Client Alert: State Announces Schedule for Reopening Businesses

By Stephen P. Bond on April 28, 2020

On Monday, the Governor of Ohio announced the State’s plan for allowing businesses to reopen. This morning, the criteria were amended to revise the mask “requirement.” This Alert reflects the status of the criteria as of the afternoon of April 28, 2020.

This Friday, May 1, healthcare providers may return to conducting medical procedures that do not require an overnight medical stay; and dentists and veterinarians may resume providing services.

Next Monday, May 4, manufacturing, distribution and construction companies may reopen if they follow these “guidelines”:

	Mandatory	Recommended Best Practices
Employees, Distributors, & Guests	Ensure minimum 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers Employees must perform daily symptom assessment* Require employees to stay home if symptomatic Require regular hand washing Stagger or limit arrivals of employees and guests Personnel should work from home if possible	Face coverings are recommended for employees, distributors and guests Provide stipend to employees for private transportation
Shift Pattern	Perform daily disinfection of desks and workstations Change shift patterns (e.g. fewer shifts) Stagger lunch and break times	Split into sub-teams, limit contact across sub-teams Reduce pace to allow less FTEs per line
Physical Spaces / Workstations	Ensure minimum 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers Daily deep disinfection of high-contact surfaces Space factory floor to allow for distancing Regulate max number of people in cafeterias/common spaces Establish maximum capacity (e.g. 50% of fire code)	Close cafeteria and gathering spaces if possible, or conduct regular cleanings Perform daily deep disinfection of entire facility
Confirmed Cases	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 Shut down shop/floor for deep sanitation if possible	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

*Daily symptom assessments should include taking your temperature with a thermometer and monitoring for fever. Also watch for coughing or trouble breathing.

General office buildings may resume if they follow these “Guidelines”:

	Mandatory	Recommended Best Practices
Employees & Guests	Ensure minimum 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers Personnel should work from home when possible Employees must perform daily symptom assessment* Require employees to stay home if symptomatic Require regular hand washing Reduce sharing of work materials Limit travel as much as possible Stagger arrival of all employees and guests Post signage on health safety guidelines in common areas	Ensure seating distance of 6 ft or more Face coverings are recommended for employees, distributors and guests Enable natural workplace ventilation Health questionnaire for symptoms at entry Temperature taking protocol
Physical Spaces / Workstations	Frequent disinfection of desks, workstations, and high-contact surfaces Daily disinfection of common areas Cancel/postpone in person events when social distancing guidelines cannot be met No buffet in cafeteria Utilize disposable tableware and other materials Establish maximum capacity (e.g. 50% of fire code)	Redesign/space workstations for 6 ft or more distance Close cafeteria and gathering spaces if possible, or conduct regular cleanings Limit congregation in office spaces Redesign/space workstations for 6 ft or more of distance Divide essential staff into groups and establish otating shifts Keep at least 3 weeks of cleaning supplies available
Confirmed Cases	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 Shut down shop/floor for deep sanitation if possible	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

*Daily symptom assessments should include taking your temperature with a thermometer and monitoring for fever. Also watch for coughing or trouble breathing.

The following week, May 12, consumer, retail and services may reopen, under these conditions:

	Mandatory	Recommended Best Practices
Employees	Ensure min 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers Employees must perform daily symptom assessment* Require employees to stay home if symptomatic Require regular hand washing Place hand sanitizers in high-contact locations Clean high-touch items after each use (e.g. carts, baskets)	Face coverings are recommended for employees, distributors and guests Group employees by shift to reduce exposure
Customers & Guests	Ensure minimum 6 ft 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 Stagger entry of customers and guests	Face coverings are recommended for employees, distributors and guests Provide 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	Ensure minimum 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers Post social distancing signage and disinfect high-contact surfaces hourly Clean merchandise before stocking if possible Establish maximum capacity (e.g. 50% of fire code) Discontinue self-service food stations, product samples Food courts to remain closed	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	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 Shut down shop/floor for deep sanitation if possible	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

*Daily symptom assessments should include taking your temperature with a thermometer and monitoring for fever. Also watch for coughing or trouble breathing.

Any of the following businesses will remain under the Governor’s ongoing closure rules, subject to revision at a later date:

K-12 schools.
Restaurants and bars.
- Carry-out and delivery services are permitted.
Personal appearance/beauty services.
- Includes hair salons, day spas, nail salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, body piercing locations, tanning facilities, massage therapy locations, and similar businesses.
Older adult day care services and senior centers.
Adult day support or vocational habilitation services in congregate settings.
Rooming and boarding houses, and workers’ camps.
Entertainment/recreation/gymnasium sites. Includes, but not limited to:
- All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, such as:
  - Laser tag facilities, roller skating rinks, ice skating rinks, arcades, indoor miniature golf facilities, bowling alleys, indoor trampoline parks, indoor water parks, arcades, and adult and child skill or chance game facilities remain closed.
Gambling industries.
Auditoriums, stadiums, arenas.
Movie theatres, performance theatres, and concert and music halls.
Public recreation centers and indoor sports facilities.
Parades, fairs, festivals, and carnivals.
Amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor water parks, children’s play centers, playgrounds, and funplexes.
Aquariums, zoos, museums, historical sites, and similar institutions.
Country clubs and social clubs.Spectator sports, recreational sports tournaments, and organized recreational sports leagues.
Health clubs, fitness centers, workout facilities, gyms, and yoga studios.
Swimming pools, whether public or private, except swimming pools for single households.
Residential and day camps.
Campgrounds, including recreational camps and recreational vehicle (RV) parks.
- Excludes people living in campground RVs with no other viable place of residence.
- Excludes people living in cabins, mobile homes, or other fixed structures that are meant for single families and where preexisting residential activity already has been established. (E.g., for people who have part-time pre-established residences at campgrounds for the summer months)

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