Big Horn County has ordered the closure of all fishing and hunting lodges, resorts and AirBNB/ VRBO rentals, in addition to the closure of all dine-in restaurants, bars and casinos ordered statewide by Gov. Steve Bullock earlier Friday.
County officials said the closure takes effect 5 p.m. Friday and extends through 12:01 a.m. March 28, though they anticipate an extension to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
While closed, lodging establishments may provide lodging to personnel essential to the people of Big Horn County, including medical, law enforcement, mortuary, sanitation, child care, retail, including grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores, and take-out restaurant workers, county officials said in a news release.
The order was made by the Big Horn County's health officer and approved by county commissioners, according to a news release.
No cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, have been reported in Big Horn County, although public-health officials nationwide say proactive measure must be taken to stop the spread. In Montana, 15 cases have been reported.
Under the order, the following places are closed to ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public:
· Restaurants, cafes, coffeehouses, and other similar establishments offering food or beverage for on-premises consumption.
· Alcoholic beverage service businesses, including bars and other establishments offering alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
· Casinos.
· Establishments that provide “full-service experience” including fishing/hunting lodges, resorts, and Airbnb/Home Away/VRBO facilities.
The restaurants, cafes, coffeehouses, and other similar establishments subject to this order are permitted and encouraged to offer food and beverage using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service, and to use precautions in doing so to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing (keeping a distance of more than six feet from other people).
To view the full order, please visit the Big Horn County website at https://www.bighorncountymt.gov/order-of-big-horn-county-public-health-officer/ or the County’s response to COVID-19 on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BHCMTResponds/.
