Missoula Health Department

Despite the fact that Montana Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the statewide mask mandate will be allowed to expire on Friday, the mandate will remain in place in Missoula County, according to the City County Health Department.

Missoula attorney Quentin Rhoades, who in November sued then Governor Steve Bullock over mask mandates, has now filed suit against the Missoula County Health Department on behalf of several local businesses and one individual.

After one inmate tested positive for COVID 19, the entire staff and all the inmates who consented were tested for COVID 19, and a number of them came back positive.

With the state of COVID 19 and athletics worldwide, it was good news from the University of Montana that men's and women's basketball will begin their seasons, however, without fans in the Dahlberg Arena.

On Tuesday, Missoula County Health Department COVID Incident Commander Cindy Farr provided the latest update on COVID infections and hospitalizations in Missoula.

With two more deaths in Missoula County reported on Friday, Missoula City County Health Officer Ellen Leahy said the number of hospitalizations has also risen, taxing local hospitals.

The new orders from Missoula City County Health Officer Ellen Leahy officially take effect at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday.

To slow the rapid spread of COVID 19, as of Thursday at 8:00 a.m. the Missoula City County Health Department will restrict business capacity to 50 percent, limit group gatherings to 25, cease serving alcohol at 10:00 p.m. and there will be a voluntary stay at home order.

Missoula City County Health Officer Ellen Leahy took part in a COVID 19 Epidemiology Update on Thursday and addressed several topics.

Starting Friday, the Missoula City County Health Department is issuing a new order regarding nursing homes, long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities, citing the fact that the Governor’s office allows local health departments to ‘enact requirements that are more restrict…