As of Friday, March 5, 2021, Montana reports 100,656 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 192 new cases reported in the last day: 43 in Gallatin County, 26 in Flathead County, 24 in Yellowstone County, 17 in Silver Bow County, 15 in Lewis & Clark County, 12 in Missoula County, and more new cases in 20 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,736. Currently, 67 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Flathead, and Gallatin Counties. 1,379 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Four more deaths have been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 520,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 28,900,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The Democratic-controlled Congress is on the verge of passing its biggest round of coronavirus stimulus payments, delivering on a campaign promise by President Joe Biden. If the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill passes and becomes law, it would provide the third round of stimulus checks — after the $1,200 payments last March and the $600 payments in December. Those who will get the stimulus money are individuals who make less than $75,000 or heads of households who make less than $112,500. For married couples who file their taxes jointly, both would qualify for the full amount if they make up to $150,000 jointly. (Couples would get $2,800.) This is important: People who lost their jobs or whose incomes decreased for any reason last year should file their tax returns as soon as possible to get the maximum payment. If the IRS processes your new return by the time checks go out, that’s the income the payments would be based on. If you don’t file in time, it would be based on your 2019 income — before the pandemic hit.

The man who was seen putting his feet up on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the January 6 Capitol riot had an outburst in federal court Thursday over his continued detainment. Richard Barnett reportedly screamed at Judge Christopher R. Cooper during a virtual hearing where it was determined Barnett would remain in custody until at least his next hearing in May. He yelled at Judge Cooper that it was “not fair” that he remained in jail as others were released. “Everybody else who did things much worse are already home,” Barnett said.

At least four people have died during a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility in Livingston that started after most residents had received at least the first dose of the vaccine. Livingston Health and Rehabilitation Center is Park County’s only skilled nursing facility that provides 24-hour care to residents. The facility had its first case of COVID-19 on Jan. 28, and since then, at least 21 residents and eight staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Four of those residents have since died. More than 80% of residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, and many — but not all — staff have also been vaccinated. Long-term care facilities were prioritized for vaccinations along with front-line health care workers by the state. A patient cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they actively have COVID or are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus. Park City-County Health Officer Laurel Desnick said the facility infection rate of about 50% shows that many people who received the vaccine have since tested positive. She said that means they were either infected when they received the vaccine or became infected in the days immediately afterward. “It’s a very sad and disappointing time for this to be happening,” Desnick said. “Vaccines look like they’re going to be helpful, but they only work if people take the vaccine.”