Western Montana COVID-19 resources, closures and news

MISSOULA — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced in Helena on April 7 that several directives have now been extended to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

The "stay at home" order and public school closure orders are now in effect until April 24.

The closures of bars, dine-in restaurants, casinos, and other nonessential businesses, and the suspension of evictions, foreclosures and the shutting off of utilities for nonpayment are also been extended until April 24.

The directive requiring incoming travelers to Montana to enter into a 14-day self-quarantine will also now run until April 24.

Businesses and organizations across Montana are doing their part to help limit the spread of coronavirus.

KPAX is working to help spread the word of businesses who are getting creative in staying open and serving our communities.

Local restaurants can be found here while businesses serving our community can be found here.

Continuing concerns about COVID-19 have prompted the cancellation or postponement of multiple scheduled events.

This article contains a list of canceled and postponed events as well as links that provide the latest information on the coronavirus, as well as precautions that are being taken locally.

University of Montana

• The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting the University of Montana to cancel its traditional Spring commencement activities.
• The University of Montana is telling students to move out of residence halls as soon as possible due to (COVID-19) concerns. More info here.
• The University of Montana will continue remote course delivery through the rest of the spring semester.
• The Kyiyo Powwow and Business Competition – which was scheduled for April 17 and April 18 -- has been canceled
• The University of Montana's Repertory Theatre had decided to postpone the upcoming production of Back to School.

UM has set up a webpage with the latest information about coronavirus preparations. Click here for more information.

Missoula County

• Beginning on April 8, Mountain Line will expand its Route 2 frequency and suspend its Route 1 service until further notice. More info here.
• MCPS is offering meals for anyone under the age of 18 while schools remain closed. Lunches are also being delivered to bus stops. More info here.
• The City of Missoula has announced some changes to their services. More info here.
• The Missoula Food Bank has ended volunteer shifts and suspended its acceptance of donated food.
• Mountain Line is scaling back its hours of service to keep drivers and passengers safe. Buses will remain on their regular routes.
• Glacier Ice Rink in Missoula is closed for the remainder of the season.
• Residents who use the services of the Missoula Housing Authority may be eligible for some rental assistance if they have been laid off due to COVID-19.
• Missoula's Southgate Mall has closed its doors in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
• The Missoula YMCA Riverbank Run, originally scheduled for April 25, has been postponed until Oct. 3.
• Meals on Wheels in Missoula will offer services to people at least 60-years-old who feel uncomfortable leaving home because of vulnerability to COVID-19.
• The Lolo School District is offering up free food for anyone 18 years old or younger.
• The Missoula County Clerk and Treasurer’s Office is closed. Online services are still available. Info here.
• Missoula County WIC offices are closed to the public, but clients can still get their benefits remotely. Call (4060 258-4740 for more information.
• The Potomac School District is providing free breakfast and lunch to all children aged 18 and under, including students who attend other districts, private schools, or are home schooled.
• Bonner School buses and staff are delivering meals to bus stops. For more information about these free meals, click here.
• Child Start Inc., the Missoula Head Start program is closed until March 30.
• The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula has halted regular hours of operation and visitation until at least March 30.
• The Missoula Art Museum is closed to the public through April 6; offices are closed until March 23; public programming canceled through May 2.
• New visitor restrictions will be implemented by Providence Health Services on March 18. More info here.
• Community Medical Center has implemented strict temporary visitor restrictions until further notice.
• All Missoula playgrounds are closed until further notice.
• All community use of Missoula Food Bank facilities is suspended, including regularly scheduled meetings and special reservations of the Learning Kitchen and other spaces. EmPower Place will be open only for grab-and-go meals. The center will be closed for play. More info here.
• The UM Food Pantry is closed until further notice. Grab-n-go meal bags, potatoes and hygiene products are available outside the pantry in the UC.
• The Arts and Culture Awards lunch scheduled for April 7 in Missoula is postponed for later in the spring.
• Logjam Presents has postponed all live events for 30 days effective immediately. Click here for the latest updates.
• Logjam Presents has postponed all live events for 30 days effective immediately. Click here for the latest updates.
• Missoula International School will be closed after spring break for two weeks, starting March 23.
• Concerns over the coronavirus have prompted Missoula’s Roxy Theater to suspend all events until April 1.
• The Missoula Community Theater has postponed Matilda the Musical which scheduled to run from April 23 until May 10.
• As a precautionary measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Glacier Ice Rink is temporarily closed.
• The Bethel Clothes Closet will be closing for the remainder of the month. Donations also will not be accepted at this time.
• The Poverello Center in Missoula had decided to close the food pantry in its building to limit outside visitors to the center due to coronavirus concerns.
• The Missoula Figure Skating Club has canceled the Glacier Challenge figure skating competition and test session which was scheduled for March 19-21.
• The City of Missoula Fire Department has canceled all public education, including Match safety programs for first grade students and the bi-weekly CPR classes.
• The AAUW-PDK Used Book Sale has been canceled and will be rescheduled for later this year.
• A Carousel for Missoula and Dragon Hollow is closed until March 25 as a precautionary measure for coronavirus.
• Missoula Parks and Recreation s closing Currents Aquatics Center and suspending most recreation and aquatics programs through at least April 3.
• The April 13 State of the Community forum at Missoula City Club has been canceled. An attempt will be made to reschedule the event for a later date.
• Opportunity Resources has postponed their anniversary gala which was scheduled for April 4 in Missoula.

