As of Friday, July 24, 2020, Montana reports 3,039 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 129 new cases reported in the last day: 40 new cases in Yellowstone County, 20 in Cascade County, 18 in Gallatin County, 13 in Flathead County, 10 in Glacier County, 8 in Big Horn County, 4 in Lewis & Clark County, 3 in Richland County, 2 in each of Beaverhead, Lincoln, Madison, and Silver Bow Counties, and 1 in each of Hill, Lake, Roosevelt, Rosebud, and Stillwater Counties. Statewide, 191 people have been hospitalized, and 5 eople are currently being treated in the hospital for COVID-19. Yellowstone County has had 820 cases so far, and Gallatin County has had 713. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, with 429 active cases. 46 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 147,000 Americans have died.

Johns Hopkins University recorded the first case of coronavirus in the United States on January 21, 2020. It took the country 99 days to reach 1 million cases on April 28. To reach the next million cases, half that time: 43 more days. Then another million cases in just half that time: It took another 28 days to surpass 3 million cases on July 8. Then half that time, again, for the next million cases of coronavirus: It has taken the United States only 15 additional days to surpass 4 million cases.

After a coronavirus outbreak where only those wearing plastic visors were infected, the Swiss government has said plastic face shields are inadequate protection and should only be worn in combination with a face mask. Health officials studying a recent outbreak among staff at a hotel found a worrying trend – all of those who were infected wore plastic face shields, while those who avoided infection wore face masks. Several employees of the hotel tested positive along with a guest. The face shields were the common denominator in infections. The plastic face shields held in the virus, close to the wearer’s face. Only those employees who had plastic visors and no face masks were infected. There was not a single infection among employees wearing a face mask.”

After months of denying the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump has canceled in-person attendance for the Republican convention in Jacksonville, Florida. The president’s announcement comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise sharply in Florida. Many Republican leaders said they would not attend the convention.

Montana State University requires face masks or face coverings for students, faculty, staff and visitors to any MSU campus. Face masks are to be worn indoors and wherever social distancing cannot be maintained. MSU also is implementing social distancing, frequent handwashing, and asking people to stay home when experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.