As of Monday, December 6, 2021, Montana reports 192,590 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 357 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 53 new cases in Yellowstone County, 44 new cases in Flathead County, 44 new cases in Gallatin County, 31 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, 30 new cases in Missoula County, and more new cases in 32 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 3,271. Currently, 198 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 2,768 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 797,000 Americans have died. There have been 49,000,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

For the first time in two months, the US is averaging more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases each day, shortly after millions of Americans traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday. The number of COVID deaths is also on the rise with a seven-day average of 1,651 people dying from the virus each day.

Stricter travel rules in and into the US began Monday. For international travelers, proof of a negative COVID-19 test within one day of departure for the US was required as of Monday.

A well-known anti-vaxxer is scheduled to speak at MSU-Billings, prompting concerns over spreading misinformation about coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines and people gathering without health protocols in one location, potentially spreading coronavirus. MSU-Billings’ Petro Theater has been rented to Big Sky Liberty Alliance, a private Facebook group against COVID-19 vaccination mandates, particularly for health care workers. The group has booked a chiropractor, Bryan Ardis, a well-known anti-vaxxer, to speak.

Montana State University aims to become carbon neutral by 2040 in a recent set of sustainability targets. The university has three long-term goals in a sustainability framework, the first time the university has publicly set a timeframe on becoming carbon neutral.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working in partnership with several groups to re-establish a population of Pine Martens in the Little Belt Mountains. The Pine Marten population in parts of Southwest Montana is very strong, so FWP is trapping some of them and relocating them to the Little Belts.