit 90%. The stay-at-home order includes the California state capitol and thirteen California counties. Residents are required to stay at home as much as possible and minimize mixing with other households. Restaurants must close except for takeout and delivery and retail and food stores will limit the number of people who can shop inside to allow for greater social distancing.

COVID-19 can cause erectile dysfunction in men. COVID-19 survivors are experiencing negative effects on sexual health and sexual function due to coronavirus. COVID-19 can cause hyper-inflammation throughout the body, especially in the heart and surrounding muscles. The vascular system and reproductive system are connected. Blood supply to the penis can become blocked or narrowed as a result of a new or worsened vascular condition caused by the virus. Some men who’ve contracted coronavirus also report testicular damage. It’s too early to tell if the damage is permanent, or how it can affect sperm and fertility.