These Are The Rules Businesses Must Follow As PA Reopens

PENNSYLVANIA — As 24 Pennsylvania counties prepare to move to the first phase of reopening Friday, the governor's office has released further details on the rules and procedures businesses must follow to conduct in-person operations.

Under the yellow phase of reopening during the coronavirus pandemic, life-sustaining businesses that can't telework are permitted to conduct in-person operations, "as long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance," the governor's office said.

The counties that will move from red to yellow this Friday are: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango and Warren.

There is currently no timeline for counties in the Philadelphia region to reopen.

RELATED: Gov. Wolf Unveils 3-Phased, Color-Coded Reopening Plan By Region

For offices, the guidance includes specific rules around cleaning shared work spaces, limits meeting sizes, and recommends staggered work start times. Businesses must develop a plan in the event a worker becomes infected with the virus, include mandating temperature checks of all employees and identifying close contacts.

Public-facing businesses and retailers have specific rules as well, such as limiting capacity in buildings, installing shields at registers, and mandating mask wearing among employees and customers.

All non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania have been closed since March 19 and a statewide stay-at-home order has been in place since April 1 in an effort to stop the spread of the virus, which has now infected more than 50,000 in the state. Pennsylvania's death toll rose to 2,458 Monday.

“Businesses in the 24 counties that may reopen beginning May 8 must take precautions to protect their employees, their employees’ families, and their communities,” Gov. Wolf said. “First and foremost, businesses that have been operating using telework must continue to do so to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 until the stay-at-home and business closure orders are fully lifted when we enter a 'green' phase."

Here's a look at some of the measures that will be in place:

For in-person business operations:

• Cleaned and disinfect all high-touch areas frequently.
• Hold meetings and trainings virtually. If a meeting needs to be held in person, limit the number of employees to 10 and maintain a social distance of six feet.
• Soap and water must be available for employees to wash their hands. Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes must also be available.
• Non-medical masks must be available for employees to wear at all times. It is mandatory to wear masks while on the work site.
• Establish a plan in case the business is exposed a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.
• The plan must include disinfecting protocols like closing off areas visited by the person, opening outside doors and windows and using ventilation fans and waiting at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting the affected area. All common areas and places visited by the infected person must be disinfected.
• Employees who were in close contact (within about six feet for 10 minutes or more)
  with the infected person from 48 hours before the onset of symptoms must be notified of the exposure and follow CDC guidance.
• After a potential exposure, the business must take each employee’s temperature before they enter the business. Those with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher must go home.

For businesses serving the public:

• Business should be conducted by appointment only, whenever possible. If appointment-only service is not feasible, limit the number of people inside the building to no more than 50 percent of the total maximum occupancy.
• Modify the hours of business so that there is enough time to clean and restock.
• Install shields or other barriers at registers and check-out areas to physically separate cashiers and customers, or take other measures to maintain social distancing between customers and employees.
• Encourage customers to use online ordering by providing delivery or pick-up options.
• Designate a specific time for people at high risk, including those over the age of 65 to use the business at least once a week.
• Require all customers to wear masks while on the premises. Businesses that provide medication, medical supplies or groceries must provide an alternate, no contact, means of delivering goods for customers who cannot wear a mask.
• Those who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition (including children under the age of 2 years per CDC guidance) may enter the premises and are not required to provide documentation of such medical condition.
• In businesses with multiple check-out lanes, limit use to every other register. After every hour, rotate customers and employees to the previously closed registers and clean the previously open registers and the surrounding areas.
• Schedule handwashing breaks for employees at least every hour.
• Assign an employee to wipe down carts and baskets before the customer uses it.

The full guidance can be found here.

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