As of Sunday, April 4, 2021, Montana reports 105,142 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 107 new cases reported in the last day: 36 in Gallatin County, 17 in Missoula County, 12 in Cascade County, 12 in Yellowstone County, and more new cases in 8 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,060. Currently, 38 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Gallatin, Missoula, and Yellowstone Counties. 1,466 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 554,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 30,700,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Britain is planning to test a series of measures including “coronavirus status certifications” over the coming weeks to see if they can allow people to safely return to mass gatherings at sports arenas, nightclubs and concerts. People attending a range of events, including conferences and soccer matches, will need to be tested both before and after. The trials will also gather evidence on how ventilation and different approaches to social distancing could enable large events to go ahead. Officials are also developing plans to test out COVID-19 passports that are expected to show if a person has received a vaccine, has recently tested negative for the virus, or has some immunity due to having tested positive in the previous six months. The issue of vaccine passports has been a hotly debated topic around the world, including in the United States and Israel. The question is how much governments, employers, venues and other places have a right to know about a person’s virus status. Many disagree over what the right balance is between a person’s right to medical privacy and the collective right of people in groups not to be infected with a dangerous disease by others. Some critics also say such vaccine passports will enable discrimination against poor people and impoverished nations that do not have ready access to vaccines.

The Red Ants Pants Music Festival returns this summer for its 10th anniversary July 22-25. The festival was canceled last year during the coronavirus pandemic. After months of research, ongoing consultation with state and local health officials and community members, the festival will proceed, but will be capping the number of tickets sold to provide a venue capacity that is less than 60% of our average attendance. Attendees are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated before the event, and to prepare for new health and safety measures to help create a safe and welcoming experience for all. The Red Ants Pants Music Festival takes place in a working cow pasture at the Jackson Ranch just outside of White Sulphur Springs. The lineup for this year’s festival will be announced in May.

A bill to ban inclusionary zoning passed the Montana Senate on Friday, legislation that could nullify a key part of Bozeman’s affordable housing strategy. House Bill 259, introduced by Rep. Sue Vinton, R-Billings, would prohibit local governments from requiring developers to pay a fee that would go toward providing homes at specified prices or for people in specific income levels. The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 31-19 on Friday and it will be sent to the House for final approval. The House originally passed the bill in February. The legislation will end Bozeman’s inclusionary zoning ordinance that requires 10% of developments of more than 10 homes be priced affordably. Opponents of the bill have criticized it for encroaching on the powers of local governments, limiting municipalities’ ability to address affordable housing and mischaracterizing the impacts of inclusionary zoning. During committee hearings, the bill was opposed by representatives from several Montana cities other than Bozeman, including Missoula and Billings.