MontanaPBS to livestream final COVID-19 special at 7 p.m.

BOZEMAN - MontanaPBS will livestream the sixth and final installment of a broadcast special, "Answering Questions About Coronavirus," at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30. The program will be available to view on-air, online at http://montanapbs.org/live and on the MontanaPBS Facebook page.

During the special program, host John Twiggs will talk via video conference with Dr. Greg Holzman, the state medical officer; Montana Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Matthew Quinn, head of the governor's Coronavirus Task Force; and Patrick Barkey, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. Twiggs will also interview Gov. Steve Bullock.

In his stay-at-home directive, Bullock included outdoor activities as "essential" - and Montanans listened. While national parks remain closed, Montana state parks are seeing a 60 percent visitor increase. With state campgrounds set to open Friday, MontanaPBS' Breanna McCabe will report on what park visitors can expect in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, salons, restaurants and churches from across the state are navigating a phased reopening plan, but some may wonder what that means for each entity individually. MontanaPBS news and public affairs producer Jackie Coffin will check in with local businesses to see how they are planning to reopen, or remain closed, in light of the new directives.

Phone operators will take audience questions at 1-888-828-5876. Viewers can also submit questions via Facebook by following MontanaPBS or emailing online@montanapbs.org.

The broadcast is anticipated to last 60 minutes. Additional resources, web links and previous episodes are available at http://montanapbs.org/covid19.