Flathead County

• Flathead County health officials have ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, and other public gathering places. All body art establishments, hair, cosmetic, or nail salons, barbershops, and all massage services must also close.
• The City of Whitefish has declared a state of emergency.
• The City of Whitefish has prohibited motels, hotels, short-term rentals, and other lodging facilities from accepting reservations for non-essential purposes through April 30.
• The Salvation Army in Kalispell remains open but modifications are in place for the safety of staff and clients.
• Eagle Transit will be dialing back a large portion of its service in the Flathead because of a lack of drivers due to the COVID-19 outbreak. More info here.
• The MT Department of Natural Resources & Conservation and the MT Department of Environmental Quality are limiting public access to the Kalispell office.
• All ImagineIF libraries in Flathead County are closed until April 11.
• Kalispell city government will limit public gatherings and city council members will use a conference call system to communicate.
• Public access to Kalispell City Hall will be limited until further notice beginning on Thursday March 19.
• The Kalispell Police Department is making changes and will not be providing fingerprint services until further notice. Additional info here.
• The Hockaday Museum of Art has closed its galleries to the public and have canceled and postponed all tours, classes, events, and programs through April 18.
• The Flathead County Animal Shelter has announced they will be implementing operational changes beginning March 20. Info here.
• Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is temporarily suspending all operations in response coronavirus concerns.
• While schools arte closed Kalispell Public Schools students will continue to have access to breakfast and lunch programs. More info here.
• FVCC has canceled all classes and events hrough March 29 on the Kalispell and Lincoln County campuses.
• The annual Creston Auction, which was scheduled for April 3–5 has been canceled.
• The joint Selkirk/Cabinet-Yaak & NCDE subcommittee meeting set for Kalipsell on April 21 and April 22 is canceled.
• The joint Selkirk/Cabinet-Yaak & NCDE subcommittee meeting set for Kalipsell on April 21 and April 22 is canceled.
• Visitor restrictions have been expanded at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, The HealthCenter and North Valley Hospital.
• The Columbia Falls School District has canceled to student trips scheduled for next week.

Ravalli County

• Ravalli County commissioners have enacted an emergency declaration over the coronavirus outbreak.
• Concerns over the spread of COVID-19 have prompted the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office to announce some operational changes.
• All Bitterroot National Forest campgrounds, day use sites at Lake Como, Woods Cabin, and the East Fork Guard Station are closed through April 30.
• The Ravalli County Administration Building in Hamilton will be closed to the public until April 10. Info here.
• Ravalli Electric Cooperative has closed their office to the public. Click here for info.
• Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital is seeking donations due to a nationwide shortage in protective equipment. Click here for more information on what's needed.
• The Council on Aging along with the senior center boards have closed all senior centers and meal sites. A tranistion to a “pick-up” meal at each meal site is underway.
• The Hamilton School District is offering sack meals for students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the new entrance at Daly Elementary School.
• The Florence-Carlton School District will be providing breakfast and lunch starting on March 23 for students.
• The Floence Carlton School fourth and fifth grade music program has been postponed. Follow Florence-Carlton Elementary Music for more updates.
• Darby Schools will be providing meals to children 18 years of age and under during school closure. Meals will be available in front of the cafeteria from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
• The Corvallis School District is offering free meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Victor Schools are providing breakfast and lunch for students via van drop off. Call (406) 642-3221 for more information.
• Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey has announced changes to town services amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
• Ravalli County Emergency Services advises residents call (406) 375-6650 for coronavirus updates.
• The annual All Valley basketball game scheduled for Hamilton has been canceled.
• Visitor restrictions remain in place at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton. The number of entrances are also limited. Info here.

