June will see more business reopenings

By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor

FRANKFORT – More non-essential businesses that were ordered shuttered in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic can begin opening in June with restrictions. Among businesses and entities that can reopen Monday, June 1, are fitness centers, movie theaters, bowling alleys, auto and dirt track racing, aquatic centers, fishing tournaments, Kentucky state park lodges and the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort. Monday, June 8, is the projected reopening of libraries, museums, outdoor attractions, aquariums and distilleries. State park campgrounds, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County can reopen June 11, and some childcare services and limited-contact youth sports can begin June 17. In July, groups of 50 people or less can assembly and bars can reopen. All businesses and entities that reopen must meet certain minimum requirements and industry-specific guidance. Minimum requirements for all businesses and entities include continuing telework where possible; implementing a phased return to work; enforcing social distancing; limiting face-to-face interaction; ensuring, to the greatest extent practicable, that employees wear cloth masks; supplying hand sanitizer (60 percent alcohol content or higher) for employees and customers; restricting common areas; and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces and areas a minimum of twice daily. They must also require employees to undergo daily temperature and health checks, either self-administered or administered by the business prior to workplace entry; create a testing plan to ensure that any employee with COVID-19 symptoms is tested by a healthcare provider immediately; make special accommodations, to the greatest extent practicable, for employees and customers at higher risk for severe illness; designate a “Healthy at Work” officer to be responsible for the business’ compliance with the state guidance and other guidance provided; educate and train employees regarding “Healthy at Work” protocols; and ensure that managers and employees participate in contact tracing if an employee tests positive for COVID-19. “If any entity in a sector being reopened cannot comply with the minimum requirements or industry-specific requirements, they must wait to reopen until they are able to do so or until some or all of these restrictions are lifted,” the “Healthy at Work” website says.