As of Saturday, February 13, 2021, Montana reports 97,297 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 243 new cases reported in the last day: 39 in Yellowstone County, 38 in Gallatin County, 27 in Missoula County, 25 in Flathead County, and more new cases in 28 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 2,822. Statewide, 4,441 people have been hospitalized. Currently, 92 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Flathead, and Gallatin Counties. 1,327 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 484,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 27,600,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Canadian officials announced new rules for visiting foreign citizens on Friday in response to concerns over new, more-infectious variants of the COVID virus. Unfortunately, tourist access to destinations such as Waterton Lakes National Park or nearby ski resorts in British Columbia and Alberta does not appear available any time soon. Motorists driving into Canada must show proof of a negative PCR virus test no more than 72 hours old. At the border, they will receive a kit with two more tests — one to be taken at the traveler’s destination and the second to be taken after completing a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Air travelers are now required to have a pre-booked, three-day stay at an authorized quarantine hotel ready for them on arrival at a Canadian airport. They will take a PCR test, and if found negative, will be allowed to continue to their final destination and finish the remaining 11 days of their quarantine. The Canadian testing rules do not accept antigen, or rapid-result tests. Only PCR tests will be accepted at ports of entry. Freight truckers are not subject to the quarantine or testing restrictions, as they are considered essential workers in Canada. However, the Canadian officials stressed that the national message to its own citizens was to avoid travel at this time and limit even essential travel where possible.

A fifth Montana lawmaker has tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the third legislator to announce a positive case this past week. Rep. Ross Fitzgerald, R-Fairfield, was deemed a close contact associated with another lawmaker’s case and subsequently switched to remote work before testing positive. Fitzgerald has not been in the Capitol since Feb. 5. Rep. Becky Beard, R-Elliston, publicly announced her positive test result Wednesday. Rep. Brian Putnam, a Republican from Kalispell, did the same Feb. 7. Fitzgerald was tested Wednesday and was notified of the positive result Friday.

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte issued a directive Friday lifting Montana’s statewide mask mandate expire, though some of Montana’s largest counties and tribal nations still will keep their own measures in place. With that act, the state’s top medical officer, Greg Holzman, announced his resignation, effective April 16. Holzman has been a strong advocate for measures like the use of face masks. While the state order is no longer in place, local counties and school districts may keep or enact their own masking measures that are more restrictive than the state’s. Missoula, Gallatin, Butte-Silver Bow and Lewis and Clark counties all have local mask mandates that remain, while Yellowstone, Cascade and Flathead do not, though Whitefish has one for the city. Tribal nations in the state are also keeping their mask mandates in place.