As of Thursday, May 20, 2021, Montana reports 111,025 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 100 new cases reported in the last day: 21 in Flathead County, 11 in Yellowstone County, 11 in Blaine County, 10 in Ravalli County, 9 in Cascade County, and more new cases in 16 more Montana counties. Most Montana counties do not report over the weekend, and so official case counts do not include the most populous Gallatin County, Yellowstone County, and others. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 967. Currently, 54 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Cascade, Yellowstone, and Flathead Counties. 1,604 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Two more deaths have been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 587,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 33,100,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday said many Americans are “misinterpreting” the CDC’s latest guidance advising that fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks in most cases. Fauci says the new federal guidance was “an assurance to those who are vaccinated that they can feel safe, be they outdoors or indoors.”

Bozeman School District classified employees are set to receive pay raises of 3% for the next two years, according to an agreement reached between the district and the union. The school board voted Monday to confirm the agreement between the district and the Bozeman Classified Employee Association, representing custodians, food service workers and classroom aides.

From the Montana Legislature, House Bill 701 was signed into law this week, finalizing the Legislature’s part in crafting recreational marijuana implementation and setting retail marijuana sales on track for its January 2022 opening. Marijuana possession in Montana is currently legal — up to one ounce of bud or eight grams of concentrates — for those 21 and older. Dispensaries can’t begin selling to the general public until next year, once the Department of Revenue has developed its administrative rules and issued recreational marijuana business licenses.