Montana Governor's 10-Page Stay Home Order and Exceptions (3-26-2020)

The Governor of Montana today (March 26, 2020) issued an order requiring Montanans to stay at home — generally.

The order has many exceptions. The order is 10 pages.

The directive is effective at 12:01 a.m. on March 28, 2020 through April 10, 2020

The major headings in the order are:

I. Stay at Home; Social Distancing Requirements; and Essential Businesses and Operations
1. Stay at home or place of residence.
2. Non-essential business and operations to cease.
3. Prohibited activities.
 4. Prohibited and permitted travel.
5. Leaving your home for essential activities is permitted.
6. Health Care and Public Health Operations.
7. Human Services Operations.
 8. Essential Infrastructure.
9. Governmental Functions.
10. Businesses covered by this Directive.
11. Essential Businesses and Operations.
12. Social Distancing Requirements for Essential Businesses and Operations.
13. Minimum Basic Operations.
14. Essential Travel.
15. Intent of this Directive.

II. Directive Is Public Health Order and Enforceable By County Attorney

III. Local Public Health Agencies to Assist in Administration of this Public Health Order

IV. Less-Restrictive Local Ordinances Preempted

The order fails to recognize as necessary such work as priests and pastors visiting the sick or dying for Confession, Absolution, Extreme Unction, Last Rites, or Sacrament of the Altar. Along those lines, the order no doubt has other blind spots that would come to light with further reflection and experience.