Montana begins phased reopening
April 23, 2020
On Wednesday, April 22nd, Governor Bullock announced Montanas phased approach to reopening, with changes implemented as soon as this weekend. Read below for the breakdown of Phase 1.
PHASE 1:
As of Sunday, 4/26, the stay-at-home order will be lifted.
As of Sunday, 4/26, churches can open with maintaining social distancing for non-family members.
As of Monday, 4/27, retail stores will be able to reopen with reduced capacity and under measures to ensure physical distancing. Gyms, pools, and hot tubs will remain closed. So will movie theaters, performance theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys, bingo halls and music halls.
As of Monday, 4/27, personal care like salons and tattoo parlors will open but customers must be screened for symptoms. People need to wear face masks when possible and stations must be 6 feet apart when possible.
As of Monday, 5/4, bars, restaurants, casinos, and breweries can start on-site service if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines and under reduced capacity. Breweries have always had an 8 p.m. closing time, and now bars, restaurants and casinos must close by 11:30 p.m. Operations need to have cleaning plans, and employees must be trained on how to properly sanitize things. Surfaces and items must be cleaned between customers. Restaurant capacity must be limited to 50% of normal, and groups must be at least 6 feet away from each other. Self-service buffets are closed, as are drink refills and other self-service operations.
As of Thursday, 5/7, all schools have the option to return to in-classroom teaching delivery. Local districts can make their own choices, and many around the state have already said they dont plan to bring students back this year. If schools reopen, guidance from the governors office suggests a mix of in-person and remote learning, as well as graduations that meet social distancing requirements.
-The 14-day self-quarantine will remain in place for out of state travelers.
-Senior and assisted living facilities must still prohibit visitors, and staff should be screened there daily. Childcare facilities can keep operating.
-Outdoor recreation can open if physical distancing is followed. That includes fishing access and parks. There may be some limited reopening of campgrounds, but it wouldn't be until the third and final phase that campgrounds and group-use facilities fully reopen.
-Organized activities for kids can operate if they can follow social distancing guidelines, but gatherings of 10 or more when social distancing cannot be followed is to be avoided.
FUTURE PHASES:
Note: The governor said there is no timeline yet for moving from phase 1 to phase 2. The Libby Area Chamber will do our best to keep you updated on these changes to come.
PHASE 2: Under the second phase, the size of gatherings can grow to 50, and gyms, pools and hot tubs can open, though vulnerable populations still need to stay home. Other businesses that were already open can increase their capacity of individuals allowed in a shared space.
PHASE 3: In the third phase, there will be no limits on the size of groups that can gather, and vulnerable populations can resume public interactions but still need to take precautions.
Read the full directive here.
PHASE ONE GUIDANCE
GENERAL BUSINESS OPERATING GUIDELINES
All Settings:
Health assessments must be conducted for all employees at the beginning of each shift.
In establishments where customers wait in a line, non-household customers should remain physically distanced.
Waiting areas where adequate physical distancing cannot be maintained must be closed.
Customers should be encouraged to call for a reservation or an appointment, or establishments should use an online wait listing application.
Physical distancing of 6 feet must be maintained between non-congregate customers, this may require:
A reduction in capacity;
A reduction of seating in service and waiting areas;
Management of waiting areas and waiting lines; or
Systems that reduce the amount of contact time between customers and staff.
RESTAURANT / BAR / BREWERY / CASINO GUIDELINES
All Phases (1-3)
A specific cleaning plan must be implemented, and employees must be trained in proper sanitation practices. Materials will be available on the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) food and consumer services website.
All surfaces occupied must be cleaned between customers, including tables, chairs, booths, and highchairs.
Table items including, condiments, menus, napkins, and dιcor, should be removed from the table unless they can be adequately cleaned between customers.
Menus must be cleaned between customers.
Growlers and refillable or reusable containers must be cleaned prior to being refilled.
Gaming machines must be adequately cleaned between customers.
Phase One:
Capacity must be limited to 50% of normal operating capacity to allow for adequate group spacing.
Tables must be limited to six people per table.
Establishments must provide for 6 feet of physical distancing between groups and or tables by:
Increasing table spacing, removing tables, or marking tables as closed;
Providing for a physical barrier between tables; or
Back-to-back booth seating provides adequate separation.
In-house dining for quick service restaurants should remain closed, if all guidelines cant be met, including the cleaning of every table between customers.
Sitting or standing at bars or counters is not allowed.
In bars, drinks and food must be served to customers at a table.
Self-service buffets must be closed. Drink refills are not allowed. Self-service cups, straws and lids should be behind a counter and handed to customers Self-service condiments should be eliminated. Gaming machines that are operational must be separated by 7-foot center to center. Machines must be placed out of service if adequate spacing cannot be assured.
PERSONAL CARE / SERVICES GUIDELINES
Phase One: PERSONAL CARE (SALONS, MASSAGE, BODY ART, ETC.)
Operations that require close personal contact for an extended period result in exposing staff and customers to greater levels of risk. These situations require additional safety and health precautions.
Screen customers prior to appointment for symptoms of fever, shortness of breath or a cough. Customers that have any of these symptoms must be rescheduled. Utilize a face mask for staff and for customers when practical.
Stylist / artist / service-provider and customer would be a "station" that would be 6 feet away from other "stations".
Provide for 6 feet of physical distancing between stations, this may require:
A reduction in capacity;
Increasing spacing, removing stations, or marking stations as closed;
Providing for a physical barrier between stations;
A reduction of seating in service and waiting areas; or
Systems that reduce the amount of contact time between customers and staff.
|
