As of Thursday, January 21, 2021, Montana reports 90,649 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 408 new cases reported in the last day: 66 in Flathead County, 49 in Yellowstone County, 48 in Missoula County, 45 in Gallatin County, and more new cases in 32 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 4,841. Statewide, 4,049 people have been hospitalized. Currently, 137 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Gallatin, Flathead, and Cascade Counties. 1,100 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Six more deaths have been reported since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 406,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 24,500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

On his second day in office, President Joe Biden signed 10 executive orders to ramp up Covid-19 vaccinations, expand testing and reopen schools as he outlines a detailed plan to tackle the pandemic. The new administration will increase the number of vaccination sites by creating federal community vaccination centers in stadiums, gymnasiums and conference centers staffed with thousands of additional workers, some of them from federal agencies and the military, as well as first responders.
Biden’s plan also looks for ways to speed vaccine production, including using the Defense Production Act, shoring up the supply chain and releasing more of the federal government’s reserves. Biden will encourage all states to start vaccinating people 65 and older, along with certain essential workers, including teachers and grocery store employees. Biden has set an ambitious goal of giving 100 million shots in 100 days. Administration officials think they have the supply and resources to meet the goal, but they said they will need funding from Congress to expand vaccinations to the wider population, increase testing and help schools reopen. Biden is asking for more than $400 million for the pandemic response as part of a $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Biden also signed an executive order Thursday to require people to wear masks in airports and on airplanes, trains and maritime vessels and to mandate that international travelers have tested negative for Covid-19 before they depart for the U.S.

Hank Muntzer of Dillon has been arrested following his travel and entry into the U.S. Capitol during pro-Trump protests on January 6. Muntzer was arrested on Monday by police in Dillon on a federal warrant. He was being held in the Missoula County Detention Center as of Thursday morning. Muntzer told the Dillon Tribune on January 13 that he went inside the U.S. Capitol Building on the day the violent riot occurred. Muntzer appeared to have also posted a video of himself at the U.S. Capitol on social media that has since been taken down. He also supplied to the Dillon Tribune a photograph of the protests outside the Capitol on January 6. Charges against Muntzer are pending.

On a day when officials braced for potential for violence at the Montana State Capitol from the supporters of outgoing Republican President Donald Trump, the first, last and only protestor to show up turned out to be a supporter of Democratic President Joe Biden. John Vore, handling a large yellow poster board sign, seemed a little stunned Wednesday morning. Vore had planned to stand counter to the pro-Trump demonstration that was expected Wednesday at state Capitols around the U.S., but never appeared. The FBI had reported just days after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 that it expected armed protests at all 50 state Capitols in the days surrounding Biden’s inauguration. State officials said they would bulk up security at the Capitol complex in Helena in response to the FBI report.