Posted on 02/12/2021 6:39:22 PM PST by lightman
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Friday lifted the state’s mask mandate, fulfilling a campaign promise he made last month.
The move, announced on Wednesday, comes in the form of a new directive that rescinds and replaces all previous directives implementing Executive Order 2-2021 (pdf), which the Republican governor issued on Jan. 13.
The new directive (pdf) allows Montana’s statewide mask mandate to expire, but still allows local governments to have their own mask mandates to reduce the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.
Gianforte said in a statement that his criteria were met for ending the mask mandate, which had been in place since July 2020 as issued by former Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat. Gianforte is encouraging people to continue to wear a mask despite the mandate having expired.
“Since January 5th, I have provided a clear, consistent path to rescinding the mask mandate,” Gianforte said in a statement. “First, we need to start getting the vaccine to our most vulnerable. Second, we need to protect businesses, nonprofits, places of worship, and health care providers from lawsuits if they make a good faith effort to protect individuals from the spread of coronavirus and follow clear public health guidelines. We have met both criteria, and the statewide mandate expires today.”
On Wednesday, Gianforte signed Senate Bill 65 (pdf) to enact a COVID-19 liability shield law, providing protection for various businesses and groups from lawsuits if they follow local health guidelines.
Local mask mandates remain in Missoula, Gallatin, Butte-Silver Bow, and Lewis and Clark counties. Whitefish also has a citywide mask mandate.
The Montana Nurses Association on Thursday was critical of the measure. In a statement to news outlets, the group’s executive director Vicky Byrd said, “In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to infect an average of 273 Montanans every day and with new variants of the coronavirus being reported almost every week, our governor decides to back away from one of the actions most effective at stopping the spread of the virus: wearing a face mask.”
“The governor’s lifting of the mask mandate directly contradicts the latest guidelines from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Byrd added, noting that the federal agency had just recommended that two masks be worn to slow spread of the CCP virus variants “that may be more contagious than the original virus.”
Montana is in Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan (pdf), the governor’s office announced. Gianforte updated the vaccination distribution plan on Jan. 5 “to protect the most vulnerable Montanans, including people 70 years of age and older, Montanans 16 years of age and older who have severe underlying medical conditions, and Native Americans and other persons of color who are at a heightened risk of severe COVID-19-related complications.”
The divide is
FREE State v. FEAR State.
Amen!!
This makes me want to move to Montana.
Florida is a lot more comfortable. And they have strip clubs, too.
-13.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been there so you talked me into it. I generally go to Pensacola and Okaloosa Island area.
“I want you to go to your windows, open them up, RIP THE F’n MASK OFF YOUR FACE, stick your head out and and Yell... “I’M MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE!””
Been nearly three decades since I’ve seen a number like that.
January 1994...had a day with a low of -20 and high of zero.
I’ll be in Montana this fall....makes me glad that they’re lifting the mandate.
Now I’ll be hearing that Frank Zappa song;
“Moving To Montana Soon”....and I’ll be hearing it all day long.
Nobody wears them right, they pull them down to talk, they wear them till they are frayed and dirty. It is BS. Take the damn things off use them and don’t hoard toilet paper. It’ll do about the same amount of good. IMHO
Keeps the alligators away.
Howard Beale was a great character, and Network was a solid flick.
But it's neat to make little forts in the basement and use nerf gun cowboys and Indians.
I’m a Miami guy.
I was in Miami and Bozeman within 3 weeks of each other back in October 2019 when things were normal, the only time I’ve been to either place. It was nearly 100 in Miami and -5 in Bozeman. I think Miami was more unbearable.
There is ample scientific evidence that this trite view is utter quackery - GOP officeholders need to memorize that evidence and refer to it, every time. Make the MSM call it “baseless” - every time. While there is no hope for the Karens, people with brains will eventually start asking hard questions.
Never been. Been to Orlando a few times. Do you like the Miami area?
Montana has elk.
And snow to keep both the rift and raft away.
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