As of Thursday, February 11, 2021, Montana reports 96,842 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 261 new cases reported in the last day: 46 in Yellowstone County, 38 in Gallatin County, 29 in Missoula County, 29 in Flathead County, 23 in Cascade County, and more new cases in 27 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 3,025. Statewide, 4,414 people have been hospitalized. Currently, 111 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Flathead, Cascade, and Gallatin Counties. 1,320 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 463,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 27,000,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Republican Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said he’ll lift the statewide mask mandate Friday, during a ceremony where everyone but the governor wore a mask. Gianforte signed legislation aimed at creating a liability shield for businesses, nonprofits, churches, health care providers and other organizations over exposure to COVID-19. Senate Bill 65 was carried by Great Falls Republican Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick. The bill was part of Gianforte’s requirement to lift the statewide mask mandate that has been in place since July. The other part was starting the vaccination of vulnerable people. Gianforte said the new law will allow businesses to safely open during the pandemic. He also said enough vulnerable Montana residents have received COVID-19 vaccinations to allow the lifting Friday of the mask mandate put in place in July by his Democratic predecessor Governor Steve Bullock. Local jurisdictions will still be permitted to implement mask mandates after the statewide rule is lifted.

Gianforte’s announcement came as Centers for Disease Control Director Dr, Rochelle Walensky warned against lifting broad mask requirements. Thirty-six states have such a requirement, according to a tally by the American Association of Retired Persons. Research has demonstrated that COVID-19 infections and deaths have decreased when policies that require everyone to wear a mask have been implemented. So with cases, hospitalizations, and deaths still very high, now is not the time to roll back mask requirements,” Walensky said during a White House news conference.

A fourth Montana lawmaker, Rep. Becky Beard of Elliston, has tested positive for COVID-19. Beard was tested Monday and received a positive test result Wednesday. She was last in the Capitol on Friday where she participated in the floor session while not wearing a mask. She has not been observed wearing a mask throughout the session, which started Jan. 4. Since Monday, Beard, a Republican, has been participating remotely. Beard is not a close contact of Rep. Brian Putnam, a Kalispell Republican who announced his positive test result Sunday. Putnam, who had been wearing a mask, was last in the building Thursday and felt ill that night. He’s been participating remotely since Friday. The press release said contact-tracing is ongoing for any close contacts of Beard’s.