On Friday, March 12, the Gallatin City-County Board of Health will hold a special meeting to consider amending a COVID-19 related local public health rule to allow for increased group size limitations for events and group gatherings in Gallatin County.

The new rule, if approved by the Board, would increase gatherings for indoor events to no more than 150 people if event sponsors put in place certain physical distancing measures to protect participants and the public.

Under the draft rule, outdoor events of up to 250 people would be allowed with certain physical distancing measures in place. The physical distancing provisions in the rule include requirements that participants at indoor events with more than 50 people be seated at tables that are at least six feet apart with no more than six people per table.

Outdoor venues with more than 50 people would be required to organize the event to maintain six feet between individuals and family/household groups. Event sponsors would also be required to manage physical layout, ingress/egress, and flow of foot traffic in ways that allow attendees to maintain six-foot physical distancing. The rule would prohibit unstructured activities (such as dance floors) that encourage unpredictable social interactions that do not allow six feet of distance between participants.

The draft rule maintains a number of exemptions to the group size limitation, including those for houses of worship, K-12 schools and institutions of higher learning, youth participants at organized youth events, retail businesses that ensure predictable and manageable social interactions, government offices, and operations, and established businesses such as restaurants, gyms, and other food services establishments subject to existing capacity requirements.

To participate in Friday’s meeting, register here.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing info on how to join the meeting. You can also join by phone by dialing 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833 and enter the webinar ID: 973 6850 1001.

Submit public comments by emailing BOHPublicComment@gallatin.mt.gov by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 11.

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While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

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