HELENA, Mont. (AP) – Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced he would lift a statewide mask requirement later this week after signing a bill that is intended to protect businesses and health care providers from coronavirus-related lawsuits.
Gianforte said Wednesday the new law will allow businesses to safely open during the pandemic.
He also said enough vulnerable Montana residents have received COVID-19 vaccines to lift on Friday the mask mandate put in place by his Democratic predecessor.
Local jurisdictions will still be permitted to implement mask mandates once the statewide rule is lifted.
As of Wednesday, just under 4% of Montana residents had received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
