Up to Individual Choices

Madison County aligned its directives to reopen certain businesses with Gov. Bullocks phased reopening of Montana’s economy.

Nonessential businesses, schools, restaurants, campsites, RV lots, hotels and motels will make their operational decisions based on the governor’s guidelines. The cooperation of business owners, towns and schools in adhering to the social distancing and disinfecting guidelines from the governor’s office will determine the success of the first phase.

“I would really like to encourage business owners to get this phase one right without mistakes,” Madison County Board of Public Health Chairman Dr. Doug Young said. “Sadly, because if mistakes are made and there’s an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases, it’s very likely that phase one will be aborted and restrictions will have to be necessarily reinstituted.”

The Madison County Board of Public Health’s closures on businesses included in phase one expire April 27, and April 26 for places of worship. Gov. Bullock’s statewide traveling order, requiring people who are coming into Montana from another state to quarantine for 14 days, will be in effect until the end of the emergency. People who are visiting Montana for shorter than 14 days have to be isolated their entire stay. 

The ability to follow the governor’s guidelines is at the center of the individual decision making. 

“Meeting those directives is pretty challenging, when you have large groups gathering, even in outdoor settings,” MCBPH board member Dayna Leavens-Thergesen said. “If we’re aligning with Gov. Bullock’s directive, then we are guiding individuals in decision making positions to align with and follow those directives.”