Bullock announces new COVID restrictions

In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Governor Steve Bullock enacted more measures in response to the coronavirus.

"These are decisions that I don't take lightly, yet they are a necessity," Governor Bullock said.

Under the new mandates which take effect on Friday, bars, restaurants, casinos, breweries and distilleries must operate at 50 percent capacity and must close by 10 p.m.

Restaurants will be able to serve a maximum of six people per table, down from the current limit of 10. Public gatherings where social distancing is not possible, except for places of worship, will be limited to 25 people.

Also starting on Friday, all coronavirus health restrictions will apply statewide. This includes the mask mandate, which previously only applied to counties that had over four active cases of the virus.

Counties can put in more, but not less, restrictive measures than the governor. Bullock also strongly urged Montanans not to hold gatherings in their homes over the holidays.

Bullock said that he developed the new measures in consultation with public health and emergency response experts.

Bullock also announced that the remainder of the $1.25 billion Montana received in federal coronavirus relief will be used to provide $25 million in additional unemployment benefits to those who are out of work throughout the state because of the virus and that another $75 million is available in an additional round of business stabilization grants.