READY TO REOPEN
Center, arena idle since mid-March
Visit Hot Springs on Thursday submitted its health and sanitation plan for the Hot Springs Convention Center to the Arkansas Department of Health in accordance with a directive that allows large venues to reopen Monday at 33% occupancy with an approved plan.
“We are submitting our plan, so we’re ready to go. … We’re trying to get ready to be open for business just in case something comes along and we’ll be ready to go,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. “We’ve had zero events” at Bank OZK Arena since March 12 when the Arkansas Activities Association “canceled the last two days of state basketball . ... We’re basically vacant until July.”
The entire center was closed March 17.
Arrison said they are trying to comply, and “hopefully” they will get back to 100% capacity “very soon.”
A 33% capacity for the convention center is dependent on many factors.
“(It) just depends on what room you’re in. If you’re in the arena, which is 6,500, 33% of that would be … 2,145 based on that. And with the various meeting rooms … it all depends on the individual event and the room it’s going to be held in and how the events are set up. … That will be determined (on) an event-by-event basis,” Arrison said.
“We started our plan back in April, but we’ve just been adding to it and deleting, and hopefully we’ll get open with everyone else and hopefully we’ll see business return to Hot Springs,” he said.
The center’s six-page plan covers employee and guest health; employee’s responsibilities; cleaning products and protocols; and physical distancing. It also covers department-specific sanitation policies, which include front offices and back-of-house, public areas, housekeeping and event setup.
The summarized plan is as follows:
• “‘Employee and guest health” will involve physical distancing, hand sanitizer dispensers, signage for health and hygiene reminders and employees or guests who are exhibiting
COVID-19 symptoms while at the facility are instructed to immediately notify their manager or event coordinator.
• “Employee’s responsibilities” will include hand washing, training on COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols, appropriate personal protective equipment being worn by all employees based on their role, and sanitizing hands after clocking in.
• “Cleaning products and protocols” will include the cleaning of public spaces and communal areas, elevators and escalators, employee areas, shared equipment, and air filter and HVAC.
• “Physical distancing” will include any area where guests or employees line up will be clearly marked for appropriate physical distancing, as well as employees ensuring separation between themselves and the guests they are serving during receptions and registrations.
The state’s directive for indoor venues includes commercial, community or civic events and activities where an audience, spectators or a gathering of people are present.
This includes venues like auditoriums, lecture halls, movie theaters, other theaters, museums, arenas, sports venues, race tracks, stadiums, gymnasiums, auction houses, amusement centers, barns, exhibit halls, conventions centers, funeral homes, bowling alleys and trampoline parks.
It is noted the directive is not intended for places of worship, competitive or youth sports, or casinos; as those are being addressed under separate directives.
Guidelines for large venues reopening include:
• Reopening up to 33% capacity with a plan approved by the secretary of health.
• Performers/players/contestants must be separated from the audience by at least 12 feet and must be limited in 50 or fewer.
• 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.
• Performers/players/contestants
may be without a face covering if they are 12 feet from other people.
• 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 are not allowed.
• Catered events are allowed with caterer-served buffets or plated meals.
• Seating must be arranged to maintain 10-foot physical distancing between tables so occupied seats are six feet from seats at adjacent tables.
• 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.