COVID-19 IN MONTANA
Covid-19 upended life around the globe, and even Northwestern Montana, despite its relative remoteness, was not spared. On March 28, 2020, Governor Steve Bullock issued a stay-at-home order to the state's 1 million residents in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Schools shuttered, restaurants other businesses either closed or reverted to curbside service only, events of all kinds were canceled, stores were wiped clean of toilet paper and cleaning products, ski season was cut short, and the National Guard reported to Glacier International Airport to perform temperature checks on incoming travelers. Since the spring shutdown of 2020, things continue to gradually return to "business as usual." As of March 20, 2021, the state reported 1,415 COVID-19 deaths out of about 103,000 reported infections.