GREAT FALLS — Governor Steve Bullock plans to conduct a news conference on Tuesday to "provide details on how Montana has continued to suppress the (COVID-19) virus and will prepare to enter phase two of the state’s reopening plan."
The news conference is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The news release from the governor's office did not provide details on when phase two will begin, nor whether initial phase two guidelines will be modified.
Montana added one new COVID-19 case Tuesday, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map. The new case is a Yellowstone County woman in her 80s.
The state is reporting a cumulative total of 471 cases. MTN News is reporting one fewer total cases due to a case in Jefferson County that health authorities say involved a patient who was not in the state.
Three more people have recovered from the virus in the last 24-hour reporting period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 437. There are 18 active cases in the state currently.
The number of people currently hospitalized stands at five, an increase of one from the day before. The number of deaths remains at 16.
Key points of the initial phase two guidelines include the following:
- Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.
- NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL guidelines remain the same as PHASE ONE for individuals traveling into Montana and for Montanans returning home.
- VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS should continue to adhere to the stay home guidance.Continue to ENCOURAGE TELEWORK as much as possible and where feasible but refer to guideline in PHASE ONE when telework is not possible.
- SENIOR LIVING OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES must continue to follow the guidelines of PHASE ONE.
- CHILD CARE FACILITIES can increase capacity if physical distancing guidelines can be implemented.
- ORGANIZED YOUTH ACTIVITES remain operational and should avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.
- ALL BUSINESSES can remain operational and must adhere to physical distancing.
- RESTAURANTS / BARS / BREWERIES / DISTILLERIES / CASINOS remain in the same operational status as PHASE ONE, but with an increase in capacity.
- GYMS/POOLS/HOT TUBS can become operational with reduced capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols.
- OUTDOOR RECREATION remain in the same operational status as PHASE ONE.
- PLACES OF ASSEMBLY can become operational with reduced capacity and must adhere to physical distancing.
Re-opening The Big Sky - Key Points (PDF)
Re-opening The Big Sky - Phased Approach Details (PDF)