As of Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Montana reports 121,382 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 436 new cases reported in the last day: 65 new cases in Flathead County, 58 new cases in Yellowstone County, 47 new cases in Missoula County, 32 new cases in Gallatin County, 30 new cases in Cascade County, and more new cases in 40 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 3,067. Currently, 203 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. More than 90% of the people hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. 1,749 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 624,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 37,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he has directed the Education Department to use its legal authority against Republican governors who are trying to block local school officials from requiring students to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. President Biden said some politicians are trying to turn public safety measures into “political disputes for their own political gain” and warned that they are “setting a dangerous tone.” Republican governors across the country have recently signed executive orders or enacted laws seeking to prevent local officials from imposing new mask mandates.

Montana reported 632 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the most in one day since Jan. 4 when 696 cases were listed. There has been a steady increase in cases since July 18, when 66 were reported. Vaccination rates across the state vary widely: Missoula County has 62% of its residents vaccinated; Powder River County just 25%.

The Fort Belknap Indian reservation issued a state of emergency covering the Hays-Lodgepole area, and the Phillips County Sheriff’s office issued a mandatory evacuation notice Tuesday for residents of Pine Grove and Zortman as the Pine Grove fire threatened property, people, and livestock in the area.