Bullock announces first phase of reopening Montana

Gov. Steve Bullock announced the first phase of Montana’s reopening plan on Wednesday, which includes lifting the statewide stay-at-home order this Sunday and allowing some businesses to reopen in a limited capacity on Monday.

During phase one, all vulnerable individuals – those 65 and older or with underlying health conditions – should continue to follow stay-at-home guidance. The state is also restricting gatherings of 10 or more people and will encourage individuals to restrict non-essential travel.

“Main Street and retail businesses” can operate where strict physical distancing protocols can be maintained. Places of worship can be operational starting on Sunday if they can maintain strict social-distancing protocols between non-household members.

Other places of assembly – such as gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys and concert halls – must all remain closed.

On May 4, restaurants, breweries, bars and casinos can become operational again “under strict physical and reduced capacity protocols,” according to state guidelines. They will also be required to close at 11:30 p.m.

On May 7, Bullock will lift the directive requiring schools to be closed to in-classroom learning. Bullock said he will let locally elected school boards decide on how to proceed with the rest of the school year, including graduation ceremonies.

Flathead City-County Health Department officials will provide guidance to local school boards about reopening schools, superintendents from across the valley stated Wednesday.

Child care facilities can remain open while following state and local guidelines for operational levels and occupancy. Organized youth activities can consider starting up if physical distancing guidelines can be implemented.

Hair and nail salons, body art and massage businesses are among those that can open Monday, with recommendations for fewer customers, screening them for symptoms, that employees and customers use non-medical face masks and that “stations” be 6 feet apart.

The Montana Hospital Association is lifting its March 26 recommendation that hospitals cancel elective procedures to ensure they could adequately provide care for people who contracted COVID-19, as long as they have adequate protective equipment for staff and patients and have the flexibility to react if there is an increase in COVID-19 cases.

In response to Bullock’s plan, Kalispell Regional Healthcare beginning Monday will re-introduce clinical care for certain services at certain locations. This includes: Some in-person office visits, minimal office procedures not requiring anesthesia, and certain diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic testing.

Restrictions on travel will continue to remain in place. Out-of-state travelers will be required to quarantine for 14 days, as well as Montanans who are returning from travel out of state.

“This first phase of reopening isn’t the time to allow others to come to our state,” Bullock said.

The governor said as Montana reopens the state, there will likely be an increase in cases. He said he will continue to encourage Montanans to wear non-medical face coverings in public and will encourage businesses to continue remote work when possible.

If remote work or telework is not an option, employers are encouraged to create alternate work schedules such as shift work and staggered scheduling to adhere to social-distancing guidelines. Employers should also close off common areas where employees are likely to congregate.

The decision to begin reopening the state’s economy was made based on case numbers, hospital capacity and the economic effects of the virus, Bullock said.

“I’m not putting an expiration date on phase one,” Bullock said. “Our new normal is going to look different. This virus isn’t gone from Montana. So as we turn to support our Main Street businesses and get more families back to work during this time – as we should – we must also be sure to continue looking out for those around us and protecting everyone around us.”

Bullock said he was “inspired” by the way Montanans have come together to tackle the pandemic.

“We have flattened the curve and we have saved lives,” he said.

Bullock said Montana has the lowest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per capita and fewest COVID-19 hospitalizations per capita in the United States. Montana had 439 confirmed cases as of Wednesday – with just two new cases reported on Tuesday – and 14 deaths since the first case was confirmed on March 11.

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com. Amy Beth Hanson with the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Following is the governor’s three-phased plan for reopening the state:

Schools

• Beginning May 7 all schools have the option to return to in-classroom teaching delivery.

• The State recognizes that if reopened, schools will require the district to make adjustments and create plans, policies, and procedures.

• If schools plan to reopen they should consider:

• Implementing an alternative educational delivery model that includes a mix of in-person and remote learning.

• Providing focused individual education, especially for at-risk students.

• How to reconnect and meet the educational needs of students who fall behind in a remote learning environment.

• The importance of maintaining the connection between students, teachers, and parents.

• The important role that schools play in the health of students, families, and communities.

• Graduation environments that can meet the social distancing requirements.

Phase 1

Individuals

• ALL VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS should continue to follow the stay home guidance. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents.

• Vulnerable Individuals: people over 65 years of age and/or those with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.

• All individuals (non-household), WHEN IN PUBLIC (e.g., parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), should maximize physical distance from others.

• Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.

• MINIMIZE NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL and adhere to Montana guidelines regarding quarantine.

Employers

• Continue to ENCOURAGE TELEWORK whenever possible and feasible with business operations.

• When telework is not feasible it is encouraged to ACCOMMODATE ALTERNATE WORK SCHEDULES such as shift work and staggered scheduling in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

• Close COMMON AREAS where personnel are likely to congregate and interact; or enforce strict social distancing protocols.

• MINIMIZE NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TRAVEL.

• SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS should be made for members of a VULNERABLE POPULATION or those with vulnerable household members.

Specific Types of Employers / Activities

• SENIOR LIVING OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES must continue to prohibit visitors. Those who do interact with residents and patients must ensure strict protocols regarding hygiene and protection are followed.

• This includes daily screening of staff for symptoms and preventing ill workers from working.

• CHILD CARE FACILITIES can remain operational but should follow State and local guidelines regarding operational levels and occupancy.

• ORGANIZED YOUTH ACTIVITIES can consider becoming operational if physical distancing guidelines can be implemented. Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.

• RESTAURANTS / BARS / BREWERIES / DISTILLERIES / CASINOS can become operational on or after May 4 under strict physical distancing and reduced capacity protocols in accordance with State guidelines.

• RESTAURANTS / BARS / BREWERIES / DISTILLERIES / CASINOS can become operational on or after May 4 under strict physical distancing and reduced capacity protocols in accordance with state guidelines.

• All patrons must be out of bars, restaurants, and casinos by 11:30.

• Capacity must be limited to 50% of normal operating capacity to allow for adequate group spacing.

• Tables must be limited to six people per table.

• Establishments must provide for 6 feet of physical distancing between groups and or tables by:

• Increasing table spacing, removing tables, or marking tables as closed;

• Providing for a physical barrier between tables; or

• Back-to-back booth seating provides adequate separation.

• In-house dining for quick service restaurants should remain closed, if all guidelines can’t be met, including the cleaning of every table between customers.

• Sitting or standing at bars or counters is not allowed.

• In bars, drinks and food must be served to customers at a table.

• Self-service buffets must be closed.

• Drink refills are not allowed.

• Self-service cups, straws and lids should be behind a counter and handed to customers

• Self-service condiments should be eliminated.

• Gaming machines that are operational must be separated by 7-foot center to center. Machines must be placed out of service ifadequate spacing cannot be assured.

• MAIN STREET AND RETAIL BUSINESSES can become operational on or after April 27 with reduced capacity and where strict physical distancing protocols can be maintained.

• GYMS / POOLS / HOT TUBS remain closed.

• OUTDOOR RECREATION can become operational if sites adhere to strict physical distancing between groups and exercise frequent sanitation protocols if public facilities are open.

• PLACES OF WORSHIP can become operational on or after April 26 with reduced capacity and where strict physical distancing protocols can be maintained between non-household members. Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.

• Other PLACE OF ASSEMBLY shall remain closed (e.g., movie and performance theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys, bingo halls, and music halls).

Phase 2

Gatherings may expand to 50 people.

•Vulnerable populations should continue to follow stay home guidance

• Gyms / Pools / Hot Tubs can become operational.

• In addition to houses of worship, other places of assembly can become operational under the group size restrictions and physical distancing guidelines in this phase.

Individuals and Employers

• Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.

• NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL guidelines remain the same as PHASE ONE for individuals traveling into Montana and for Montanans returning home.

• VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS should continue to adhere to the stay home guidance.

• Continue to ENCOURAGE TELEWORK as much as possible and where feasible but refer to guideline in PHASE ONE when telework is not possible.

• SENIOR LIVING OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES must continue to follow the guidelines of PHASE ONE.

• CHILD CARE FACILITIES can increase capacity if physical distancing guidelines can be implemented.

• ORGANIZED YOUTH ACTIVITIES remain operational and should avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.

• ALL BUSINESSES can remain operational and must adhere to physical distancing.

• RESTAURANTS / BARS / BREWERIES / DISTILLERIES / CASINOS remain in the same operational status as PHASE ONE, but with an increase in capacity.

• GYMS / POOLS / HOT TUBS can become operational with reduced capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols.

• OUTDOOR RECREATION remain in the same operational status as PHASE ONE.

• PLACES OF ASSEMBLY can become operational with reduced capacity and must adhere to physical distancing. Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.

Phase 3

No limit on group size.

Vulnerable populations can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, and continue to take precautionary measures.

Individuals and Employers

• ALL INDIVIDUALS and EMPLOYERS should continue to operate consistent with updated CDC guidelines.

• For ALL INDIVIDUALS there is no limit on group size, however everyone should consider minimizing contact time with others and limit time spent in crowded environments.

• VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, and continue to take precautionary measures.

• Employers can resume FULL STAFFING of workplaces.

• Visits to SENIOR CARE FACILITIES can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene.

• ALL BUSINESSES / PLACES OF ASSEMBLY can remain fully operational with awareness of physical distancing.

• GYMS / POOLS / HOT TUBS can remain fully operational but must still exercise frequent sanitation protocols.

• OUTDOOR RECREATION Interstate tourism travel resumes. Campground, group-use facilities, playgrounds and visitor centers are fully open.

• There is no limit on GROUP SIZE during this phase, however PHYSICAL DISTANCING should still be observed.

• Continue to follow GUIDELINES FOR ALL PHASES.