Directives issued for large indoor, outdoor venues
The Arkansas Department of Health on Monday issued directives regarding the opening of large indoor and outdoor venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One directive, effective May 18, covers indoor venues for commercial, community, or civic events and activities where an audience, spectators, or a gathering of people are present, such as at concerts, plays, movies, lectures, presentations, conferences, conventions, sporting events, races, fundraisers, trade shows, and festivals.
Examples of such venues include auditoriums, lecture halls, movie theaters, other theaters, museums, arenas, sports venues, race tracks, stadiums, gymnasiums, auction houses, amusement centers, barns, exhibit halls, conventions centers, and funeral homes. Examples also include recreational facilities, such as bowling alleys and trampoline parks.
This directive is not intended: for places of worship, which are addressed under a separate guidance (see related article); to address competitive or youth sports, which are also addressed under a separate directive; or casinos, which also will be addressed in a separate directive. The directive states:
• The performers/players/contestants must be separated from the audience by at least 12 feet and must be limited in number to 50 or fewer.
• An audience of 50 people or fewer is allowed.
• Lines or cues for entrance, exit, making purchases, or for other reasons must be marked or monitored for maintaining a distance of 6 feet between people.
• Seating must be arranged to maintain a 6-foot distance between members of the audience.
• Family groups may sit together but 6 feet should be maintained between groups.
• Every other row seating should be unoccupied to provide for 6 feet of physical distancing.
• Face coverings are required for all persons present, except for children under 10 years of age, who are exempt.
• Performers/players/contestants may be without a face covering if
they are 12 feet from other persons.
• Signs must be posted at all entrances advising the public not to enter if they have fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell, or if they have had known exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
• Signs must be posted at all entrances advising the public that they may wish to refrain from entering if they are 65 years of age or older, or they have underlying health conditions including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, severe obesity, asthma or weakened immunity.
• Hand sanitizer stations must be available at all entrances and exits.
• Refreshments may be served. However, self-service operations, including, but not limited to, salad bars, buffets, and condiment bars shall not be allowed.
• The facility, including seating, shall be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use.
• Frequently touched surfaces shall be cleaned periodically during the course of the event. Products with an EPA-approved emerging viral pathogen claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19.
The other directive, for large outdoor facilities, is effective immediately.
The directive covers outdoor venues for commercial, community, or civic events and activities where an audience, spectators, or a gathering of people are present, such as concerts, plays, sporting events, rodeos, races, fundraisers, parades, fairs, livestock shows, auctions, carnivals and festivals.
Examples include theaters, arenas, sports venues, race tracks, stadiums, auction houses, amusement centers and fairgrounds.
Gatherings subject to the directive also include, without limitation, community, civic, public, leisure, commercial, or sporting events.
The directive is not intended for gatherings of people in unconfined outdoor spaces, such as parks or athletic fields where physical distancing of at least 6 feet can be easily achieved. The directive states:
• The performers/players/contestants must be separated from the audience by at least 12 feet and must be limited in number to 50 or fewer.
• An audience of 50 people or fewer is allowed.
• Lines or cues for entrance, exit, making purchases, or for other reasons must be marked or monitored for maintaining a distance of 6 feet between people.
• Seating must be arranged to maintain a 6-foot distance between members of the audience.
• Family groups may sit together but
6 feet should be maintained between groups.
• Every other row seating should be unoccupied to provide for 6 feet of physical distancing.
• Face coverings are required for all persons present, except for children under 10 years of age, who are exempt.
• Performers/players/contestants may be without a face covering if they are 12 feet from other persons.
• Signs must be posted at all entrances advising the public not to enter if they have fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell, or if they have had known exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
• Signs must be posted at all entrances advising the public that they may wish to refrain from entering if they are 65 years of age or older or if they have underlying health conditions including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, severe obesity, asthma or weakened immunity.
• Hand sanitizer stations must be available at all entrances and exits.
• Refreshments may be served. However, self-service operations, including, but not limited to, salad bars, buffets, and condiment bars shall not be allowed.
• The facility, including seating, shall be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use. Frequently touched surfaces shall be cleaned periodically during the course of the event.