UPDATE: 4:30 PM – January 21, 2021
MISSOULA – Missoula County is about to see some changes to the COVID-19 restrictions as the City-County Board of Health approved changes to the existing guidelines on Thursday.
The changes mean that restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos can now stay open after 10pm. Other changes include increasing the current capacity limits and allowing eight people to sit at a table.
The revisions had been under consideration since early November after a group of about 70 bar and restaurant owners approached health officials to find a way to keep bars open later in the evening.
That group, called Revive Missoula, says they are excited to see their voices heard.
Kyle Riggs of the Pangea Restaurant Group says that because they opened during the pandemic, they could never stay open as late as they would like.
“That’s great that they give time back to everyone, that doesn’t necessarily translate into guests. People are now so conditioned to close at 10am and they have to be home and stuff,” Riggs said.
“The world has changed significantly for staff, for guests, for everyone. It will take people a while to get used to it, ”he added.
Riggs says he’ll give it a few weeks before trying to stay open until 2am, but it’s ready to close around midnight.
The changes to Missoula County’s COVID-19 restrictions go into effect Friday.
(first report: 1.30 pm – January 21, 2021)
The Missoula City-County Board of Health has agreed to change some of the existing COVID-19 restrictions.
The approved changes include removing closing times for restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos, changing current capacity limits, and allowing eight people to sit at a table.
The rule changes take effect Friday.
The revisions had been under consideration since early November, after a group of about 70 bar and restaurant owners approached health officials to find a way to keep bars open later in the evening.
This is a story in progress. Check back regularly for updates.