Flathead County orders more business closures

Flathead County’s Public Health Officer has ordered additional local businesses, including hair, cosmetic and nail salons, to close in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

According to a press release from the Flathead City-County Health Department, the order will go into effect at midnight Thursday and will last at least through April 10. The businesses ordered to close are body-art establishments, barbershops, massage services except those contained within state-licensed physical therapy and chiropractic practices, and hair, cosmetic and nail salons.

In a prepared statement, Public Health Officer Hillary Hanson, the incident commander for coronavirus, said “these facilities provide services for which they are unable to practice social distancing and they were not mentioned in the governor’s directive. We have received an influx of feedback from these facilities expressing concern about their risk and this order supplements the governor’s directive to address this risk.”

The order comes about one week after other businesses such as restaurants and bars were forced to close their doors and switch to take-out or delivery models if possible. Grocery stores and other essential businesses remain open and officials are recommending individuals continue to practice social distancing of at least 6 feet when in public.

As of Thursday afternoon, Flathead County has five officially positive cases of coronavirus. Neighboring Lincoln and Glacier counties each saw their first positive case on Thursday, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Any swabs taken are sent to the health department’s state laboratory in Helena, where more than 2,000 tests have been run with 71 so far coming back positive. The positive cases are spread across 15 counties currently, with more counties being added to that list on a regular basis.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com