UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. - Jan. 21, 2021
MISSOULA - Missoula County is about to see some changes to its COVID-19 restrictions as the City-County Board of Health approved changes to the existing guidelines on Thursday.
The changes now allow restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos to stay open past 10 p.m. Other changes include increasing the current capacity limits and allowing eight people to be seated at a table.
The revisions had been under consideration since early November after a group of about 70 bar and restaurant owners approached health officials to find a way to allow bars to remain open later at night.
That group, called Revive Missoula, says they are excited to see their voices being heard.
Kyle Riggs with the Pangea Restaurant Group says because they opened during the pandemic, they've never been able to stay open as late as they would like.
"That's great that they’re giving the time back to everybody, that doesn’t necessarily translate into guests. People are so conditioned right now to be closing at 10 o'clock and they have to be home and things like that,” Riggs said.
“The world has changed considerably for staff, for guests, for everybody. It’s going to take some time for people to get used to it,” he added.
Riggs says he'll give it a few weeks before trying to stay open until 2 a.m., but he is ready to start closing around midnight.
The changes in Missoula County’s COVID-19 restrictions take effect on Friday.
(first report: 1:30 p.m. - Jan. 21, 2021)
The Missoula City-County Board of Health has voted to approve changing some of the existing COVID-19 restrictions.
The changes approved included removing the closing time for restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos, changing the current capacity limits and allowing eight people to be seated at a table.
The rule changes will take effect on Friday.
The revisions had been under consideration since early November after a group of about 70 bar and restaurant owners approached health officials to find a way to allow bars to remain open later at night.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.