As of Thursday, December 17, 2020, Montana reports 75,483 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 766 new cases reported in the last day: 104 in Yellowstone County, 98 in Flathead County, 77 in Cascade County, 73 in Lewis & Clark County, 66 in Gallatin County, 40 in Silver Bow County, 39 in Missoula County, and more new cases in 36 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 9,241. Statewide, 3,199 people have been hospitalized, and 306 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone and Cascade Counties and in Flathead Counties. 849 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Thirteen more deaths have been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 311,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 17,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

French President Emmanuel Macron has contracted coronavirus. Macron has led a typically busy schedule in the last past week, putting him in close contact with senior French and European politicians. On Wednesday, he met Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, for a joint press conference and working lunch at the Élysée Palace, Macron’s official residence. Pictures from the meeting show both men in close contact. The President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, will isolate for 10 days after meeting with Macron at an event in Paris on Monday. Brigitte Macron, the president’s wife, is isolating but not experiencing symptoms. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first Western leader to get the virus in April and spent a week in a London hospital. Other presidents followed, including President Donald Trump who received hospital treatment in October.

A sick Santa and Mrs. Claus may have exposed 50 Georgia kids to COVID. A Santa parade and photo op at a Long County Chamber of Commerce event last Thursday included Santa and Mrs. Claus riding a fire truck in a parade, then greeting and taking pictures with a crowd of children. Public health officials worry about more cases from the exposure, because “Children are in close contact with both other children and adults daily at school, rec functions, and church.” The North Pole’s most famous couple tested positive on Saturday, two days after the Thursday evening event at which they did not show symptoms.