County urges businesses to prepare for virus impacts

The Flathead County commissioners and City-County Board of Health are urging all businesses, including restaurants, bars and casinos, to begin immediate preparations for alternate ways of performing day-to-day activities as the coronavirus outbreak makes its way to Montana.

A press release from the Flathead City-County Health Department on Tuesday morning offered several suggestions for businesses to ensure social distancing. These include closing off of any areas where large groups could congregate, moving to a take-out, delivery or drive-thru model, moving meetings to be done virtually and reconstructing offices to distance employees from one another.

“While there are still no confirmed cases in Flathead County, we recognize that across the nation and Montana bold steps will need to be implemented to protect the health of the public. There may be no warning for the implementation of control measures and so it is vital that every business begin planning and implementing alternate ways of doing business immediately,” said Tamalee St. James Robinson, the chairperson of the Flathead City-County Board of Health.

County Administrator Mike Pence also said in the press release that Flathead County has already taken certain steps to limit exposure of the virus.

“Flathead County has begun this work through the closure of congregate meals at the Agency on Aging, the cancellation of events at the fairgrounds and the move to phone services instead of walk-in services at Environmental Health,” Pence said. “We urge other businesses to take similar steps.”

More information is available on the Flathead City-County Health Department webpage at https://flatheadhealth.org/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/, or by calling 406-751-8188.