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Flathead County encourages businesses to practice social distancing

Posted at 4:14 PM, Mar 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-17 18:14:13-04

Flathead County Health Department urge local businesses to find alternative models to promote social distancing.

Flathead County Health Officer Hillary Hanson says it's at the county's discretion to chose whether or not to order all bars, restaurants and casinos to close.

She told MTN that while the county hasn't enforced that yet, businesses should be prepared such as finding alternative methods to serve people outside of a traditional dining room.

However, she is aware that this puts businesses in a compromising position.

She encourages patrons to support local businesses in other ways that won't put their health at risk.

"We definitely want our local businesses to be supported, and what we're hoping folks will do is utilize some other mechanisms from those businesses," explained Hanson. "Take out, delivery, buying gift cards, doing those things. But keeping away from them from a stand point of ensuring that we're following the social distancing recommendations."

Hanson says starting Tuesday, those with Flathead County incident command working on COVID-19 will all be under the same roof.

She adds while the structure won't change, having everyone on the team physically together will make communication easier.