The latest news about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Montana.

Blackfeet Ease Some COVID Restrictions, Keep Quarantine

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Will Marlow (CC-BY-NC-2)

The Blackfeet Tribe last week took a step toward lifting restrictions put in place amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The tribal business council canceled the Blackfeet Reservation’s stay-at-home order and non-essential travel restrictions.

The easing of restrictions means non-residents can travel to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, but a 14-day quarantine order is still in effect for those returning or traveling from an area with known infections. The curfew on reservation was also extended from 8 to 11 p.m.

Bars, restaurants and casinos were given the go-ahead to open their doors, but they are required to submit a reopening plan to the tribe for approval. Churches and places of worship are allowed to do the same, and are being asked to operate at 50% capacity.

Major draws such as campgrounds will remain closed to non-residents and the east entrances to Glacier National Park are still shuttered. Some of the park’s western entrances opened Monday. Restrictions on cabins, hotels and vacation rentals still remain in place.

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council is meeting daily and says all restrictions are subject to change.

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Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.