Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey

Documenting Montana's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Scroll here for more articles
Documenting America's Path.png
Montana coronavirus coverage
Debate in Montana
Montana government responses
School reopenings in Montana
State government responses
Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans
Debate over responses to the coronavirus pandemic
Elections • Religious service restrictions • School closures • State lockdowns • Debates by state
Related coronavirus coverage
Changes to elections • Federal responses • State responses
Reopening plans by state


Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains a general timeline of noteworthy state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020. It also includes details on three specific types of state responses to the pandemic:

Additionally, the article includes:


Response news updates

The following section provides a timeline of Montana's reopening activity beginning in April 2020. The entries, which come from our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter, are sorted by month in reverse chronological order. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. They appear exactly as they appeared in the newsletter.

July 2021

  • July 1: On June 30, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) endedMontana’s state of emergency.

June 2021

  • June 28: The state stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 27. Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) made the announcement May 4.

May 2021

  • May 5: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced the state will opt-out of all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs and transition back to pre-pandemic eligibility and benefits by June 30. Montana will be the first state to fully opt-out of the federal unemployment programs. Gianforte also announced the state will offer $1,200 Return-to-Work bonuses for people who get off unemployment benefits after May 4 and complete four paid weeks of employment. For more information on the unemployment changes, click here. For more information on the Return-to-Work bonus initiative, click here.

April 2021

  • April 14: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) issued an executive order prohibiting the state and private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination as a condition of service or entry to a facility.
  • April 1: Residents 16 and older will be eligible for vaccination starting April 1. Currently, the state is in Phase 1B+, which allows vaccinations for everyone 60 and older.

March 2021

  • March 17: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced March 16 that everyone 16 and older will be eligible for vaccination starting April 1. Currently, the state is in Phase 1B+, which allows vaccinations for everyone 60 and older.
  • March 8: The state begins Phase 1B+ of vaccine distribution on March 8. Eligibility is expanding to individuals aged 60 and older and anyone aged 16-59 with an underlying health condition like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease.
  • March 3: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced the state will start Phase 1B+ of vaccine distribution on March 8. Eligibility will expand to individuals aged 60 and older and anyone aged 16-59 with an underlying health condition like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease.

February 2021

  • February 12: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) is letting the state’s face-covering requirement expire on Feb. 12. Montana is the fourth state to lift a statewide mask order. Former Gov. Steve Bullock (D) issued the face-covering requirement July 15, 2020.
  • February 3: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced 19,500 unused doses of the vaccine will be redistributed from the federal government’s long-term care vaccination program to people in Phase 1B of the state’s plan.

January 2021

  • January 20: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) moved the state into Phase 1B of vaccine distribution on Jan. 19. The phase includes individuals age 70 and older, people with high-risk medical conditions, and “Native Americans and other persons of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications.”
  • January 7: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced that after healthcare workers are vaccinated, the state’s distribution plan will prioritize residents over the age of 70, individuals with preexisting conditions, and Native Americans. Previously, the plan prioritized certain frontline essential workers and individuals in congregate care and correctional facilities in Phase 1B.
  • January 4: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced an updated vaccine distribution plan and timeline based on the most recent CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for allocation to critical groups.

October 2020

  • November 18: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced additional mitigation measures, effective Nov. 20. Gatherings will be limited to 25 people when social distancing is not possible. Bars, restaurants, and casinos will have a 10 p.m. curfew every night and will be limited to 50% capacity.

September 2020

July 2020

  • July 15: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced a statewide mask requirement, effective immediately. It requires individuals to wear masks inside certain businesses and at outdoor gatherings of greater than 50 people where social distancing is not possible.
  • July 7: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced guidelines for reopening schools in the state. The plan encourages schools to consider several precautions, including limiting occupancy, adjusting transportation schedules, and adopting special cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

June 2020

  • June 29: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced nursing homes and assisted living facilities capable of upholding CMS and CDC guidelines can begin reopening to visitors.
  • June 1: Montana started the second phase of reopening on June 1. Phase Two allows restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, casinos, gyms, and pools to operate at 75% capacity if they maintain the physical distancing and sanitation protocols established in Phase One. Other venues like concert halls and bowling alleys can operate with reduced capacity under distancing guidelines. In Phase Two, residents are asked to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people unless social distancing can be maintained. Visitors to the state will not have to self-quarantine for 14 days.

May 2020

  • May 20: Gov. Steve Bullock announced Montana would move into the second phase of reopening beginning June 1. Phase Two will allow restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, casinos, gyms, and pools to operate at 75% capacity if they maintain the physical distancing and sanitation protocols established in Phase One. Other venues like concert halls and bowling alleys will be able to operate with reduced capacity under distancing guidelines. In the second phase, residents will be asked to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people unless social distancing can be kept. Visitors to the state will not have to complete a 14-day self-quarantine.


Vaccine distribution

This section contains a table of quick facts on the state’s vaccine distribution plan and a timeline of noteworthy events, including updates on vaccine availability for new groups of individuals, changes to state distribution plans, and much more. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services released a distribution plan on October 16, 2020.