Lake County

• All Lake County offices are closed to the public. More info here.
• CSKT is ordering everyone to stay in their homes except as needed to maintain critical necessities.
• The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Lake County jail will have no inmate visitation, outside of attorneys and medical staff, until further notice.
• The City of Polson has announced several service changes, including the closure of City Hall to non-essential visitors. More here.
• The Polson School District will continue to serve breakfast and lunch this week and provide academic enrichment activities K-12. More info here.
• Arlee Schools will be delivering lunches to students via six bus routes. Local pick up also happens between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the Wilson's parking lot.
• Mission Valley Has Talent 2020 will be rescheduled due to health concerns. Organizers of the annual talent show will set a date soon.
• Arlee schools have announced several cancellations including all school trips affecting Arlee students. The March 17 high school band concert is canceled.
• Energy Keepers Inc. has suspended all tours, private and public, of the SKQ Project until further notice.

Sanders County

• The Long Term Care Nursing Home in Plains is not allowing visitors due to coroavirus concerns.
• The Sanders County Courthouse and the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office are now only assisting people by phone or email. More info here.

Granite County

• All visitors to the hospital and LTC are now prohibited.
• Granite County health officials have ordered all restaurants, bars and breweries be closed down for one week. Take-out and delivery services are still being allowed.

Mineral County

• Mineral Community Hospital in Superior is not allowing visitors into the facility.

Areawide

• Gov. Bullock has extended the stay at home and public school closure directives until April 24. More info here.
• Gov. Bullock is encouraging all Montanan's who have traveled abroad to self-quarantine for two weeks.
• Overnight camping has officially been closed by FWP. Group sites including playgrounds and fishing piers are also closed, along with visitor centers.
• All developed campgrounds and certain other recreation sites on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests have been closed indefinitely.
• Gov. Bullock issued a directive allowing the renewal of driver’s licenses online and by mail and extended the deadline to complete title and registration paperwork.
• The 2020 Spring Mack Days event on Flathead Lake has been postponed until further notice.
• The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health Department has closed several health centers.
• FWP has temporarily closed Bannack State Park due to social distancing concerns and to limit the possible spread of COVID-19.
• Gov. Steve Bullock has issued a directive to prevent spread of COVID-19 in state correctional facilities. New inmate transfers have been halted.
• The 2020 Red Ants Pants Music Festival has been canceled.
• Customs and Border Protection has reduced the operating hours at several border crossing stations in Montana.
• Select Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) offices with services that require face-to-face interaction are closed until further notice.
• All Montana Catholic schools will remain closed with online instruction until at least May 4. More info here.
• The CSKT Tribal Council has extended a shutdown on the Flathead Reservation. No end date was given for the closure order.
• The Montana National Guard is closing its facilities until further notice.
• CSKT has established a call center and an email in response to ongoing (COVID-19) concerns. The number (406) 849-5798. More info here.
• All CSKT Tribal employees encouraged to consider working from home. Schools will be closed for two weeks. More info here.
• CSKT health officials have closed the SKC health center. Health centers in Arlee, Elmo and Hot Springs will close on March 18. More info here.
• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena has suspended all public masses and other gatherings until further notice. More info here.
• MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks is aking hunters and anglers to make licensing purchases online due to concerns over coronavirus (COVID-19).
• State FFA Convention scheduled in Great Falls for March 25-28 has been postponed.
• Montana State University has canceled the National Conference on Undergraduate Research scheduled for March 26-28 in Bozeman.
• The MSU American Indian Council Powwow [montana.edu] scheduled April 10-11 has been canceled.
• The TEDxBozeman event on April 4 will be postponed to Oct. 10, 2020 at the Commons.
• The National Center for Appropriate Technology has postponed its March 30-31 Soil Health Innovations Conference at MSU in Bozeman.
• The Montana High School Association has decided to cancel its high school basketball state tournaments.
• Visits to the Montana Department of Corrections’ (DOC) facilities has been suspended until further notice.
• New requirements have been for courtrooms statewide including releasing at-risk individuals from jury duty, limiting the size of jury pools and pushing back bench trials to later dates

Coronavirus Information Resources:

• State of Montana confirmed COVID-19 cases information: https://montana.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=7c34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b

Click here for updated COVID-19 coverage from Montana and across the United States.