Health & Safety Guidance for Reopening
With the reopening of non-essential businesses in Spencer County pending, it is important to welcome residents and visitors safely to ensure staff and guests stay safe. Below are several resources to help businesses follow best practices and consider all safety measures. We will update this information frequently.
Please let us know how we can help.
Back on Track Indiana
Find all of the details on Governor Holcomb’s roadmap to safely reopen Indiana: https://backontrack.in.gov/
Here is a direct link to the five stages for reopening: https://backontrack.in.gov/2348.htm Stage 2 began May 4, 2020. Stage 3 is scheduled to begin on May 24, 2020.
Essential Practices:
Residents, guests, and employees need to continue to be diligent about hand washing, social (or physical) distancing, and personal protective equipment (masks, etc.). Businesses will need to think of ways to incorporate these practices upon reopening.
Reopening Best Practices:
The Indiana Office of Tourism Development, among others, have recommended businesses develop a written plan to address safety procedures prior to reopening. A plan will illustrate that you are aware of the safety needs of your customers, staff, and others.
Communicate this plan with employees as well as customers. Having a safety plan, and following it, will help assure others your business is a safe place and is prepared for the current situation. Businesses may consider posting photos/videos to show the public safety measures (cleaning, wearing PPE, etc.) on social media and utilizing signage on location.
The Office of Safety and Health Administration and the Centers for Disease Control worked together to prepare a document to help businesses. Find guidance on preparing workplaces for COIVD-19 here.
Industry Guidelines
Click here to find the state’s guidelines for specific industries as businesses reopen.
The U.S. Travel Association established industry guidelines that build upon and align with the White House and CDC evidence-based information for “Opening Up America Again.” This guidance reflects the role of the travel industry in promoting the health and safety of visitors and employees.
Questions to consider addressing in your business plan:
General
- Will you take the temperature of each guest?
- What is the policy for handling anyone with a fever or exhibiting relevant symptoms?
- Will there be screenings for employees and contractors?
- Will you require guests to wear face masks?
- Will you provide face masks?
- Will staff wear face masks?
- How will you secure plenty of hand sanitizer? And where will you store it?
- Do you have touchless hand sanitizer options?
- What is the sanitation schedule for high touch point areas throughout your business?
- How often will you clean public restrooms?
- How many people can you safely have inside your business?
- How will staff and guests maintain social distancing?
- Will you have plexiglass to help keep distance between staff and guests?
- How can you prevent grouping? Staggered shifts/start times may help.
- Can you avoid in-person interviews while hiring?
- Can you offer online training for employees?
- Could you only accept card transactions and avoid handling cash?
- Additional resources for businesses and employers from the CDC can be found here.
Lodging
- Are you considering the guest turnover timeline to allow for thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing of accommodations?
- How can you streamline check-in/check-out procedures?
- Review a Q&A from the American Hotel & Lodging Association here.
- Find Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Initiative for the Future of Travel here.
- Best Practice Guidance for Restaurant and Lodging Operators.
Attractions
- Will you limit how many people are able to visit your attraction? If so, how?
- Can you offer timed tours?
- Can you require reservations?
- Are you able to add handwashing stations?
Restaurants
- Have you contacted the Health Department yet? (812) 649-4441
- Can you add any outdoor seating?
- How will you space tables to allow social distancing?
- Sneeze guards are now required for salad bars/buffets; have you secured the guards?
- How will you handle table condiments?
- Are you able to use disposable plates/silverware?
- Review the full Reopening Guidance from the National Restaurant Association here.
- Best Practice Guidance for Restaurant and Lodging Operators.
PPE Resources:
Indiana launched a PPE Marketplace to assist small businesses of up to 150 employees. Businesses can fill out an application to receive face masks, hand sanitizer, and face shields. Visit the state’s PPE marketplace to submit a request here: https://backontrack.in.gov/ppemarketplace.htm
Hand Sanitizer
- Monkey Hollow Winery and Distillery (St. Meinrad)
(812) 357-2272 - MPC Promotions (Louisville) – sanitizer and other PPE
dscull@mpcpromotions.com - Sweet Emotions (Newburgh)
(812) 319-9286 - Hoosier Sanitizer
- We are looking for more local resources. If you know of any, please send info our way!
Masks
- Deaconess provides instructions on how to make masks here.
- The Visitors Bureau in Louisville put together a list of options from their area.
- We are looking for more local resources. If you know of any, please send info our way!
Plexiglass
- Al’s Glass (Grandview)
(812) 649-2229 - We are looking for more local resources. If you know of any, please send info our way!
COVID Business Signage/Banners/Decals
- Midwest Graphix (Rockport)
Call or text (812) 686-8337
Message via Facebook here
Thermometers
- We are looking for local resources. If you know of any, please send info our way!