As of Friday, January 15, 2021, Montana reports 88,635 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 515 new cases reported in the last day: 124 in Gallatin County, 53 in Cascade County, 44 in Flathead County, 37 in Missoula County, 37 in Yellowstone County, 26 in Lewis & Clark County, 21 in Park County, and more new cases in 32 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 5,089. Statewide, 3,940 people have been hospitalized. Currently, 188 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Gallatin, and Cascade Counties. 1,086 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nine more deaths have been reported since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 389,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 23,400,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday said he would deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard to help set up vaccine clinics across the U.S as part of an ambitious plan to get shots to millions of Americans. Reminding the public that help is soon on the way in a speech from Wilmington, Delaware, Biden outlined a five-part plan to turn “frustration to motivation” that will get the U.S. out of the pandemic. Under the plan, the White House would enlist the support of FEMA and the National Guard to set up thousands of community vaccination sites to help states vaccinate more people. To support states, Biden said the federal government would fully reimburse states for their use of the National Guard. Under the plan, Biden would also jumpstart efforts to make vaccinations available in all pharmacies across the country and would launch mobile vaccination clinics designed to specifically reach underserved urban and rural areas. In addition, Biden vowed to use the Defense Production Act to help ramp up the supple of various vaccines.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert are at odds over Knudsen’s pressure to dismiss a case against a Bozeman bar that refused to adhere to the early closing time established as a COVID-19 precaution. The newly-elected attorney general Knudsen said he was exercising the supervisory powers of his office to press the Gallatin County attorney to dismiss its case against the Rocking R Bar. Knudsen said the move was made to send a message to local businesses that the new GOP-led state government will be far less imposing on businesses. His release made no mention of COVID-19 or the ongoing pandemic. Gallatin County Attorney Lambert, also a Republican, said he declined to dismiss the case, contending the state of Montana is not party to the case. Lambert said, “Today I talked to a party to the R Bar case, Health Officer Matt Kelley. Mr. Kelley does not agree to dismissal, so the rule cited by the attorney general cannot be employed to dismiss the case.” Regardless of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s recent action to repeal the 10 p.m. closing time for bars, an emergency rule Gallatin County officials enacted Wednesday retains the precaution, and bars and restaurants must close by 10, a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The University of Montana and Montana State have opted out of the Big Sky spring football season due to health and safety concerns. The schools announced jointly Friday morning that they will potentially play a “modified” spring schedule of nonconference games due to health and safety concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the proximity to the fall 2021 season and weather. both Montana schools now look to develop a slate that allows each team to schedule up to two live competitions, falling in line more closely with the traditional spring practice period. Opponents and exact dates are still to be determined.