ELENA, Mont. (AP) – Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has lifted the statewide mask mandate.
The Republican governor said Friday that he removed the mandate because vulnerable Montana residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
But some public health officials say the state’s vaccination rate is still too low to lift the masking requirement.
The state’s chief medical officer resigned from his post Thursday, the day after Gianforte announced his intent to lift the mandate.
Several cities and counties are keeping local mask requirements. Among those are Lewis and Clark, Gallatin, Butte-Silver Bow and Missoula counties.
Just over 4% of Montana residents have received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
This post has been updated
