Today Governor DeWine announced the phased reopening process in Ohio. The reopening dates for various sectors are outlined below: May 1: Health care procedures that do not require an overnight stay and other electivesMay 4: Manufacturing, Construction, Distribution, General OfficeMay 12: Consumer, Retail & Services (with specific exclusions – click here for list of continued closures) In addition to bringing these sectors back on-line, all businesses operating will have to adhere to safety and health protocols which include the following:
- Require face coverings for employees and clients/customers at all times.
- Conduct daily health assessments by employers and employees (self-evaluation) to determine if “fit for duty.”
- Maintain good hygiene, hand washing, and social distancing.
- Clean and sanitize workplaces throughout workday and at the close of business or between shifts.
Specifically, all retailers must adhere to the following requirements:
EMPLOYEES
Mandatory
- Ensure minimum of six feet between people; if not possible, install barriers
- Employees must perform daily symptom assessment
- Require employees to stay home if symptomatic
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
- Require regular hand washing
- Place hand sanitizers in high-contact locations
- Clean high-touch items after each use (e.g. carts, baskets)
Recommended Best Practices
- Group employees by shift to reduce exposure
CUSTOMERS & GUESTS
Mandatory
- Ensure minimum of six feet between people
- Specify hours for at-risk populations (e.g. elderly)
- Place hand sanitizers in high-contact locations
- Ask customers and guests not to enter if symptomatic
- Face coverings to be worn while shopping or visiting (possibly enforced by the retailer; however, we have asked or additional guidance and will share when available)
- Stagger entry of customers and guest
Recommended Best Practices
- Health questionnaire for symptoms at entry point
- Provide face coverings upon entry
- Where possible, accept customers by appointment only
- Increase availability for curb-side pickup
- Consider suspending return policies
PHYSICAL SPACES
Mandatory
- Ensure minimum of six feet between people; if not possible, install barriers
- Post social distancing signage & disinfect high-contact surfaces hourly
- Clean merchandise before stocking if possible
- Establish maximum capacity (at 50% of fire code)
- Discontinue self-service food stations, product samples
- Food courts remain closed
Recommended Best Practices
- Close once a week for deep cleaning
- Maximize available checkout space to promote social distancing (e.g. space customer lines with floor markers, use alternate registers)
- Use contact-less payments where possible
- Increase capacity for delivery and curb-side pickup
CONFIRMED CASES
Mandatory
- Immediately isolate and seek medical care for any individual who develops symptoms while at work
- Contact the Local Health District about suspected cases or exposures
- Shutdown shop/floor for deep sanitation if possible
Recommended Best Practices
- Work with Local Health Department to identify potentially infected or exposed individuals to help facilitate effective contact tracing/notifications
- Once testing is readily available, test all suspected infections or exposures
- Following testing, contact Local Health Department to initiate appropriate care and tracing
Additional information regarding Ohio’s reopening process can be found at Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio . As always, please feel free to contact us at info@ohioretailmerchants.com or call 614-221-7833.