As of Thursday, December 2, 2021, Montana reports 191,925 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 338 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 45 new cases in Cascade County, 40 new cases in Gallatin County, 35 new cases in Stillwater County, 27 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, 26 new cases in Flathead County, and more new cases in 35 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 3,795. Currently, 208 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 2,739 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Seventeen more people’s deaths have been reported since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 780,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 48,400,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Germany has instituted a nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people, as the country plans for mandatory vaccinations in the coming months. Unvaccinated people in Germany will be banned from accessing all but the most essential businesses, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Part of a new gun law in Montana that would allow concealed carry of guns on college campuses has been struck down by a Montana district court judge who ruled that the law violates the constitutional authority of the Montana Board of Regents to control or prohibit guns on college campuses. The board of regents filed the lawsuit against the state of Montana in May, just after the Republican majority legislature passed the new gun laws.

As many as 900 bison from Yellowstone National Park will be shot by hunters, sent to slaughter or placed in quarantine this winter in a program that seeks to reduce the number of animals. An additional 200 bison among the park’s more than 5,000 bison could be captured or hunted in the late winter if particular quota numbers are met.

The West Wind fire destroyed at least 25 structures in the central Montana town of Denton on Wednesday. Downed power lines are believed to be the cause of the fire that started north of Stanford on Tuesday night. High winds spread the fire to Denton by early Wednesday afternoon. The fire burned 25 structures, including grain elevators and bridges.

South of Great Falls, the Gibson Flats fire destroyed several structures, including 11 homes, seven garages and 11 outbuildings. The fire was one of three wind-driven fires on Wednesday that forced evacuations in Montana.