As of Tuesday, January 18, 2022, Montana reports 215,988 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 3,924 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since last Friday, the highest number reported in the state since the start of the pandemic: 1,275 new cases in Gallatin County, 541 new cases in Missoula County, 398 new cases in Yellowstone County, 317 new cases in Cascade County, 267 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, 215 new cases in Flathead County, and more new cases in 49 more Montana counties. 55 of Montana’s 56 counties report new cases. Only Petroleum County reports none. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 13,476. Currently, 236 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 2,957 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Twelve more people’s deaths have been reported since Friday. Nationwide, more than 851,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 66,500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The federal government’s website for Americans to order at-home rapid COVID-19 testing kits launched on Tuesday. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free.

A U.S. District Court judge sided with bison advocates this week by ordering the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit its decision to deny protection of Yellowstone National Park’s bison under the Endangered Species Act. District of Columbia Judge Randolph D. Moss said the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to address a significant aspect of the question before it when it last denied the petitioners’ arguments.

At least 20 wolves from packs in Yellowstone National Park have been killed in surrounding states this fall and winter, including at least 15 in Montana, including the entire Phantom Lake wolf pack. So pressure is mounting to end Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping season early in an area just north of the park and to restore gray wolf protections.