The Chamber has been a strong advocate for beginning the process of reopening businesses that have been shuttered or severely limited due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We have confidence in our Mesa County Health Department and the plan they have established to go slow with and monitor the situation. We also have confidence that our business community and our citizens will act responsibly and adhere to the plan.
A variance to the statewide safer at home plan was approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Governor’s Office on April 29th. Mesa County’s variance allows for three specific sectors to begin operating at a limited capacity before other areas in the state are allowing it, with social distancing precautions in place.
Local businesses can begin to move forward with their own reopening plan to ensure they meet the guidelines set for their specific sector. These guidelines are intended to maximize the safety of both customers and employees.
Specific guidelines for each business sector along with the full public order are available at https://health.mesacounty.us/wp-content/uploads/PUBLIC-HEALTH-ORDER-2020-02.pdf.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL BUSINESS SECTORS IN PHASE 1:
• Perform frequent environmental cleaning and disinfection (concentrate on high touch surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.)
• Employees and contracted workers whose duties include close contact with members of the public shall wear a non-medical cloth face covering over the nose and mouth
• Employees are encouraged to wear a non-medical cloth face covering over their nose and mouth while working, except where doing so would inhibit the individual’s health
• Maintain at least six feet distance from each other
• Monitor workforce for compatible symptoms
• Implement or maintain return to work policies
For specific questions regarding reopening YOUR business, reach out to the team at Mesa County Public Health at:
•Hotline: 970-683-2300 | healthinfo@mesacounty.us
Mesa County’s reopening plan consists of 3 phases, each anticipated to last 2 weeks, after which it will be evaluated to move to the next phase.
DETERMINING SUCCESS DURING ALL PHASES OF REOPENING:
The determination on whether the physical distancing policies are working will be based on:
1. Keeping the proportion of positive tests to less than 10% of overall tests conducted
2. Staying below the threshold of less than 70 COVID-19 hospitalizations among our four local hospitals (St. Mary’s, Community, Colorado Canyons, and VA Medical Center)
If respective numbers for either of these measures exceed the stated limit, actions will be taken to increase physical distancing practices in Mesa County and it may be necessary to reissue local Stay at Home orders.
It is vital that everyone participate in this effort.
You are being asked to while allowing certain activities to resume with physical distancing measures in place.
Click here to download the full version of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce May 2020 Newsletter.
