As of Thursday, January 20, 2022. Montana reports 220,090 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 2,059 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 446 new cases in Gallatin County, 253 new cases in Missoula County, 244 new cases in Yellowstone County, 123 new cases in Cascade County, 109 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, and more new cases in 46 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 12,579. Currently, 275 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 2,966 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Two more people’s deaths have been reported since Friday. Nationwide, more than 858,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 68,600,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Three Gallatin County offices are closed to the public due to spiking numbers of coronavirus infection and COVID-19 cases. The Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder’s office in the main street building, the Clerk of District Court’s office and the Belgrade Motor Vehicle office all closed this week. Though the offices are closed, many services that each provides are still available online or by phone.

There have been nine overdoses from fentanyl-laced heroin in the Helena area in the last 48 hours. Lewis & Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said St. Peter’s Hospital emergency room staff successfully revived all nine overdose patients.

A Canadian restaurant was ordered to close its indoor dining services after allowing customers to present dog photos instead of proof of vaccination against Covid-19 or negative test results.