COVID-19 – NFLA

COVID-19: Updated Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines

The COVID-19 policy for events at Sondreson Hall is based on current CDC guidelines. People who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue taking precautions, including hand washing, wearing a mask and, where practical, practicing social distancing.

If needed, disposable masks are available at the hall. The suggested donation for a mask is $1.00, but do not hesitate to use a mask just because you don’t have a dollar handy.

Hand sanitizer is also available at the hall.

NFLA Board of Directors
May 23, 2021

Notes

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

See the CDC website (cdc.gov) for more details on COVID-19 precautions.

COVID-19: Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines – max capacity now 25

The governor has tightened up the state’s pandemic-related restrictions, effective November 20, 2020. The only impact locally is to reduce Sondreson Hall’s maximum capacity from 50 to 25. Everything else remains the same. Here are the updated “Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines” . . .

The following restrictions, guidelines and notices apply to the use of Sondreson Hall under Montana’s “Phase 2” COVID-19 management plan, the November 17, 2020 “Directive on Group Size and Capacity,” and in accordance with Montana’s mask directive:

The maximum number of people in the hall at any given time is 25. For a given event, up to 25 chairs will be set up, dispersed as widely as practical. If there are no empty seats available, please do not enter the hall until someone else leaves. If the event requires tables, they should be dispersed as widely as practical (ideally at least 6 feet apart) with no more than six individuals seated at each table.

Face coverings are required within the hall for all individuals with the following exceptions:

Children under the age of five. All children between the ages of two and four, however, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Children under the age of two should not wear a face covering.
Persons who have a medical condition precluding the safe wearing of a face covering.
Other exceptions as defined in the Governor’s July 15, 2020 Mask Directive.

No food sharing beyond family groups except under specific circumstances. The exception is when food is distributed in a serving line with the individuals handing out the food using appropriate protection (masks and gloves).

During clean-up after events, please follow the disinfection guidelines posted throughout the hall:

“Please use spray bottle solution to disinfect all surfaces, including tables, counters, the lectern, the stovetop, and the sink area. Also wipe down any chairs that were used during the event. Disposable gloves are provided. The solution contains bleach so be careful with your clothing. Thank you for helping us keep our members and guests safe.”

Hand sanitizer is available several places throughout the hall. Please use it as needed.

If needed, disposable masks are available at the hall. The suggested donation for a mask is $1.00, but do not hesitate to use a mask just because you don’t have a dollar handy.

(To view or download this information as a printable PDF, click here.)

Masks now required at all Sondreson Hall events

In line with the Governor’s “mask directive,” face coverings (masks) are now required at all Sondreson Hall events. See the NFLA Calendar page for the full list of pandemic-related guidelines and restrictions, but here’s the meat of the matter…

Face coverings are required within the hall for all individuals with the following exceptions:

- Children under the age of five. All children between the ages of two and four, however, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Children under the age of two should not wear a face covering.
- Persons who have a medical condition precluding the safe wearing of a face covering.
- Other exceptions as defined in the Governor’s July 15, 2020 Mask Directive.

Glacier Park’s Polebridge entrance to reopen June 15, with restrictions

I received the following note from Jim Dahlstrom, the North Fork District Ranger, concerning the reopening of Glacier Park’s Polebridge entrance on Monday, June 15.

Jim will be available to answer questions about this issue at the NFLA general membership meeting, 8:00pm, Sunday, June 14 at Sondreson Hall. He is the first item on the agenda.

Please note that Sondreson Hall is operating under some COVID-19-related usage restrictions, including a 50-person maximum capacity limit. See “COVID-19: Sondreson Hall Use Restrictions and Guidelines” for details.

…I wanted to pass along some information for you to share at your upcoming meeting this Sunday, regarding Glacier National Park’s phased reopening plans. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the info we have posted on our website, but to further explain specifically what we’ll be doing in the North Fork this summer (a press release will be going out tomorrow, but not including all of the information here):

The North Fork area will open on June 15th as a day use only area. No overnight camping in the frontcountry campgrounds or backcountry. Backcountry camping should be available about the last week in June, and I would expect we will open our frontcountry campgrounds shortly thereafter. No fees will be collected, and this year we will have a strict limit to the number of vehicles allowed beyond the gate at one time in the North Fork. We will start with 150 cars and see how congested that is, and may adjust down if we find that to be unmanageable. We will allow a limited number of vehicles to form a queue, and when an appropriate number of vehicles leave the area, we will allow the requisite number of vehicles in. Be aware that we have a total of about 100 parking places in the whole area, including Bowman, Kintla, and Logging Creek, and several small trailheads. Over the past 3 years, we have averaged around 300-500 vehicles per day, with parking lots turning over about 2-3 times per day.

