HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) –Governor Steve Bullock announced the stay at home order will be lifted Sunday, April 26 and announced a plan for Montana’s gradual and phased reopening.
Phase one of Bullock’s plan discusses individuals, employers and activities.
Phase one of Bullock’s plan asks Individuals and businesses to continue to practice stay home guidelines where applicable. Including being cognizant of their physical distance between others, continuing to quarantine for 14-days after any non-essential travel and keeping groups sizes to ten people or less.
Employers are encouraged to telework as much as possible, close common areas of congregation and minimize non-essential business travel.
Regarding activities, senior living or assisted living facilities should continue to prohibit visits. Childcare facilities are allowed to stay open as long as they continue to follow state and local occupancy guidelines. Youth activities can be organized and held if they keep social distancing and gather in groups no bigger than ten. Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos will be allowed to reopen Saturday, May 4th but all customers must leave these facilities no later than 11:30 p.m. Main street and retail businesses can reopen Monday, April 27 with reduced capacity. Gyms and pools will remain closed. Outdoor recreational sites can reopen but they must practice physical distancing guidelines. Places of worship can open on or after Sunday, April 26 with reduced capacity. Places of assembly including movie and performance theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys, bingo halls and music halls are to remain closed.
As of now, phase one does not have an expiration date.
Phase two of Bullock’s plan allows for public gatherings of up to 50 people and allows for gyms, pools and hot tubs to reopen. Non-essential travel and senior living or assisted living facilities are to continue to follow phase one guidance. Childcare facilities may increase capacity.
Phase three of Bullock’s plan allows for non-essential travel and any group size to gather. Employers can also resume work with all staff members, senior care facilities can allow visitors, and all businesses and places of assembly can be fully operational. Physical distancing and proper sanitation of facilities should still be followed.
Starting Thursday, May 7 all schools will have the opportunity to return to in-classroom teaching if they desire. With this, schools that choose to reopen may want to consider creating a mixed teaching curriculum that includes both online and in class participation.
As Montana starts to reopen Bullock said they will continue to make sure hospitals have enough capacity to treat and test all patients with all conditions, they will make sure there is enough PPE to go around and they will also make sure new cases are evaluated and monitored actively.
For all phases, the public should still continue to adhere to CDC guidelines by practicing good hygiene, wearing face coverings in public and making sure they stay home if they are sick.
Local jurisdictions will be allowed to trump state guidelines if they wish to enact more stringent COVID-19 reopening rules.
For more information visit covid19.mt.gov.
