Montana has a terrible outbreak of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19. Please, everyone, stop gathering. Wear a face mask over your nose and mouth whenever you’re out of your own home. Keep your distance from others.

As of Sunday, November 15, 2020, Montana reports 47,158 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,272 new cases reported in the last day: 249 in Gallatin County, 166 in Missoula County, 132 in Flathead County, 128 in Yellowstone County, 87 in Silver Bow County, 54 in Cascade County, 50 in Lewis & Clark County, 41 in Big Horn County, and more new cases in 38 more Montana counties. Statewide, 2,047 people have been hospitalized, and 435 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. There are 19,166 active coronavirus cases in Montana. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, Cascade County, Missoula, Gallatin, and Flathead Counties. 520 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 246,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 11,100,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The resurgence in coronavirus cases led the governor of North Dakota to issue a statewide mask mandate after months of resisting such action, while Oregon and New Mexico ordered partial lockdowns. “New Mexico is at the breaking point,” New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. At least 13 states — Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin — have record numbers of new daily cases. The coronavirus death toll in Texas reached 20,000 Sunday as the state reports about 100 deaths daily.
· North Dakota issued new statewide requirements, including a face-mask mandate.
· Oregon ordered a two-week “freeze” starting Wednesday, requiring businesses to cease in-person operations.
· New Mexico’s new stay-at-home order will go into effect Monday.
· Six governors from northeastern states are holding an “emergency summit” this weekend to coordinate efforts in response to a rise in cases across the region.
· At least 13 states have hit new records in daily cases.
· Texas may reach 20,000 Covid-19 deaths on Sunday.
· California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued new travel guidelines requiring people who return from nonessential, out-of-state or country travel to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The Bozeman School District will consider postponing the middle schools move to five days of in-person learning in response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Bozeman middle schools are scheduled to go to all in-person learning on November 23, but school officials are now recommending postponing the move and reconsidering it in January. Bozeman schools have significant staffing difficulties, and going to a full five days in schools could make things worse, with more coronavirus cases and fewer teachers and staff.

As coronavirus cases around the country continue to rise, some colleges and universities are urging students to remain on campus instead of visiting family for Thanksgiving, while others are asking that those who do travel home consider finishing the semester remotely. The University of Missouri is one of many schools that are encouraging students to skip family gatherings this year and remain in town. So are Boston University and the University of Arkansas. The concern of exposing a relative to the virus is why some students won’t be going home for the holiday. Samantha Moore, a student at Missouri Western State University, said she was recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and her father is battling cancer. The risk of going home is too risky. Health officials warn that people should not gather this holiday, but if they do, to wear masks, social distance, and clean frequently. Some students will have to complete a seven-day “precautionary quarantine” before they are allowed back on campus, and they’ll be required to take COVID-19 tests upon their return. A number of schools are stopping on-campus classes as of Thanksgiving and when students go home or leave campus, they won’t return until the next semester. The Montana University System scheduled its semester to begin earlier this year so that the fall semester ends the day before Thanksgiving. Students won’t return to MSU or UM campuses until spring semester begins in January.