COVID-19
Montana public health guidance and restrictions
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Montana begins Phase 2 COVID-19 Guidance June 1, 2020
Increases group gatherings to 50; Montana entrance to Yellowstone National Park opens; travel quarantine expires
June 1, 2020
Effective June 1st, Montana begins operating under Phase Two of the States COVID-19 Phased Reopening directives. Click on this link to read the Governors Directive regarding Phased Reopening.
To date, Montana has had 515 cases of positive tested COVID-19, 17 deaths, 456 people recovered, and 39,798 tested for the disease. Click on this link for current COVID-19 health statistics for Montana. Click on this link for current COVID-19 health statistics in the U.S. from the CDC.
Phase Two:
Increase in Permissible Group Size to Groups of 50
Effective June 1, avoid gathering in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. It is recommended to continue to social distance in gatherings of any size.
Groups larger than 50 people should be cancelled unless physical distancing can be maintained.
If you are planning an event with more than 50 people you should consult with your local public health office on a plan to implement adequate social distancing.
Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) guidelines, event cutoff threshold is at the discretion of community leadership based on current circumstances in your community.
Physical distancing guidelines for groups and gatherings do not apply to household members.
Phase Two: Individuals and Employers
Effective June 1, the below guidelines apply to both individuals and businesses in Phase Two.
Vulnerable individuals should continue to adhere to the stay-at-home guidance.
All businesses may operate, provided they adhere to physical distancing and the conditions in this Directive, the Phase Two Guidelines, and all other Directives and guidance remaining in effect. Businesses should follow CDC sanitation protocols.
Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos remain in the same operational status as Phase One, but with an increase to 75 percent capacity.
Gyms, indoor group fitness classes, pools, and hot tubs can operate at 75 percent capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols.
Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and must adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines set forth for group gatherings and follow CDC sanitation protocols. May 19, 2020 Page 5
Child-care facilities can increase capacity consistent with the guidelines and FAQ contained in the April 1 Directive on childcare and if physical distancing guidelines can be implemented, however the 24-person cap per facility no longer applies effective June 1.
Employers should continue to permit telework as much as possible and where feasible, but refer to guidelines for Phase One where telework is not possible.
Senior living or assisted living facilities must continue to follow the guidelines of Phase One.
Outdoor recreation remains in the same operational status as Phase One.
Phase Two: Travel Quarantine to Expire June 1
Effective June 1, the provisions of the March 30 Directive requiring quarantine for non-work-related arrivals in Montana will no longer be in effect.
The Montana National Guard remains authorized to conduct temperature checks, assess individuals for COVID-19 symptoms, and to inquire about exposure history of any traveler arriving in Montana from another state or country through air or rail travel, consistent with the terms and restrictions provided in the March 30 Directive.
The State will execute a robust public health plan in communities most impacted by tourism, including:
- Surveillance testing of employees.
- Enhanced contact tracing resources deployed to these areas as requested by local authorities.
- Ability to surge personal protective equipment to impacted health care systems.
- Guidelines for operation for businesses that see high-tourist activity.
Directive Is Public Health Order and Enforceable By County Attorney
This Directive, along with any prior Directive that implements and references the public health authorities of the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) provided in Title 50, constitutes a "public health . . . order[]" within the meaning of § 50-1-103(2), MCA, and is enforceable by the Attorney General, DPHHS, a county attorney, or other local authorities under the direction of a county attorney. Local Public Health Agencies to Assist in Administration of this Public Health Order
Local public health agencies are directed to assist in the administration of this Directive, consistent with § 50-1-202(2)(a), MCA.
Less-Restrictive Local Ordinances Preempted
This Directive is in effect statewide in Montana. In the interest of uniformity of laws and to prevent the spread of disease, all inconsistent emergency county health ordinances are preempted by this Directive, but only to the extent they are less restrictive. Authorities: Sections 10-3-103, -104, -302, and -305, MCA; §§ 50-1-202, -203, and -204, MCA; 37 A.G. Op. 132 (1978); Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020; Montana Constitution, Art. VI, Sections 4 and 13; and all other applicable provisions of state and federal law. May 19, 2020 Page 6 Limitations
This Directive is effective immediately and expires at the end of the emergency, except where specified.
This Directive shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
Nothing in this Directive shall be construed to limit, modify, or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to the Governor, any department, agency, political subdivision, officer, agent, or employee of the State of Montana except as expressly provided in this Directive or other Directives now in effect implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020.
If any provision of this Directive or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Directive, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Directive are declared to be severable.
This Directive is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the State of Montana, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
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