As of Sunday, July 5, 2020, Montana reports 1,212 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 45 new cases reported in the last day: sixteen new cases in Yellowstone County, eleven in Gallatin County and Richland County, three new cases in each of Big Horn, Glacier, and Richland Counties, two new cases in Lake and Madison Counties, and one new case in each of Beaverhead, Flathead, Hill, Lewis & Clark, and Missoula Counties. Statewide, 112 people have been hospitalized, and twenty people currently are being treated in the hospital for COVID-19. Gallatin County has had 298 cases so far. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, with 140 active cases, followed by Gallatin County, with 76 active cases and Missoula County with 60 active cases. 23 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 132,000 Americans have died. COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people per day than the previous top causes, heart disease and cancer.

Kimberly Guilfoyle — the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. and a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign — has tested positive for coronavirus. She was immediately isolated to limit exposure to others and will be retested to ensure the diagnosis is correct since she’s asymptomatic, but canceled all upcoming events. Donald Trump Jr tested negative, but is also self isolating and canceling all public events. A former Fox News personality, Guilfoyle assumed the role earlier this year of national chairwoman of the Trump Victory Finance Committee, expanding its fundraisers. Guilfoyle has “been with a lot of the campaign donors” in recent days, including Gallatin Gateway, Montana, from Tuesday until Thursday last week. Guilfoyle was not seen wearing a mask during the events. Guilfoyle tested positive in South Dakota before she was set to attend the President’s event at Mount Rushmore July 3.

The Bozeman School District has released a timetable for decisions for the upcoming school year that all depend on what’s happening with the coronavirus pandemic. The 7,100-student Bozeman school district intends to return to in-person teaching when school starts Aug. 31. The Bozeman schools plan says if we’re still in phase two by Aug. 7, then schools could use “cohort learning” — breaking kids up into groups of 50 or so that would stick together, instead of having everyone at school intermingle. In elementary schools, two classes would be paired together. In middle schools and high schools, students would use block schedules.

Or if Bozeman is still in phase two, the district could switch to “blended learning” — where kids attend school in person half the day and then learn at home by computer half the day. Or schools might use a combination of cohort and blended learning. If Montana moves to phase three by Aug. 21, all schools would go back to traditional in-person classes.

If Montana is still in phase two by Aug. 12, and if the Montana High School Association and county health department allow it, sports practices and games might be held, but crowds wouldn’t be allowed, the roadmap says.