Missoula Board of Health moves toward reducing Covid-19 restriction measures

When Missoula’s professional, independent baseball team, the PaddleHeads, lost its season last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the team didn’t relent on its self-proclaimed role as stewards of events and entertainment. Matt Ellis, vice president of the PaddleHeads, said they consider running events during this time a matter of improving quality of life, despite restrictions.

As Missoula begins to edge closer to a new normal with fewer restrictions due to Covid-19, it could soon be easier for large events and gatherings to happen at venues and organizations, like the games and events the PaddleHeads hold.

The Missoula City-County Board of Health on Thursday, March 18, agreed to reduce restrictions on large events and gatherings due to Covid-19 once certain metrics are met.

The approved proposal can now be issued by a heath officer’s order once Missoula’s vaccine dose administration rate reaches 60% of residents 16 and older, and the new incidence rate is less than 25 per 100,000 population for 14 days.

As of March 16, Missoula County had a vaccine administration rate of 44.4% of residents 16 and older.

“If people show up for the (vaccine) slots that are available...we can reach this metric no later than the 19th of April,” Ellen Leahy, the retiring Missoula City County health officer, said while clarifying the metrics for the proposal during the meeting.

Once in effect, measures such as providing hand sanitizer, disinfecting surfaces and mitigating areas of crowding would only be recommendations. There would also no longer be restrictions on the size and structure of events and gatherings. The only requirement under the new rule would be wearing a face covering.

The current rule requires strict structure and static groups for gatherings over 100 people outside. This makes it extremely difficult to have events at large venues such as Ogren Park with the PaddleHeads, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds.

Dr. Robert Stenger, an at-large physician member of the board, said during the meeting that it made sense for the board to consider relaxing large event and gathering restrictions first because these community events require planning in advance.

“We’re flying a little bit blind,” Stenger said, on which restrictions to relax first and how to relax them. “We’re trying to adapt to this new reality on the fly.”

Because Missoula County has not met the required metrics for the new rules to go into effect, the health board is currently operating under its original mitigation measures. However, community members and leaders were thankful that the health board thought ahead, allowing community leaders to start planning large events and gatherings ahead of time in anticipation of the new rule going into effect as early as mid-April.

Ellis was one of many representatives from organizations in the Missoula community who attended the Board of Health meeting. He expressed support for the new rule when it was proposed, as did other community organizations.

“It allows us to start having events at higher capacity,” Ellis said.

Emily Brock, the director of the Missoula County Fairgrounds, told the group that the fairgrounds also supported the new rule. Billie Ayers, a spokeswoman for the fairgrounds, later said in a statement that the new rule will help the Fairgrounds plan events without fear of cancellation.

It is expected the Board of Health will continue to discuss relaxing more Covid-19 related restrictions. After the new rule was passed, Ross Miller, the board chair, said we can expect relaxing more restrictions soon.

Before then, event organizers are wasting no time planning future events for the community.

“We’re full steam ahead,” Ellis said.