The Ranger Station will not be open to the public. This is an effort to attempt to reduce exposure to our employees. Information and publications will be available outside and rangers will be stationed at both the window and outside on the lawn to answer questions. The public restrooms at Polebridge will be open, and cleaned and disinfected 3x per day. Vault toilets at the developed areas will get the same treatment 2x per day. Water will be available at the campgrounds and sanitizing pumps in key locations.

At 4:30 every day, the inbound gate at Polebridge will be closed and a sign placed indicating its hours as a day use only location. Visitors in the North Fork after 4:30 will be allowed to exit at their leisure, but again, no overnight use is permitted.

No boating on any North Fork lakes will be available initially. The AIS inspection station in Apgar is currently the only one operating in the park (and only for non-motorized boating) due to reduced staffing and limited emergency response throughout the park. I would expect that additional park waters will open incrementally as the season progresses. At this time, we will not be able to issue any NF resident annual passes for boating as well, as it would complicate visitor perceptions. NPS employees are not allowed to participate in recreational boating as well, except on Lake McDonald.

This is a lot of information to digest, so if anything is unclear please reach out to me. I’ll be available by cell the rest of the weekend, and I am more than happy to come to the meeting to deliver this information in person. Just say the word and I’ll be there.

North Forkers prepare to “shelter in place”

COVID-19 is now considered a global pandemic with cases rising exponentially around the world. This disease can cause pneumonia and death and there is no vaccine against it and no cure. People over 60 are most at risk. There are probably many more infected with the virus in the U.S. than has been reported due to the lack of testing across the country.

In Montana, as in many states in the country, schools are closed and events have been cancelled in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming our hospitals which is happening in Italy right now.

The North Fork is a good place to isolate oneself and many North Forkers have prepared to “shelter in place” for the duration of the threat. However, as North Forkers continue to travel and make trips to town, the chances increase that the virus will find its way to the North Fork. Please exercise precaution when returning to the North Fork and delay getting together with friends and neighbors until you are certain you haven’t brought home a nasty souvenir.

North Forkers who have gone to town have reported empty grocery shelves and a long line at Costco as people stock up.

Below is the latest notice from Governor Bullock regarding the coronavirus.

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Message from Governor Bullock:

This week, I announced a set of directives and guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable Montanans, including closing our public K-12 schools, adhering to social distancing, and limiting visitation at nursing home facilities.

I have directed Montana’s public K-12 schools to close starting March 16 until March 27. During this time, schools will engage in planning to provide arrangements to provide free meals to students who need them, pursuant to a waiver obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, and to provide for all other matters and services that students need in the event of future or ongoing closure.

I recognize that our schools often serve as a lifeline for families and that this decision is going to have disruption on Montanans over the coming weeks. I’m committed to working with schools, communities and public health to minimize the impact. I encourage businesses to do everything they can to support families as well.

I am strongly recommending that the public limits all gatherings, especially no more than 50 people, in every community across the state. I am also recommending that individuals over the age of 60 or who are immunocompromised or with chronic health conditions do not participate in gatherings of more than 20 people. I also recommend that parents should avoid, if possible, placing children for childcare with grandparents or individuals over the age of 60 or immunocompromised persons.

I have suspended visitation in Montana’s nursing homes except for certain compassionate care situations. People who meet the exception for visitation will undergo a screening to determine whether they have traveled in the last two weeks, are residing where community spread is occurring, or if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

As governor, it is my top priority to protect the health and safety of Montanans, particularly our most vulnerable, at a time when we face the potential for extraordinary health risks from coronavirus in our state. Social distancing is one of the most important primary protective measures to flatten the curve of this virus. I cannot underscore the seriousness of following these measures to help our neighbors, friends, and families.

If you have any symptoms, pick up the phone and call your doctor or local public health provider for consultation, instead of driving to the doctor’s office or emergency room.

You can contact your local county or tribal health departments by finding their contact information through the online map HERE.

The coronavirus Task Force has launched an informational phone line at 1-888-333-0461 and Montanans can also email questions to covid19info@mt.gov.

A website has also been set up to keep Montanans apprised of Task Force actions at COVID19.mt.gov. You can also visit the DPHHS website at www.dphhs.mt.gov for the most up to date and timely health information related to the coronavirus.

Remember the simple steps you can take:
· Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
· Avoid touching your face
· Stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Thank you for making the tough, but correct decisions each and everyday. It’s going to take all of us working together to overcome these challenges and dynamic times. But as Montanans, I have no doubt that’s what we’ll do.

Sincerely,

STEVE BULLOCK
Governor