Montana Ending State Of Emergency For Pandemic

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Gov. Greg Gianforte is lifting Montana’s state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic more than 15 months after it was imposed under his predecessor. Wednesday's move by the Republican governor comes as COVID-19 case rates continue to slowly drop. Almost half the state’s eligible residents are now fully vaccinated. Broad public health mandates such as face mask requirements and occupancy limits for businesses were previously rescinded. Other states have also lifted emergency declarations in recent days as the public health crisis eases. The respiratory disease has caused at least 1,665 deaths in Montana.