Montana business and tourism organizations encourage mask use

Chambers of commerces and visitors bureaus around Montana are asking people to wear masks to protect the health and economic viability of the communities they represent.

In a letter signed by more than 20 organizations, including the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, people are asked to wear mask to slow the spread of COVID-19 and in order to continue to reopen the state.

“Wearing masks not only help keep our residents healthy, but will also allow our tourism-dependent economy to recover at a faster rate,” the letter says. “To date, we are one of the few states not mandating this. When we voluntarily do our part, we forestall the need for more restrictive measures.”

More than 20 states around the country have issued orders requiring people to wear face masks in public.

The Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Polson chambers of commerce also signed the letter. The cities of Whitefish and Polson previously issued directives “strongly” urging the use of face masks in public.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing face masks when 6-foot social distancing can’t be followed. Also recommended is frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer and to avoid touching the face, and that those who are sick remain at home.

Montana on Friday set another record high for daily increases of COVID-19 cases with 127 positive cases reported.

The state has 1,593 positive cases with more than 110,000 tests completed. Flathead County on Friday had 64 total cases with 14 active.

According to the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana, in May 44% of Montana tourism business owners said that under current conditions, their businesses could only survive another 6 months or less Another 22% said they could only last up to a year.

“Montana relies on tourism, and the ability of visitors to travel safely into, around and out of the state is critical to our economy’s recovery,” the letter points out.

The state has seen growth in the number of positive cases sine entering into the second phase of reopening in June. A 14-day quarantine for those coming into the state also ended on June 1.

State officials have said that clusters of cases have been tied to work place settings or group gatherings such as weddings.

“As residents of Montana, we must set the example for our community and our visitors — wear masks when social distancing is not possible, whether indoors or out,” the letter says. “For the health of our communities, both physical and economic, we support and encourage the use of masks by residents and visitors alike.”

Groups that signed the letter, are Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Chamber of Commerce/Visit Big Sky, Billings Area Chamber of Commerce/Visit Billings, Butte Convention and Visitor Bureau

Central Montana, Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce, Destination Missoula, Explore Whitefish, Gardiner Chamber of Commerce, Glacier Country Tourism, Glendive Chamber of Commerce, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce/Discover Kalispell,

Helena Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, Livingston Chamber of Commerce, Miles City Chamber of Commerce, Missouri River Country, Polson Chamber of Commerce, Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Montana,

Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and Yellowstone Country Montana Tourism.