Gianforte rescinds statewide mask mandate

Effective last Friday, the statewide mask mandate in Montana was rescinded by Gov. Greg Gianforte, along with two election-related orders made by Gianforte's predecessor, former Gov. Steve Bullock.

The mask mandate, put in place by Bullock in response to increasing spread of COVID-19 in the state required that Montanans wear masks in public places, including in businesses, government offices and most other indoor environments open to the public, as well as outdoor gatherings where social distancing is impossible.

Gianforte said the rescinding of this mandate is in line with his belief that the COVID-19 pandemic is better fought through personal responsibility and providing incentives for good behavior.

He's repeatedly said he intends to continue wearing a mask himself and asked that others follow his lead.

"Since we're not out of the woods yet, I will continue wearing a mask and encourage all Montanans to do the same to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors," Gianforte said.

This new order comes on the heels of Senate Bill 65, which was signed into law by Gianforte last Wednesday, and prevents businesses, places of worship and health care providers.

He said this, in addition to the continuing vaccination of the state's most vulnerable people, made this rescinding possible.

This decision drew the ire of many, including the Montana Nurses Association.

"In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to infect an average of 273 Montanans every day and with new variants of the coronavirus being reported almost every week, our governor decides to back away from one of the actions most effective at stopping the spread of the virus: wearing a face mask," NMA Chief Executive Officer Vicky Byrd said in a press release last week.

She said the governor's lifting of the mask mandate directly contradicts the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently recommended that people should wear two masks to slow the spread of coronavirus variants that may be more contagious than the original virus.

"Tens of thousands of Montanans will be waiting for weeks and months to be vaccinated," she said. "Nevertheless, Gov. Gianforte takes this action that runs counter to what our national and state medical and scientific experts are saying - a move that puts the communities of our state at greater risk."

She said until vaccination is widespread, Gianforte's decision ignores the medical science.

"Masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene is the only other way to combat this pandemic," she said. ".. As professional nurses working, day and night, 24/7, in hospitals and other facilities where COVID-19 patients are being treated, we know the essential protections that masks can provide. That's why doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in Montana, including MNA, have urged repeatedly that people wear masks to protect themselves and others."

The release says MNA applauds the counties and localities maintaining science based CDC recommended mask mandates.

The Hill County Board of Health will be holding a special meeting this week to consider a local mask mandate of this kind.

See related story in this edition.

Ganforte also issued a mandate that rescinds his predecessors changes to election procedure that allowed counties to go to all-mail ballots for the 2020 general election if they so chose, as well as an executive order repealing his predecessor's order that required entities seeking to do business with the state to disclose contributions to the campaigns of elected officials.

"Our constitution makes it plain as day: the Legislature makes our laws, not the governor and not the courts," Governor Gianforte said. "It's the responsibility of our Legislature to determine how Montana's elections are conducted, and it's the responsibility of our Legislature to determine whether an individual must disclose donations to a nonprofit group."

"These issues are up to the Legislature now, which is where they should have been decided all along," he added.