Governor Bullock today issued the following statement supporting local communities as they enact social distancing orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Montana.    

“I praise the leadership of local communities for temporarily closing or limiting gatherings at restaurants, bars and other establishments. These efforts are consistent with the public health guidance I issued yesterday. This outbreak is serious, but we still have a chance to get ahead of it and flatten the curve in Montana. I urge all Montanans to practice social distancing, wherever they may live. The ability to slow new infections is in our hands and our friends and neighbors are counting on us to do the right thing.”

Yesterday, Governor Bullock issued a directive that include public guidance regarding social distancing. The Governor, in consultation with public health authorities, strongly recommends the following guidance:

• Limiting all gatherings, especially those gatherings of more than 50 people. 
  • Organizers should refrain from planning new gatherings and cancel existing gatherings. 
  • Individuals should refrain from attending.
• Persons age 60 or older should not participate in any gatherings, especially those gatherings of more than 20 people.
• Persons who are immunocompromised or with chronic health conditions should not participate in any gatherings, especially those over 20 people.
• Parents should avoid, if possible, placing children for childcare with grandparents, family members, friends, or providers over the age of 60 or immunocompromised persons.

Counties such as Yellowstone, Missoula, Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, and Butte-Silver Bow began announcing local orders today to limit social gatherings at establishments.