Blaine County limiting restaurant, bar, casino activity to meal pickup and delivery Friday

Blaine County Health Officer Jessica Sheehy issued an order today that, effective at noon Friday, all bars, casinos, restaurants, and other businesses with dine-in public seating in Blaine County will be closed to the public with the exception of drive-through, delivery and pick-up services including entering the business to pick up goods

Blaine County is joining a growing number of governments in Montana and across the nation closing bars and restaurants to in-facility dining, including Hill County.

The order says the closure for in-facility dining is effective through March 27 pending further notification.

The order said the Blaine County Board of Health determined the order should be issued to reduce people's exposure to the novel coronavirus 2019.

The text of the order follows below.

Watch for more in Friday's edition of the Havre Daily News.

ORDER OF BLAINE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus a pandemic;

WHEREAS, all states in the United States are experiencing confirmed cases of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) recognizes COVID-19 as a threat to the residents of Montana;

WHEREAS, there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Montana;

WHEREAS, the Blaine County Health Department has activated response plans and protocols to prepare for cases of COVID-19 in Blaine County;

WHEREAS, proactively implementing mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus is in the best interests of Blaine County and its people;

WHEREAS, COVID-19, a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and is a new strain of Coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans and can easily spread from person-to-person;

WHEREAS, the CDC identifies the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 both globally and in the United States as "high" and has advised person-to-person spread of the COVID-19 will continue to occur globally, including within the United States and Montana;

WHEREAS, the circumstances of this outbreak may exceed the capacity of the services, personnel, equipment, supplies and facilities of Blaine County;

WHEREAS, based upon all of the above, the Governor of the State of Montana, in consultation with public health authorities and CDC recommendations, has strongly recommended limiting of all gatherings, specifically gatherings of more than 10 people;

WHEREAS, the Blaine County Board of Health has the duty to protect the public from the introduction and spread of communicable disease or other conditions of public health importance, including through actions to ensure the removal of filth or other contaminants that might cause disease or adversely affect public health;

WHEREAS, the Blaine County Board of Health has determined the potential spread of COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency and actions must be taken to avert and minimize the outbreak of this communicable disease;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Montana Code Annotated § 50-2-118, a local health officer in carrying out the purpose of the public health system shall take steps to limit contact 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, the Blaine County Board of Health has determined the local health officer should institute her authority to close buildings and facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within Blaine County, Montana.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, pursuant to Title 50, Chapter 2, Part 1, specifically Montana Code Annotated § 50-2-118,

All bars, casinos, restaurants, and other businesses with dine-in public seating, with the exception of:

drive-through,

delivery,

and pick-up services (including entering the business to pick-up goods)

within Blaine County, Montana, shall be closed to the public. This order shall be effective at 12:00 p.m. FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2020 THROUGH FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2020 pending further notification.

Jessica Sheehy PA-C

HEALTH OFFICER FOR BLAINE COUNTY, MONTANA