Coronavirus upends life in the Flathead Valley, state

Schools closed. Stocks crashed. And people swarmed grocery stores, emptying shelves of canned goods, rice, potatoes and toilet paper.

A new term “social distancing” was coined in a matter of hours — an urge for folks to avoid close contact with other people. The irony was that many folks responded by mobbing the grocery stores, waiting in long lines to stock up on supplies.

By Monday, things were so bad that Smith’s Food and Drug issued a press release saying it was hiring at all locations for stockers and cleaners.

That’s how the last week went as the first confirmed cases of coronavirus were detected in the state. As of presstime, no cases had been detected in the Flathead Valley, but there was still plenty of concern here.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced Sunday afternoon that Montana K-12 schools would be closed March 16 (Monday) through March 27 in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

“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,” Bullock said. “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.”

As of presstime, seven cases of coronavirus had been detected in the state. The death rate from the virus worldwide is about 2 percent, though according to a recent story in the Washington Post, the eventual infection rate could rise to 40 to 60 percent. The virus doesn’t appear to impact young people, but it has proven to be a serious illness for older people and those with compromised immune systems.

Stocks of local interest were not immune to the market crash.

Weyerhaeuser’s stock dropped by more than 40 percent. It had been trading at about $30. On Monday it closed at $16.95. Glacier Bank was down by more than 36 percent.

There was a chilling effect on the tourism industry as well.

Whitefish Mountain Resort announced it would close early to avoid spreading the virus.

“It is with a heavy heart that we have reached this decision however, we feel at this time this is the best thing to do for the health of our employees, guests, and our community,” Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves said in a prepared release. “We sincerely apologize to our guests currently at Whitefish Mountain Resort and those who have planned trips here this March and April. It is particularly upsetting because we are all skiers and understand how important this recreation is to our mental health.”

All restaurants, rental and retail shops will close alongside ski operations, and all events, such as the Pond Skim and the Dummy Derby, have been canceled for the remainder of the season.

Visitation to local assisted living centers has been stopped temporarily as well. That includes the Montana Veterans’ Home.

This newspaper is also not immune to the virus concerns. The offices will be closed to the general public until further notice, though staff will be in the building when they’re not out covering stories. Folks with news items or concerns are urged to call (406) 892-2151 or call editor Chris Peterson at (406) 314-1842. Or by email at editor@hungryhorsenews.com