Bullock says phased reopening of state could occur after April 24

A phased reopening of the state could occur after April 24 when the current stay-at-home order related to COVID-19 expires if certain criteria are met, Gov. Steve Bullock said Friday.

The governor says his office continues to assess data, but is creating a plan that would allow for the state to open up on a phased basis by gradually lifting the current restrictions that are in place. An announcement of an exact plan is expected by mid-week next week.

Bullock said the criteria his office is examining to determine whether a reopening could occur includes the absence of a surge in new cases of the virus and a sustained reduction in new cases for a 14-day period. In addition, the state would be looking at hospitals’ ability to be prepared to treat patients, as well as, whether the state has enough tests for those patients with symptoms.

“I’ve been working with public health experts and business leaders to determine how we can open up our state, while keeping people safe and avoiding a new outbreak,” Bullock said.

“We all need to understand that this will be a gradual process,” he added. “Because once we begin to reopen, we want to be able to stay open.”

Bullock said the measures already taken, including the stay-at-home order and the closure of public schools set to expire on April 24, have been effective in combating the spread of COVID-19.

“We have flattened the curve,” Bullock said. “And we have saved lives.”

The state has 422 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with more than 10,000 tests being completed. There have been nine deaths related to the virus and 233 patients have recovered.

“Because we acted early with input from public health officials and emergency response experts Montana does have a significantly lower rate of infection per capita than many of our neighboring states that have not implemented stay-at-home directives,” he said. “The aggressive actions that we took early has made it so, relative to many places in this nation, we are in a much better place.”

Bullock didn’t provide exact details on what a phased reopening for the state would look like, but pointed to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on reopening.

The CDC guidelines for phase one of a reopening would ask vulnerable individuals to continue to shelter in place, social distancing should continue and groups of 10 or more people should be avoided and employers should still encourage telework. Phase two would recommend vulnerable individuals continue to shelter at home, allow for gatherings of 50 people and allow non-essential travel.

Phase three calls for vulnerable individuals to continue to practice social distancing to minimize exposure, but reopens large venues and calls for removing restrictions on workplaces.

Bullock said the opening of Montana’s public schools would likely be part of the second phase of reopening as is also part of the CDC guidelines. The state schools have been closed since March 16.

“I want to do this based on science, not based on politics,” Bullock said. “I know if we get this wrong it will hurt us more.”

Bullock on March 26 issued a stay-at-home order except for essential activities such as visiting the grocery store and pharmacy. The order, aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, has been extended in two week increments and also allows for the operation of only businesses considered as essential, while prohibiting the gathering of any number of people in public.

Bullock recognized the impact the closure is having on the state’s economy, but said reopening of the state needs to be a gradual process.

“We know Montanans are hurting financially,” he said. “We all want to get Montanans working again.”

The first COVID-19 case in the state was reported on March 11. It took 13 days to reach 100 reported cases in the state.