More businesses reopening in the yellow phase
Guidance remains in place to minimize spread of the virus
June 5 marks a milestone for businesses in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
For some non-life sustaining businesses, the date marks the first time they can open since stay-at-home orders forced their closure in mid-March due to the spread of the coronavirus.
For restaurants and bars, which have been allowed to be open for takeout and delivery only, they can now offer seating for outdoor dining.
For every business moving from the red to the yellow phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to reopen Pennsylvania — there is guidance on how the reopening is achieved.
Under the reopening, in-person retail is allowed, although curbside and delivery is preferable. During this yellow phase, indoor shopping malls remain closed. Businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders, and telework must continue where feasible. Childcare can also open in compliance with guidance.
The guidance for businesses includes cleaning, taking employee’s temperatures before they enter the business, limiting the number of people in common areas and providing masks for employees.
Businesses that will remain closed in the yellow phase include gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons, casinos and theaters.
Guy Ciarrocchi, president and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry said his organization has been working with area businesses on getting ready. In fact, Ciarrocchi hosted a webinar on Thursday on what businesses and customer can expect as business reopen or expands operations.
“We have been focused on three things: getting the building or facility ready, helping people think about what the physical looks like; working with employees on who can come back who stays home. And we have for customer facing businesses we urged people to lay out what the experience will be,” he said.
The Valley Forge Convention and Tourism Board has also maintained contact with its more than 600 members over the past three months, according to Rachel Riley, director of communications.
“Our organization tries to be strategic. Throughout the process we continued to try to do that — staying ahead, learning what we need to do and how to market that and get the word out there — so people know what they can and can’t do to keep it moving,” she said.
“We’re excited to move to yellow and have people get out there more. But now — what is next for green and how can we get ready for that.”
The re-opening guidance for restaurant and bars moving forward was developed in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association and Gov. Wolf’s office.
For restaurants and bars in the yellow phase, seating will be limited to outdoor dining only. All customers and employees must wear a mask, and the restaurant must provide at least six feet of distance between parties at tables, as well as signage to ensure social distancing in lines or while waiting for seating or to use the restroom. In addition, procedures for cleaning and sanitizing must be implemented.
In addition, restaurants and bars are encouraged to use single-use disposable menus, or use a written posting such as a chalkboard or whiteboard; use technology to reduce person-to-person interaction, including mobile ordering, as well as text or phone app technology to alert customers when their table is ready.
Both Ciarrocchi and Riley acknowledge that not all restaurants and bars can provide outdoor seating.
Riley said many of Montgomery County’s restaurants and bars that don’t have outdoor seating are looking at ways to adjust, to make it available.
Ciarrocchi said that in Chester County, a formal process is in place to help businesses without outdoor seating get temporary permission to serve outdoors where it is feasible.
Even still, Ciarrocchi said the key is getting the region to the next phase of reopening — green.
“A large number of restaurants will still be closed,” he said.
Ciarrocchi said restaurant and retail customers will notice some things that are different, but added that many of changes are things people have seen before.
“The thing is, we want to encourage people who are comfortable to go out and do it.” he said, adding that business owners are thinking about how to make it all work. “If we’re patient and thoughtful it will work.”
He stressed the importance of moving the region toward full reopening.
“We can’t open museums, we can’t open barbershops,” he said. “It’s still just another day of lock-down for another group and we can’t forget that.”