According to this new Executive
Order 04.21.20.01 (see full extend of the Executive Order), gyms, fitness
centers, bowling alleys, body art studios -among others- may begin in-person
Minimum Basic Operations on Friday, April 24th, 2020, while implementing procedures
and working methods that mitigate the exposure and spread of Covid-19,
including:
1) Referred to workers and
employees:
- Screen those visible symptoms of illness such as: fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
- Require those not feeling well or exhibiting such signs, to not report to work and/or to seek medical attention.
- Promote and demand hand washing, by placing notes and signs encouraging hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and other areas.
- Social distancing practices including A.- prohibiting: i.- handshaking; ii.- using or sharing others’ personal tools and equipment; iii.- gatherings during work hours; B.- Allowing: employees to take breaks or lunch outside the work space.
- Provide them with appropriated and available personal protective equipment accordingly to employee functions and locations.
2) Regarding Work organization:
- Implement staggered shifts for as many workers as possible.
- Promote teleworking for all feasible positions, including virtual conferences and meetings.
3) Referred to workplace and
businesses premises:
- No business should allow more than 10 people to be gathered at a single location if requires persons to stand or be seated within 6 feet of any other person. However, the Order specifies an exception particularly important for dine-in-foodservice-operators like businesses; it does not apply for people that is cohabiting but who are outside their homes who won’t be required to be 6 feet apart from each other, but 6 feet apart from other non-cohabitant groups within that single location.
- Suspending the use of Personal Identification Number (PIN) pads, PIN entry devices, electronic signature capture and any credit card receipt signature requirements.
- Enforcing social distancing including leased or owned property, promoting among others the increase of physical space between workers and customers.
- Providing alternative points of sales outside the buildings.
- Enhancing workplace sanitation, including providing disinfectant and sanitation products for workers to clean work space, equipment and tools.
This Executive Order also limited
Minimum Basic Operations to:
1) Minimum necessary activities to
maintain the value of a business, provide services, manage inventory, ensure
security, payroll and employee benefits, also remaining open to the public
within the restrictions of current regulations.
2) Minimum necessary activities to
facilitate employees or volunteers being able to work remotely from their
residences.
3) Instances where employees are
working outdoors without regular contact with other people, such as delivery
services, contractors, landscaping business and agricultural industry.
Finally, according to this
Executive Order, all medical practices including dental, physical therapists,
ambulatory surgical centers -among others- including healthcare-related
practices and services that elected to cease operations, “should begin
treating patients as soon as practicable” following the CDC guidelines and
“the provisions of this Order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” In doing
so, the State of Georgia is considering that any healthcare-related practices
and services should be subject to Minimum Basic Operation restrictions but
should consider implementing the operational guidelines provided in executive
Order 04.02.20.01 for Critical Infrastructure.
It is expected that further
information and Executive Orders developing the regulations enacted by Georgia
State should be published in the following days, especially those regulating
most of the foodservice operators with dine-in setups, as well as other
amusement and recreational facilities that are not currently included into these
rules.
Keep safe.