Declaration of a State of Emergency to Exist within State of Montana Related to Communicable Disease Covid-19 Novel Corona Virus (Executive Order No. 2-2020 of Governor of State of Montana)

STATE OF MONT ANA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 2-2020 EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO EXIST WITHIN THE STATE OF MONTANA RELATED TO THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE COVID-19 NOVEL CORONA VIRUS WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus a pandemic; WHEREAS, as of March 10, 2020, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates there are over 125,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide with over 900 confirmed cases in the United States; WHEREAS, most states in the United States are experiencing confirmed cases of COVID-19; WHEREAS, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) recognizes COVID-19 as a threat to the residents of Montana; WHEREAS, although there are presently no confirmed cases in Montana, the Montana DPHHS, local health departments, health and medical departments and local jurisdictions have activated response plans and protocols to prepare for the arrival of the virus in Montana; WHEREAS, these partners have also worked to identify, contact, and test individuals in the State of Montana who have been potentially exposed to COVID-19 in coordination with the CDC; WHEREAS, proactively implementing mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus is in the best interests of the State of Montana and its people; WHEREAS, COVID-19, a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, is caused by SARS-CoV-2 Virus, which is a new strain of Coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans and can easily spread from person-to-person; WHEREAS, the CDC identifies the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 both globally and in the United States as "high," and has advised that person-to-person spread of COVID-19 will continue to occur globally, including within the United States; WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Alex Azar, declared a public health emergency for COVID-19 beginning on January 27, 2020; WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, Governor Bullock formed a Multi-Agency Executive Task Force to prepare the State for COVID-19; WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, Governor Bullock activated the Montana Disaster and Emergency Services State Emergency Coordination Center; WHEREAS, the Montana State Emergency Coordination Center is coordinating resources across state government to support the Montana DPHHS and local officials in alleviating the impacts to people, property, and infrastructure, and is assessing the magnitude of the incident within the State; WHEREAS, the circumstances of this outbreak may exceed the capacity of the services, personnel, equipment, supplies and facilities of any single jurisdiction and the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; WHEREAS, the availability and utilization of all necessary state government services, equipment, and suppliers under this declaration will further the efforts to protect health and safety and to preserve the lives, property, and resources of the people of the State of Montana; WHEREAS, in addition to the disaster/emergency authorities specified in Title 10 of the Montana Code Annotated, Montana law also authorizes the State to coordinate and direct a coordinated public health response to communicable disease outbreaks as specified in Title 50; and WHEREAS, under these conditions pursuant to§§ 10-3-302, 10-3-311, and 10-3-312, MCA, the Governor may mobilize state resources to protect life, health, and property and may expend funds up to the amount determined by the Office of Budget and Program Planning to meet contingencies and needs arising from these conditions. NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVE BULLOCK, Governor of the State of Montana, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor under the Constitution and the laws of the State of Montana, Title 10, Chapter 3, MCA, and under other applicable statutes, do hereby declare that an emergency exists statewide, as defined in§§ 10-3-103 and 10-3-302, MCA.

2 This Order is effective immediately. GIVEN under my hand and the OREA T SEAL of the State of Montana this l 'Z..~ day of A A.1u..--1-, 202 o. ~ --- STEVE BULLOCK, Governor ATTEST: 3