MISSOULA — The Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD) is seeking public input ahead of next week’s meeting where revisions to current COVID-19 rules will be considered.
Missoula County’s incident rate of daily new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people seven-day average has dropped below 25 for two weeks. The Board of Health identified this indicator as a trigger to review COVID-19 mitigation measures for businesses and events.
While MCCHD is not recommending that the Health Board relax the current mask mandate, some revisions are being considered, according to a news release.
MCCHD is recommending the following changes:
- Increasing group sizes for events to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.
- Removing capacity limits except as necessary to meet distancing requirements.
- Removing certain restrictions on businesses including, but not limited to, fitness facilities, pools, places of worship & assembly, personal care businesses, restaurants, and bars.
- Revising language throughout the rule based on input from community entities.
“We are heartened by Missoula County’s current case numbers and wish to recognize the high level of cooperation from all sectors of our community that brought us to this point,” MCCHD Public Information Office Hayley Devlin stated.
“However, we also know that dips and spikes are to be expected with a contagious disease that is spread by respiratory means and especially by the novel virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic,” a news release states.
MCCHD notes that “mitigation measures are still needed” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public comments can be submitted through the Resident Feedback Portal on missoulainfo.com through Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m.
There will be a public comment period during the virtual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 18. MCCHD notes those comments are subject to a time limit, so submitting a written comment ahead of time is being encouraged.