Board of Health Extends Face Covering Rule

Last week, the Gallatin City-County Board of Health made a number of changes to local emergency rules that are meant to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Gallatin County.

Changes include:

• Extending the local face covering rule until May 27, unless otherwise amended or rescinded. The Board intends to meet again in early May to consider this rule.

• Amending the local Phase Two reopening rule to allow 8 people per table at establishments such as restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and bowling alleys, and allowing a distance of 3 feet between groups at a bar. The Board also plans to revisit this rule in early May.

The Board also rescinded two rules related to isolation and quarantine of COVID-19 cases and close contacts and the long-term care facilities for seniors visitation rules.

Health Officer Matt Kelley said these actions would not immediately change practice at the health department or the community. He said the department will continue contact tracing new cases and close contacts in order to reduce transmission.

He said the department will rely on health officer orders to pursue that work. Likewise, the department will continue working with long term care facilities to enforce a health officer order requiring facilities to maintain staffing, personal protective equipment, and screening of visitors and staff in order to reduce transmission.

By eliminating the board's rules in these areas, Kelley said, the department will gain flexibility to adjust as guidance changes from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.