As of Tuesday, December 21, 2020, Montana reports 77,947 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 556 new cases reported in the last day: 87 in Lewis & Clark County, 85 in Cascade County, 45 in Gallatin county, 39 in Flathead County, 38 in Yellowstone County, 36 in Silver Bow County, 30 in Missoula County, and more new cases in 33 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 7,951. Statewide, 3,332 people have been hospitalized, and 253 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Cascade, Lewis & Clark County and Flathead County. 895 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Fourteen more deaths have been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 323,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 18,300,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The United States on Tuesday saw the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in a single day. The 3,350 reported deaths break a previous single-day high that was set just last week, on Dec. 16. In the last week, 18,980 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S., a faster rate than any other time during the pandemic.

A holiday celebration at a church in a small town in North Carolina has led to 97 Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday morning, and this number is expected to grow in the coming days. The gathering took place at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, located south of Asheville, North Carolina over the Dec. 5 weekend. Of the confirmed 97 cases, all are among attendees of the church event. Some cases from the event have resulted in hospitalizations.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department reported Tuesday that six more residents have died from the coronavirus, bringing the countywide total to 36 since the pandemic began. Three women over 70 died at long-term care facilities, two men in their 80s died in a hospital and a woman in her 90s died at home.
The six people died over the last month, but the health department only recently received their death certificates, which listed COVID-19 and other health conditions as the causes of their deaths. While COVID-19 deaths are increasing, the number of new cases and hospitalizations is declining.

As of Tuesday, the seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was 50, down from a high of 186 in mid-November but still well above the peaks reached during waves last spring and summer. Cases have also declined across Montana in recent weeks. The drop in cases in Montana comes as much of the United States is experiencing a surge. In the last few weeks, the country has had a record number of new cases and deaths. With other places seeing high levels of infection, Gallatin City-County Health Officer Matt Kelley has said he anticipates Gallatin County will see another surge before vaccines are widespread enough to limit the virus’ spread. He has asked people to continue wearing face covering in public, practicing social distancing, avoiding crowds and staying home when sick.