Month: June 2020

Before reopening ALL businesses must follow these guidelines:

• Create a Control Plan.  This Control Plan does not need to be submitted to the State but must remain on file in case of any employee or customer complaints to the local board of health
•  Compliance Attestation Businesses must attest that they have completed a control plan, and post it on premises
• Employer  and Worker  posters must be posted. Describe social distancing rules and protocols for hygiene, cleaning, and disinfecting
• Mandatory safety standards for all workplaces apply to all MA businesses
• Sector-specific protocols * Places of worship * Office spaces * Manufacturing * Construction * Labs * Car washes * Hair salons & barbershops * Pet grooming * Restaurants * Lodging * Retail * Outdoor Recreation * Health & Human Services * Childcare & Summer Camps
  • Under each Sector review your circulars and checklists on How to adjust operations for public safety

What supplies do I need to reopen my business or return to work?
As an employer, you must:

• Require masks and coverings for all employees
• Provide handwashing supplies and capabilities
• Sanitize high touch areas, such as workstations, equipment, screens, doorknobs, restrooms throughout work site
• Additional mandatory workplace safety standards can be found here
• As an employee, you must wear a face covering or mask at your workplace
• Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee announced starting this week any private, non-profit or non-governmental organizations that are requesting PPE supplies should follow this new process: Send an email to reoc34.manager@mass.gov
  • In the email include:
    • Agency Information
    • Contact Person
    • Staff Size
    • Specific items, including sizes and quantities
    • Burn rate of the items (requests should be limited to enough for 7 days)
    • Address they want it shipped

• Restaurant Protocol Summary
• Restaurant Checklist

• Retail Businesses Protocols Summary
• Retail Businesses Checklist

Additional highlights include:

• Limited store occupancy
  • Retailers must limit occupancy to the greater of the two: 8 persons per 1000 sq. feet of accessible indoor space, or 40% of the max permitted occupancy (includes customers and employees)
  • Shopping mall operators must limit occupancy to 40% at all general entrances; food courts, play areas, seating areas and arcades are to be closed
• Fitting rooms must remain closed
• Other standard requirements include face coverings, frequent cleanings, employee protocols, and more

• Operators of Lodgings MA Safety Standards
• Operators of Lodgings MA COVID-19 Checklist

Guidelines for Phased Reopening Issued for Child Care and Summer Camps

Child care programs licensed by EEC will be required to submit plans to the department to be approved once Phase II reopening begins. The Department will provide templates for submission as the process is launched and will utilize an attestation approval process. In order to mitigate the impact of business interruptions caused by fluctuations in family demand and changes in group sizes outlined in the health and safety guidelines, EEC will provide grants to programs that currently receive CCDBG subsidies through the first two months of reopening. More details on the reopening process and child care provider grant program will be released shortly.

Preparedness Planning: Prior to reopening, all programs must develop plans for daily health screenings and ways to identify children and staff who are sick, symptomatic, or who become exposed to coronavirus. Programs must also have a plan in place to handle possible closings, staff absences, and gaps in child attendance, as well as determine how to communicate with staff, parents, local boards of health and others.

• Programs must screen all staff and children with a temperature check, before they are permitted to enter the child care space. Programs must establish one entry point to ensure no one is allowed in the building until they pass a health screening.

Group sizes and staffing: Group sizes must be restricted to a maximum of 10 children, with a total of 12 individuals including children and staff in each room. The infant-to-staff ratio is smaller, with 7 infants to 2 staff members and a maximum of group size of 9.

• Children must remain with the same group each day and at all times while in care. Siblings should be kept in the same group, when suitable.
• Groups must not be combined at any time.
• The same staff must remain with the same group of children each day. Staff should not float between groups either during the day or from day-to-day, with some limited exceptions. Group transportation should only be provided during the phased reopening when there is no other option to transport children to and from the program. Programs intending to provide transportation services should follow detailed guidance.

For summer day camps: Campers and counselors will need daily health screenings, including temperature and other checks for signs and symptoms of illness. Camps will need plans in place for when a staff member or child becomes sick.

• Camp spaces will need to be prepared to ensure physical distancing.
• Camps will need to have at least two health services staff on site at all times.
• Other protocols require campers and counselors to stay together in their groups and staff will not be able to move between groups either during the day or from day-to-day, unless needed to provide supervision of specialized activities such as swimming.
• Snacks and meals should be brought from home, pre-packaged, or ready-to-serve in individual portions to minimize handling and preparation. When this is not feasible, staff must prepare and serve meals. No family-style food service.
• Camps may not take campers on field trips or for other offsite travel.

Guidance for nursing homes, rest homes and assisted living facilities detailing how to safely allow scheduled visits with residents to occur. These measures include:

• A resident who is suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 cannot be visited. A resident who has recovered from COVID-19 may be visited.
• Visitors must be screened for fever or respiratory symptoms. Any individuals with symptoms of COVID- 19 infection will not be permitted to visit with a resident.
• A long-term care facility staff member trained in patient safety and infection control measures must always remain with the resident during the visit.
• Visits must be limited to no more than two individuals. A visitor must always remain at least 6 feet from the resident and attending staff member(s) during the visit.
• Staff and residents must wear a surgical face mask and visitors must wear a face covering or mask for the duration of the visit.

THANK YOU Williamstown Chamber of Commerce for compiling this info and links!!