]-

MtuUlo hr k lhuh 2

ORDER O' thE MISSOULA CITY & COUNTY HEAI.TH OFFICER

COVID-19 Mitigation Requirements for Businesses and Events in Missoula County
O.lober 27 , 2020

WHEREAS, the State of Montana, Missoula County, and the City of Missoula are an a declared state
of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic;

WHEREAS, on May 19,2020, the Governor issued a Directive with requirements and guidance for
Phase Two ofthe phased reopening of Montana, to begin on.lune 1, 2O2O and the state remains in
a partially-opened phase;

WHEREAS, loca I i u risdictions can enact requjrements that are more restrictive than State guidelines

and the Governor on three occasions in October publicly urged more restrictive localaction in view
ofthe increasing rate ofCOVlD-19 spread in numerous Montana Counties;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 50-2,118 ofthe Montana Code Annotated, a local health officer in
carryingout the purpose ofthe public health system shalltake steps to limitcontact between
people in order to protect the public health from imminent threats, including but not limited to
ordering the closure of buildings or facilities where people congregate and cancelling events;

WHEREAS, cases of COVID-19 in Missoula County began rasing in mid-september and are continuing
to ascend to an incidence rate of 51 cases per 100,000 population (new cases on a rolling seven-day
average) on October 25; i

WHEREAS, an incidence rate greater than 25 cases per 100,000 population has been identified by
the Harvard Global Health lnstitute as the highest "red 20ne" risk level beyond which a locality may
tip into uncontrolled spread;ii,

WHEREAS, Missoula leaders are committed to keeping schools open for as much in-person learning
time as can be safely provided during the long duration of this pandemic;

WHEREAS, Missoula County is home to a regional health care hub upon which Missoulians and
Montanans rely for COVID and non,COVlD acute and critical ca.e;

WHEREAS, Missoula County is home to a regional economac and service hub upon which
Missoulians and Montanans rely for goods, servic€s, and their livelihoods;

WHEREAS, Missoulians have lar8ely shown cooperation and compliance with state and local COV|D,
19 restrictions, yet the rising case incidence threatens the ability of our hospitals and businesses to
remain open;

WHEREAS, epidemiological studies indicate that "non-contagaon strategies" such as limiting groups
sizes, distancing, and decreasing the activity level in a communaty "deployed to reduce the rate of
transmission achieved large, beneficial and measurable health outcomes.", and that ,,-lockdowns
in particular- have had a large effect on reducing transmission;"'

1
 M&o{ul.o AJblk tleo,,t
{'.'9!'diaF'H
'

-
WHEREAS, Missoulians have largely shown good cooperation with COVID-19 mitigation measures,
and local epidemiological evidence suggests that structured environments, such as schools and
structured events and business operating plans provide more protection against transmission than
non-structured social environments and events, yet spread is threatening even these more-
Protected environments;

WHEREAS, Missoula's local health officer, upon monitoring the local and state epidemiological
trends of COVID transmission, researching addational mitigation measures and consulting with local
experts and officials, has determined that additional measures are required to limit contact
between people in order to protect the public and the community from uncontrollable spread of
covtD-19;

THEREFORE, IT IS HERESY ORDERED THAT EFFECTIVE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2O2O AT 8 A.M.:
1) Events and gatheranSs, including but not limited to receptions, conventions, parties, meetings,
fairs, festivals, craft fairs, farme/s markets, vendor events, concerts, sporting events, organized
youth activities, tournaments and races, whether they take place at a "place of a5sembly, or
other venue, must meet the following requirements:
a. Events and gatherings are limited to a total of 25 people in circumstances that do not
readily allow for appropriate physical distancing for the duration of the event, including but
not limited to wedding and other receptions, dances, sports, parades, and other events that
are inherently inconducive to maintaining physical distancing.
b. Events and gatherings that will have a total of 26 250 people, includint attendees, staff, and
volunteers, are allowed under the requirements listed in Appendix A. A written COVID-19
event plan is required to ensure the event or gatherang will meet the minimum
requirements for events and gatherings in Appendix A. Organizers must consult with the
Environmental Health Division ofthe Missoula City,County Health Department
nvhealth missoulacou or 258 4755) before the event, and submit the written plan
for review if requested by the Health Department. lf the Health Department reviews the
plan and finds that it does not meet the requirements in Appendix A, the event oreanizer
must modify the plan or cancel the event.
c. Events that will have a total of more than 250 people, including attendees, staff, and
volunteers, must develop and submit a written COVTD-19 Event Plan to the Health
Department for review and approval 10 or more days before the event or gathering. The
plan must show how the event or gathering meets the requirements in Appendix A. The
event or gatherinS shall not take place without written approval from the Health
Department.
d. Event organizers must follow their plan during the event, and make adjustments during the
event or gathering, if necessary, to meet the requirements in Appendix A.
e. Event organizers mu5t modify, scale back, postpone or cancel the event if notified by the
Health Officer that further restrictions for gatherings and events are necessary based on the
Reopening Phase and the epidemiologicalsatuation at the time the event willtake place.

