As of Wednesday, July 21, 2021, Montana reports 115,002 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 102 new cases reported since yesterday: 24 new cases in Flathead County, 15 new cases in Missoula County, 14 new cases in Yellowstone County, 11 new cases in Cascade County, and more new cases in 17 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 602. (That’s a hundred more than yesterday.) Currently, 58 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Flathead, Yellowstone, Cascade, Gallatin, and Missoula Counties. 1,694 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 609,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 34,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

With the highly contagious Delta variant spreading, particularly among unvaccinated Americans, it may be time to hit the “reset button” on pandemic response and for much of the country to put masks back on. Dr. Leana Wen, an infectious disease expert said, “We are at a very different point in the pandemic than we were a month ago. We should follow the example of LA County and say that if there are places where vaccinated and unvaccinated people are mixing, then indoor mask mandates should still apply.”

Montana coal production dropped 23% last year as demand for coal for U.S. electricity and exports diminished during the pandemic. Montana coal production was about 26 million tons. Production nationally was at its lowest level since 1965.

The American Fork fire and O’Hearn Creek fire burning on the east side of the Crazy Mountains have burned together, prompting a forthcoming closure in the remote area between Big Timber and Harlowton. The lightning-caused fires started Sunday morning, and have burned 5200 acres so far. The fire complex is 0% contained.