Flathead County orders restaurants, bars to close

Flathead County’s Public Health Officer Hillary Hanson on Thursday afternoon issued an official order, requiring a countywide shutdown of restaurants, bars, casinos and other locations.

The order, made with the support of the Flathead City-County Board of Health, will go into effect at 6 a.m. Friday and continues through 8 a.m. March 30.

The order goes hand-in-hand with the Trump Administration’s recently updated coronavirus guidelines for the United States that advises individuals to avoid social gatherings of 10 or more people.

Here is what the order mandates:

All bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, restaurants, casinos, gyms, fitness facilities, athletic centers, workout studios, ice-skating rinks, indoor climbing venues, indoor sporting arenas, cinemas, and theaters shall be closed to the public.

Restaurants, grills or kitchens may operate on a limited basis by providing service via take-out, drive-thru, and/or delivery. Restaurants that maintain dining-room facilities in addition to take-out, drive-through and/or delivery operations must close their dining rooms.

Breweries, distilleries, and wineries may continue to make alcoholic beverages, but may not operate tasting rooms, or otherwise serve non-sealed alcoholic beverages to the public.

Food-service establishments that provide the primary meal sources for a population that lives or works within its buildings, such as cafeterias in hospital and care facilities may remain open to the population such an establishment would serve.

The order does not apply to licensed physical therapy practices, provided these practices are exercising appropriate social distancing, and does not apply to grocery stores, deli counters in grocery stores, or convenience stores, and any convenience stores with combined restaurants shall close their dining-room facilities.