2
M@dohrdklhth'

f. -Limats on gathering size do not apply to students in classrooms or at other school-related

activities. However, limits on gatherint size do apply to spectators or audience members at
those activities.
g. Limits on gathering size do not apply to actions related to voting, including registering to
vote, voting in person, or delivering a ballot, except that six foot-distancing shall be
maintained in all venues operating for these activities.
h. Childcare facilities, in recognition of their critical role in supporting a necessary workforce,
must limit group size of students and staff to no more than 50 people, if 6-foot physical
distancing cannot be reliably maintained.

2) Busanesses and individuals providinS grooming, beauty, body art, piercing, massage, spa and
similar services, including but not limited to barbers (including barbers and barbers,
nonchemical), cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, manicurists and massage therapists
must meet the minimum requirements in Appendix B.

3) Retail businesses, gyms, and places of assembly, such as conference centers, bowling alleys, and
theaters, shall:
a. [imit customers inside the business, gym, or place ofassembly to no more than 5OZoofthe
typical number of customers during highest volume hours. 'Typical highest volume hours,,
ls not the same as fire code capacity limits;
b. Have visible cues in place to alert customersofthe physicaldistancinS requirements and to
denote the required six-foot separation distances;
c. Develop and implement a plan addressing the requirements in the Governo/s Re,opening
Directives and this Order. The completed plan must be maintained on site and be made
available to the Department upon request. Appendix C gives an example format for the
plan; and
d. Train staff on applicable COVID-19 requirements and the contents of the COVID-19 plan.

4) ln restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos:

a. Capacity must be limited to 50% of normal operating capacity to allow for adequate group
sPacing.
b. Tables must be limited to 8 people per table.
c. A sign must be posted at entrances listing the symptoms of COVID-19, and instructing
customers not to come in if they are experiencing any COVTD-19 symptoms.
d. The requirements and guidelines in the Govefio/s Aptil22,2O2O and May 19, 2O2O
Directives must be met in order to be open to the public.
e. At least six feet of separation must be provided between diners, or groups of diners,
including those sitting in booths.

5) Bars shall close at 10 P.M., or earlier if required by state liquor license requirements. ln
establishments that serve both food and alcohol, all alcohol sales must cease at 10 pM, or
earlier if required by state liquor license requirements.

3
Mtuulofi,tblk @rrth '

6) This Order shall remain in effect until this order is revoked or revised based on the followin8
epidemiological and resource indicators:
a. Seven-day average of new case incidence rate lowers to 25 per IOO,OOO population for a
period of at least two weeks; and
b. tocal hospitals' capacity to admit both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients for necessary
care is maintainedj and
c. No significant diminishment in testing resources, test analysis turn-around time that affect
timely isolation of positive cases occurs: OR
d. Case incidence trend, hospital or resource status worsens, and more restrictive
requirements are necessary to control spread.

7) Based on the 14-day incubataon period of COVID-19, the first review of this order shall be 14
days from its effective date, November 12, weekly thereafter.

8) This order supersedes the May 28, 2O2O Health Officer order that addresses event and business,
related COVID-19 requirements.

9) The requirements and restrictions in this Order are in addition to existing Oirectiveg by the
Governor. lndividuals and businesses should rely on this Order where any inconsistencies exist
between this Order and an existing Governo/s Directive.

Signed:

/O - 26 "2..o --
Ellen Leahy, R MN, MPH Date
Director & Health Officer

Governor Steve Bullock, Press Conferences October 13,20, and 22,2O2O,

University ofMontana Center for Population Health Research, COVTD-19, ComputationalEcotogy Lab, at
httos://cel.health .umt.edu/covid19/index.oho ac on October 25, 2020
"' "Key Metrics for COVIO Suppression: A Framework for poticy makers and the pubtic,,, Harvard Gtobat Heatth
lnitiative, luly 2020, at rvard.edu/f iles/center-for
ethics/files/kev metrics and i lcators v4.pdf?m=1593600837 accessed on october 25, 2020,
v
Hsian, Solomon, Ellen, Daniel, et al, "The effect oflarge-scale anti-contagion policies on the COVTD-19 pandemic,,,
ivoture, Vol. 584, August 13, 2020, pp- 262-267 ure.com/aft icles/s41585-O20 2404 8 accessed on
october 25. 2020.
'Flaxman, Seth, et al, "EstimatinSthe effects of non-pharmaceuticatinterventions on COVTD-19 i6 Europe.,,
Noture, Volume 584, August 13, 2020, pp.257,261. Accessed at httosr//www nanrre com/articles/s41585-020-
2405-7 on october 25