HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – At a press conference on Tuesday, Governor Greg Gianforte discussed a wide range of topics, including the continued surge of COVID-19 across the state.
Gianforte encouraged everyone to receive the free COVID-19 vaccine, saying that it is the best way to protect yourself from serious impacts from the virus.
“There couldn’t be a more important time to get vaccinated. The vaccines have been researched, they’ve been rigorously tested, they are safe and they work. This wouldn’t be possible without Operation Warp Speed, and Senator Steve Daines was instrumental in ensuring the program was a success, securing funding to allow the rapid manufacturing of vaccines and their thorough testing. But don’t take our word for it. We encourage all Montanans to speak with their trusted personal medical provider about getting vaccinated and why it’s important. Because at the end of the day, Montanans trust their medical provider, their Doctor, and their Pharmacist.”
Gianforte cited a CDC study that states unvaccinated Americans are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are unvaccinated, and noted that the more contagious Delta strain is making up the vast majority of new cases in the state.
However, he reiterated his stance that he will not implement any vaccine or face covering requirements.
“Let me be clear once more: the state of Montana will not impose a mask mandate. And the state of Montana will not impose a vaccine mandate. As I always have, I trust Montanans to make decisions that are best for their health and the health of their loved one…We will not impose a Government mandated shutdown of our state.”
During the press conference, Gianforte also touted Montana’s decreasing unemployment rate and criticized the Biden Administration for rising inflation and the chaotic withdrawal of the U.S. Military from Afghanistan.
Gianforte added that it is “our obligation,” to welcome Afghan refugees, but that it will ultimately be up to local communities to make their own decisions.
“What’s going on in Afghanistan is appalling,” Gianforte said. “It could not have been more poorly handled. We should not have pulled the military out prior to getting our citizens and allies out. So the priority right now has to be getting our citizens and allies to safety. It’s then going to be a decision for local communities to decide how we really relocate those people. I think we have an obligation there.”
When it comes to the economy, Gianforte says Montana’s jobs recovery rate is the third best in the nation and said that unemployment claims are down 87 percent in the state since January.
