Board of Health looks at amending order on restrictions

Havre Daily News staff

An email from Hill County Health Officer Kim Larson forwarded to the Havre Daily News by Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said an issue to be discussed at the next Hill County Board of Health meeting at 3 p.m. Friday will amending and implementing the recent order imposing new restrictions to try to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The email said the board will be discussing and implementing an amendment regarding youth activities.

Larson was not available for comment prior to the printing deadline this morning.

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The order went into effect last Wednesday after the county failed to meet a goal in reduced numbers of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The requirements include that social gatherings be limited to 25 people regardless of the feasibility of social distancing.

The order states that this includes, but is not limited to, business functions, private gatherings and organizational events.

A list of exceptions to this rule exists, including places of worship, which the order says may exceed group size of 25, as long as the facility operates at 75 percent capacity or less and everyone present observes social distancing, and wear’s masks.

It also exempts food service establishments that served a population that depends on it as one of its sole sources of food. This includes university dining facilities, cafeterias in K-12 schools, hospital and care facilities, as well as room service in hotels and any facilities necessary for the response to the emergency.

The order states that these facilities are, however, required to operate with necessary staff only.

It also specifies that all decision-making authority shall remain with the local school districts and boards for school-related activities including academic and extracurricular ones.

Child care facilities are also exempt.

The order also specifies that all restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffee houses, bars, brew pubs, taverns, breweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, special licensees, clubs and casinos will need to close at 12:30 a.m., though drive-through service can continue past that point.

Those businesses must also continue to operate at 50 percent capacity and must continue to maintain all social distancing and masking requirements.