As of Saturday, January 2, 2021, Montana reports 81,944 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 399 new cases reported in the last day: 96 in Gallatin County, 63 in Yellowstone County, 56 in Missoula County, 27 in Sanders County, 21 in Lake County, 20 in Silver Bow County, 15 in Lewis & Clark County, and more new cases in 25 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 4,999. Statewide, 3,618 people have been hospitalized, and 194 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Cascade, and Lewis & Clark County. 971 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Ten more deaths have been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 348,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 20,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

A Milwaukee, Wisconsin pharmacist was arrested Thursday and accused of “tampering with and causing the destruction” of more than 550 doses of the Moderna vaccine against the coronavirus last week. The pharmacist responsible admitted “to intentionally removing the vaccine knowing that if not properly stored the vaccine would be ineffective.” The Moderna vials must be stored between 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. They can remain effective for up to 12 hours if left at room temperature. Beyond that, the drug is rendered useless. The pharmacist deliberately removed the vials from refrigeration on two separate occasions — on Dec. 24 overnight, then returning them to proper storage, and then leaving them out again on Dec. 25 into Saturday morning. A pharmacy technician discovered them outside the refrigerator on Christmas morning and immediately notified superiors. Health care workers were forced to throw out about 570 doses of vaccine. Some people were given the medicine that had been left out. Those patients have been notified and will receive new vaccinations. The value of the spoiled doses is estimated to be between $8,000 and $11,000.

An Ohio State University study has found that athletes from the university who tested positive for COVID-19 suffer lasting heart damage. More than two dozen student athletes contracted COVID-19. 30% had cellular heart damage and 15% have heart inflammation caused by a condition known as myocarditis. Recent studies have raised concerns of myocardial inflammation after recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients. Myocarditis is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes. A separate report by a group of U.S. doctors published in the medical journal JACC warned of the potential of heart damage to children from the novel coronavirus. The report detailed the case of a 2-month-old infant diagnosed with COVID-19 who experienced a myocardial injury as well as a type of heart failure most commonly seen in adults.

A nationwide Covid memorial has been announced as part of the President Biden inauguration. Cities and towns around the country will light up their buildings and ring church bells in honor of those who have died. The memorial is set for 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on January 19. A ceremony will also be held at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington. The memorial will offer a stark contrast to President Donald Trump’s leadership during the pandemic. Trump was frequently criticized for lacking empathy during the Covid-19 crisis, failing to meet with families who lost loved ones or survivors of Covid-19, as presidents often do during a time of national crisis. The national COVID memorial takes place on the eve of Joe Biden’s inauguration as President of the United States.