Quick facts

Montana state vaccination plan quick information
What governing entities are responsible for vaccine allocation and distribution?[1] COVID-19 Vaccination Planning and Coordination Team
Where can I find a quick breakdown of phases in my state? N/A[2]
Where can I find the distribution plan? Montana COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
When was the plan first released to the public? October 16, 2020
When was the plan most recently updated? January 6, 2021
Where can I find answers to frequently asked questions? Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find data related to the coronavirus vaccine in my state? Montana's Vaccination Dashboard
Where is the state health department's homepage? Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Montana - AARP

Timeline

  • April 13, 2021: Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) issued an executive order prohibiting the state and private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination as a condition of service or entry to a facility.[3]
  • April 1, 2021: Montana residents 16 and older became eligible for vaccination. Previously, the state was in Phase 1B+, which allowed vaccinations for everyone 60 and older.[4]
  • March 16, 2021: Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced March 16 that everyone 16 and older would be eligible for vaccination starting April 1. At the time of the announcement, the state was in Phase 1B+, allowing vaccinations for everyone 60 and older.[5]
  • March 8, 2021: Montana began Phase 1B+ of vaccine distribution on March 8. Eligibility expanded to individuals aged 60 and older and anyone aged 16-59 with an underlying health condition like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease.[6]
  • March 2, 2021: Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced the state would start Phase 1B+ of vaccine distribution on March 8. Eligibility was scheduled to expand to individuals aged 60 and older and anyone aged 16-59 with an underlying health condition like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease.[7]
  • January 19, 2021: Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) moved the state into Phase 1B of vaccine distribution on Jan. 19. The phase was scheduled to include individuals age 70 and older, people with high-risk medical conditions, and “Native Americans and other persons of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications.”[8]
  • January 6, 2021: Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced that after healthcare workers were vaccinated, the state’s distribution plan would prioritize residents over the age of 70, individuals with preexisting conditions, and Native Americans. Previously, the plan had prioritized certain frontline essential workers and individuals in congregate care and correctional facilities in Phase 1B.[9]
  • December 31, 2020: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced an updated vaccine distribution plan and timeline based on CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for allocation to critical groups.[10]

School reopenings and closures

See also: School responses in Montana to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Schools in Montana were closed to in-person instruction on March 16, 2020, and were allowed to reopen on May 7. The timeline below lists statewide responses we tracked.

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported all schools were in-person in Montana .[11][12]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported a majority of schools were in-person in Montana .[13][14]
  • July 2, 2020: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced guidelines for reopening schools in the state. The plan encouraged schools to consider implementing precautions that included limiting occupancy, adjusting transportation schedules, and adopting special cleaning and disinfecting protocols.[15]


  • April 22, 2020: Bullock announced that he would rescind the statewide school closure order on May 7, but that individual districts would be allowed to decide whether to reopen for in-person instruction.[16]
  • April 7, 2020: Bullock announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end April 10, was extended through April 24.[17]
  • March 24, 2020: Bullock announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 27, was extended through April 10.[18]
  • March 15, 2020: Bullock announced that all public K-12 schools in the state would be closed from March 16 to March 27.[19]

Statewide travel restrictions

See also: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021


Does Montana have restrictions on travel? No. The quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers expired on June 1, 2020.[20]

More information can be found at Visit Montana.

Timeline

  • June 1, 2020: As part of Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan, the 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers was lifted June 1.[21]
  • May 19, 2020: An updated guidance released on Montana's official state website stated that the 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers would be lifted June 1.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
  • March 30, 2020: Gov. Steve Bullock (D) issued an executive order requiring residents and non-residents traveling to Montana, except those traveling for work, to self-quarantine for two weeks. The order also instructed the Montana National Guard to conduct temperature checks and exposure risks inquiries at airports and rail stations in the state.[22]


Statewide mask requirements

See also: State-level mask requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


On July 15, Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced a statewide mask order requiring individuals to wear masks inside certain businesses and at outdoor gatherings of greater than 50 people where social distancing was not possible.

On February 12, 2021, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) lifted the state's mask requirement.


Noteworthy lawsuits

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Cordero v. Montana State University: On September 14, 2020, a Montana State University (MSU) student filed a class-action lawsuit against the university, seeking tuition reimbursement after the cancelation of in-person classes due to Covid-19. Attorneys for Anthony Cordero, a former MSU undergraduate student, alleged that Cordero "has not been provided a pro-rated refund of the tuition for his in-person classes that were discontinued and moved online, or the Mandatory Fee he paid after MSU’s facilities were closed and events were canceled." They further argued that "MSU’s failure to provide the services for which tuition and the mandatory fees were intended to cover since approximately March 23, 2020, is a breach of the contracts and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing between MSU and Plaintiff Anthony Cordero and the members of the Class and is unjust." Tracy Ellig, a university spokesman, said that the university would not comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.[23][24]

