As of Friday, October 1, 2021, Montana reports 152,005 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 962 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 216 new cases in Yellowstone County, 112 new cases in Missoula County, 94 new cases in Gallatin County, 60 new cases in Cascade County, 58 new cases in Flathead County, and more new cases in 44 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 11,731. Every one of Montana’s 56 counties reports active cases. Currently, 412 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 2,017 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Eight more people died of COVID-19 in the last day. Nationwide, more than 698,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 43,500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

After 18 months of some of the world’s strictest border restrictions, Australia is set to ease its Covid-19 travel ban. The island nation will allow some international travel starting next month, as it moves away from its “zero-Covid” strategy.

U. S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has tested positive for Covid-19 but has no symptoms. Kavanaugh, 56, has been fully vaccinated since January.

A Billings judge late Thursday halted the implementation of three new abortion laws set to take effect at midnight Friday morning after a flurry of last-minute legal filings. Yellowstone County District Court Judge Michael Moses granted Planned Parenthood of Montana’s request for a temporary restraining order.

The Haystack fire outside of Boulder grew to 17,009 acres Thursday, and is 41% contained. The lightning-caused fire started burning July 31 near Haystack Mountain to the east of I-15 between Butte and Basin.