As of Thursday, August 19, 2021, Montana reports 121,877 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 499 new cases reported in the last day: 110 new cases in Flathead County, 61 new cases in Missoula County, 51 new cases in Cascade County, 48 new cases in Yellowstone County, and more new cases in 33 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 3,269. Currently, 200 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. More than 90% of the people hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. 1,752 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Three more people have died of COVID-19 since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 624,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 37,300,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Hobby Lobby violated Illinois anti-discrimination law by denying a transgender employee access to the women’s restroom, says a decision by an appellate court that could have nationwide implications. Meggan Sommerville, a trans woman who has worked at a Hobby Lobby location in Aurora, Illinois for more than 20 years, has been denied access to the store’s women’s room since transitioning in 2010.

A Florida couple was arrested in Hawaii after presenting fake Covid-19 vaccination cards for themselves and their two children. Enzo and Daniela Dalmazzo were arrested and jailed Aug. 11, shortly after they arrived in Honolulu.

Montana’s nursing homes may mandate staff vaccinations under new federal regulations. Currently barred under state law from requiring that employees get the COVID vaccine, Montana’s nursing homes will have to begin doing so next month or risk losing Medicaid and Medicare funding under the emergency federal regulation.