As of Saturday, June 20, 2020, Montana reports 698 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with thirty-two new cases reported in the last day: seven cases in Gallatin County, five in Yellowstone County, four in Rosebud, three in Carbon, two each in Big Horn, Missoula, and Toole Counties, and one new case in each of Cascade, Custer, Dawson, Glacier, Park, Ravalli, and Richland Counties. Statewide, 85 people have been hospitalized, and ten people are currently being treated in the hospital for COVID-19. Gallatin County has had 204 cases so far. In Montana, 20 people have died of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 121,000 Americans have died.

A person’s blood type and other genetic factors may be linked with the severity of coronavirus infection, according to European researchers looking for further clues about why COVID-19 hits some people so much harder than others. The New England Journal of Medicine published findings that suggest people with type A blood have a higher risk of being infected with the coronavirus and developing worse symptoms. At the peak of the coronavirus epidemic in Europe, researchers analyzed the genes of more than 4,000 people to look for variations that were common in those who became infected with the coronavirus and developed severe COVID-19. The risk for severe COVID-19 was 45% higher for people with type A blood than those with other blood types. The risk was 35% lower for people with type O blood.

In Washington State, Yakima hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, and have no beds left for patients. Virginia Mason Memorial had no intensive care or regular ward beds available. There were multiple patients waiting for hospital bed space overnight, even after at least 17 patients had already been transferred out of the county. Over the past week, all Washington State hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages due to staff being out for either having COVID-19, demonstrating COVID-19 symptoms or because they are a close contact to an individual with coronavirus and are now under quarantine. Other Washington State county hospitals are also reaching capacity with COVID-19 patients.

A church in eastern Oregon that defied the governor’s stay-at-home order has become the state’s hot spot for new cases of COVID-19. Two-thirds of 356 members of Lighthouse Pentecostal Church tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, according to The Associated Press. The Oregon Health Authority reported 278 new cases statewide on Tuesday — a 51% increase since Monday and largely spurred by the church in Union County,

This past Tuesday evening, six tents went up in the parking lot of Heeb’s Fresh Market in Bozeman after rain canceled the Bozeman Farmers’ Market – which was set to take place at Lindley Park. The move was a last minute save that happened thanks to the quick thinking of market organizers and Heeb’s owner Mitch Bradley. The Bozeman Farmers’ Market (formerly Bogert Farmers’ Market) is set to have its first full market this coming Tuesday at 5 PM in Lindley Park.

The Missoula Mavericks Memorial Baseball Tournament was canceled Friday. The Missoula City-County Health Department required that the tournament be shut down because of the number of people at the event. Current Missoula County COVID-19 restrictions require that no more than 250 people congregate in one place for an event.

In Bozeman, the Bogert Pool will be open on Monday, June 22. Recreation Swimming is Monday-Thursday from 1:30-4pm and the pool is open Fridays from 10am-4pm.

During Father’s Day weekend, everyone in Montana can fish for free. The promotion allows anyone to fish without a license on June 16-17. Remember, all other fishing rules and regulations are in effect and must be followed.