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Event rules detailed as Missoula prepares for Phase 2 of reopening

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Posted at 7:32 AM, May 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-29 09:33:47-04

MISSOULA — The Missoula City-County Health Department has released plans for our local Phase 2 reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the area is considered to be a tourist destination, the majority of the directives outline Missoula’s robust event scene.

Health officials explained events are a high risk when it comes to spreading the virus, so they’ve implemented a handful of restrictions.

Some of the measures include limiting events to 50 people in circumstances that don’t allow for social distancing. Additionally, in events of 51 to 250 people, it’s recommended organizers have a written event plan to ensure health and safety.

An event plan is required for organizers to have on site for gatherings with up to 1,000 people. Lastly, events with more than 1,000 people will need to submit their event plan to the health department for approval.

Health officials are stressing the importance of compliance as they ease off many of the restrictions that have been in place for the past three months -- especially if reopening moves forward into the next phase.

“Nobody can manage a group of people who choose not to be managed, who choose not to be safe, who choose not to be respectful, so if you like an event and your event is going forward, please cooperate with the event manager's plans so that it can continue and that no one gets sick,” Missoula City-County Health Officer Ellen Leahy advised.

The department hopes to have different guidance documents with recommendations and ideas for meeting those event requirements in place by Friday. Click here to view the latest health order from the Missoula City-County Health Department.

Gov. Steve Bullock detailed plans to help support Montana's tourism industry during a Thursday news conference in Helena.