Stand Up Montana v. Bullock: On December 10, 2020, a group of business owners and other individuals sued outgoing Montana Governor Steve Bullock (D) in Lewis and Clark County District Court, seeking to overturn his COVID-19-related mask mandate and various business restrictions. In their complaint, the Plaintiffs argue Gov. Bullock's executive order declaring a state of emergency, issued in March 2020, is no longer valid, contending it should have expired after 30 days because neither the federal government nor the state Legislature explicitly allowed for its extension. Plaintiffs suggest that “[g]iven the expiration of the state of emergency, the Governor may issue no executive orders . . . with respect to his other emergency powers.” As a result, the Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment from the court declaring Gov. Bullock’s “state of emergency expired on April 12, 2020” and thus, “any exercise by the Governor of emergency powers since April 13, 2020, is void.” The Plaintiffs further argue that Gov. Bullock’s mandates violate separation of powers guarantees, as well as rights to privacy, free exercise of religion, and human dignity found in the U.S. and Montana Constitutions. The case has not been publicly assigned to a judge and Gov. Bullock has not commented. As the suit names Gov. Bullock in his official capacity, it may continue against incoming Governor-elect Greg Gianforte (R).

Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. The most recent announcements appear first.

Name Office Date Status
Theresa Manzella Montana House of Representatives District 85 March 7, 2020 Manzella entered a self-quarantine on March 7 after learning she may have been exposed to coronavirus.[25]
David Bedey Montana House of Representatives District 86 January 8, 2021 Bedey announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[26]
Fiona Nave Montana House of Representatives District 57 January 11, 2021 Nave announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus.[27]
Brian Putnam Montana House of Representatives District 9 February 7, 2021 Putnam announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[28]
Ross Fitzgerald Montana House of Representatives District 17 February 12, 2021 Fitzgerald announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[29]
Becky Beard Montana House of Representatives District 80 February 10, 2021 State Sen. Jason Ellsworth, who chairs the COVID-19 panel, announced Beard tested positive for coronavirus.[30]
Greg Gianforte Governor of Montana April 5, 2021 Gianforte announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[31]



Paths to recovery by state

To read about other states’ responses and recoveries, click one of the links below:

Other state government responses

To view previous coverage areas, including changes to 2020 election dates and policies, initial stay-at-home orders, coronavirus-related legislation, and much more, click a state in the map below.

https://ballotpedia.org/Government_responses_to_and_political_effects_of_the_coronavirus_pandemic,_2020_(STATE)

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named section7
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NA
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT413
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT41
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT316
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT36
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT32
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT119
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT16
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MT1231
  11. ↑ Burbio rated Montana's in-person index at 100. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  12. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  13. ↑ Burbio rated Montana's in-person index between 60-80. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  14. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  15. ↑ Governor of Montana, "Governor Bullock, Lt. Governor Cooney Release Plan for Reopening Safe and Healthy Schools for Montana," July 2, 2020
  16. ↑ NBC Montana, "Bullock's stay-at-home order lifted Monday with restrictions," April 22, 2020
  17. ↑ KTVQ, "Bullock extends closures of schools, other businesses to April 24," April 7, 2020
  18. ↑ KTVQ, "Bullock extends school closures to April 10," March 24, 2020
  19. ↑ KBZK Bozeman, "Bullock orders closure of K-12 schools for two weeks," March 15, 2020
  20. ↑ Independent Record, "Montana sees 'cluster' outbreaks, but low COVID-19 case growth otherwise," June 1, 2020
  21. ↑ Independent Record, "Montana sees 'cluster' outbreaks, but low COVID-19 case growth otherwise," June 1, 2020
  22. ↑ Seeley Swan Pathfinder, "Governor Bullock Directs 14-Day Quarantine for Travelers Arriving in Montana From Another State or Country," March 26, 2020
  23. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Montana, "Cordero v. Montana State University: Complaint," September 14, 2020
  24. ↑ Bozeman Daily Chronicle, "Class-action lawsuit demands tuition refunds from Montana State," October 20, 2020
  25. ↑ Facebook, "Theresa Manzella," March 9, 2020
  26. ↑ KPAX, "First MT legislator tests positive for Covid-19, during the session," January 8, 2021
  27. ↑ Independent Record, "2nd Montana lawmaker tests positive for COVID; has not been in Capitol," January 11, 2021
  28. ↑ Independent Record, "3rd lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19," February 7, 2021
  29. ↑ Independent Record, "5th Montana lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19," February 12, 2021
  30. ↑ KULR 8, "Montana state representative tests positive for COVID-19," February 10, 2021
  31. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "The Latest: Montana Governor Tests Positive for COVID-19," April 5, 2021
v • e
Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
OverviewsCOVID-19.jpg
Articles by Type
Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
State responses to coronavirus
State paths to recovery
State school responses
Coronavirus debate topics
Coronavirus debate by state
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Documenting_Montana%27s_path_to_recovery_from_the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020-2021&oldid=8533236"