The Gallatin City-County Board of Health announced that they will meet on Friday to consider new restrictions on certain businesses to slow the transmission of COVID-19. According to a press release issued by the Health Department, the Board will consider:

  • Changing closing times for bars and restaurants, distilleries, tasting rooms, and casinos from 12:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Limiting group sizes at tables to 6 people.
  • Reducing capacity of gyms/fitness centers, bars, restaurants, distilleries, and casinos to 50% of capacity. Currently they are at 75% capacity.
  • Reducing group gatherings in Gallatin County to 25 individuals. This restriction would apply to both indoor and outdoor events and regardless of the ability to properly social distance. Our current restrictions allow up to 50 people at an event.

The Health Department says that the proposed rule revisions include exceptions for certain businesses and organizations where social distancing is most feasible, including houses of worship and certain places of assembly.

The restrictions, according to the Health Department, are in response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Gallatin County and concern over the rise locally in hospitalizations.

It should be noted, however, that with the rise in cases that we've seen since mid-September, the death rate from COVID-19 has actually fallen in Gallatin County and across the state of Montana.

To date, Gallatin County has suffered nine deaths related to the coronavirus. Our current death rate is well below 1% at 0.24%. We've had no one under the age of 50 die as a result of COVID-19.

Here are the demographics of those who died with COVID-19 in Gallatin County.

  • 50s - 1
  • 60s - 1
  • 80s - 1
  • 90s - 6

The state of Montana has recorded 399 deaths from 35,159 COVID-19 cases. The death rate is 1.13% which is lower than the 1.4% death rate we saw when cases began spiking in the state around mid-September.

The Board of Health's meeting on Friday will be virtual and public comment is encouraged. Send your comments to the Board by clicking on the button below.

To participate in Friday's meeting you need to pre-register. To do that, use the button below.

Live stream the meeting by clicking on the button below.

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