As of Wednesday, March 31, 2021, Montana reports 104,552 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 203 new cases reported in the last day: 89 in Gallatin County, 19 in Yellowstone County, 15 in Missoula County, 14 in Big Horn County, 10 in Cascade County, and more new cases in 21 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 912. Currently, 47 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Gallatin, Missoula, and Yellowstone Counties. 1,437 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 551,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 30,400,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Delta Air Lines said Wednesday it will stop blocking middle seats on its planes starting May 1, the last U.S. airline to end the pandemic-era policy as more travelers return to the skies. Delta first started blocking middle seats and limiting capacity on smaller planes in April near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Other airlines had similar policies, including Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines, but they have since gone back to selling all seats. Physically distancing from other passengers is extremely difficult on an airplane. Delta and other carriers have repeatedly said filtration systems and intense cleaning make it unlikely that travelers will catch Covid-19 on a plane. But Delta said many travelers choose Delta over other airlines because it kept its policy in place.

Gallatin City-County Health Officer Matt Kelley will be leaving his role with the health department to lead a statewide public health nonprofit. The Montana Public Health Institute announced Wednesday afternoon that Kelley has been hired as the organization’s first CEO. Kelley will continue to serve as the county’s health officer until June and will help with the search to fill the vacancy he’ll leave. Kelley, 50, has been the health officer in Gallatin County for more than a decade. In a statement, Kelley said, “As challenging and trying as the pandemic has been, I love being health officer in Gallatin County and leaving will be very difficult. This new role allows me to continue working throughout Montana to improve the health and quality of life for all Montanans. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a new organization to serve the state that I love.”
The Montana Public Health Institute was incorporated as a Montana nonprofit in April 2020. It is part of the National Network of Public Health Institutes and aims to strengthen public health system capacity and conduct nonpartisan research into health policy and health care funding. Kelley led the health department’s response to COVID-19. His local work throughout the pandemic drew praise from some health care workers and public officials and ire from others who disagreed with restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In December, protestors claiming public health directives violated their personal rights protested at Kelley’s home for about two weeks — demonstrations led by a pair of local Libertarians who have unsuccessfully run for public office. From all of us at KGVM, we thank you, Matt Kelley.