{"id":806887,"date":"2020-04-28T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=382374"},"modified":"2020-04-28T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T21:00:00","slug":"summit-county-requires-businesses-to-submit-plans-for-social-distancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/summit-county-requires-businesses-to-submit-plans-for-social-distancing\/","title":{"rendered":"Summit County requires businesses to submit plans for social distancing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This is the first week of stepping back out of our homes and into the community under new Public Health Order (PHO) released April 27. The purpose of this letter is to stimulate further dialog as to how quickly and to what degree we continue to re-open our community. As indicated by the recent story “Mental Health Crisis Emerges”, we need to re-engage a community and with each other as quickly as possible. The isolation is clearly taking a greater toll on our overall health than the virus itself. It seems that during this “off-season” we have a unique opportunity as a community to begin interacting in a physically closer, and more frequent way. Not only for our personal well-being, but the viability of our business community as well. The absence of tourists presents an environment of “known quantity”, only local population. It is most likely that a good percentage of Summit residents have contracted the virus and are a-symptomatic. I ask the medical community to help me out here, as my understanding is that some level of resistance is built up in an individual even if they never develop COVID-19 syndrome. Is that right? So it may very well be that we could use this time to practice a controlled exposure and thus develop a strengthened resistance among ourselves. Needless to say, such resistance would be a valuable asset once our tourist economy is gradually re-established. The guidelines in the current PHO are a great starting point. Taking them just a notch or two further as described below, promptly, while we have this valuable time frame before “outsiders” inevitably begin to arrive is an opportunity that should be seriously considered. To be clear, I am Not suggesting that all businesses open their doors and go back to “normal”. Rather, an amount of opening that allows for social interactions that are part of day to day life such as lunch (or glass of wine) out with a friend, the ability to enter a store and shop for specific retail items, and enjoying movies and musical performances. Without masks and gloves. Without 6 feet of separation. And most importantly, Without Suspicion of each other about becoming infected. Sweden appears to be an example of how this could look.<\/strong>
Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

DILLON \u2014 The restrictions on businesses are beginning to loosen slightly under Summit County\u2019s new public health order, which mirrors Gov. Jared Polis\u2019 \u201csafer at home\u201d executive order<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n

Nonessential retail businesses were able to reopen for curbside pickup<\/a><\/i> on Monday, April 27, while personal service businesses are able to resume Friday, May 1. Personal service businesses, which include hair and nail salons or dry cleaning services, along with essential businesses like grocery stores are now required under the Summit County public health order to complete a form<\/a><\/i> with plans to implement social distancing protocols. <\/p>\n

The form is five pages long and includes checklists to protect employee health, such as directing anyone who can work from home to do so and requiring symptoms checks for employees prior to entering the workplace. There are also checklists that focus on measures to keep people 6 feet apart, prevent crowds from gathering, increase sanitation, prevent unnecessary contact and reduce exposure in employee transportation. The form can be found at Co.Summit.co.us\/coronavirus<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n

For nonessential business, the form must be completed prior to performing any services. Essential businesses that have remained open throughout the pandemic are required to complete the form by May 4. All businesses must post the form and other required signage at public entrances. <\/p>\n

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