North Carolina Reopening Checklist for Retail Operations

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Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure

Limit occupancy of all operating establishments to no more than 50 percent of the stated fire capacity or 12 per 1,000 square feet if there is not a fire code number readily available.
Post the reduced “Emergency Maximum Occupancy” in a noticeable place. Sign templates are available in English and Spanish on NC DHHS COVID-19 response site.
Post signage reminding attendees and staff about social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from others). Know Your Ws sign templates are available in English and Spanish on the NC DHHS COVID-19 response site.
Mark six (6) feet of spacing in lines at the point of sale and in other high-traffic areas for customers, such as at deli counters and near high-demand products.
Clearly mark designated entry and exit points; if a building has only one entry/exit point, try to stagger entry and exit times if possible.
Clearly mark 6 feet of spacing in a designated area outside the establishment where people congregate due to limits on indoor capacity.
Allow staff to work remotely as much as possible.
Stagger shifts when remote working is not possible
Develop and use systems that allow for online, email, or telephone transactions

Cloth Face Coverings

It is encouraged that businesses and organizations provide cloth face coverings for employees and customers. If provided, they must be single-use or properly laundered using hot water and a high heat dryer between uses
Please share guidance to employees on use, wearing, and removal of cloth face coverings, such as CDC’s guidance on wearing and removing cloth face masks, CDC’s use of cloth face coverings, and CDC’s cloth face coverings FAQ’s.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Perform ongoing and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas (e.g., doors, doorknobs, rails) with an EPA approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), and increase disinfection during peak times or high customer density times.
Promote frequent use of handwashing and hand sanitizer for staff and individuals. Require handwashing of staff immediately upon reporting to work, after contact with individuals, after performing cleaning and disinfecting activities, and frequently throughout the day.
Provide, whenever available, hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) at the entrance and other areas. Systematically and frequently check and refill hand sanitizers and assure soap and hand drying materials are available at all sinks
Provide tissues for proper cough and sneeze hygiene.
Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods. Do not open windows and doors if they pose a safety risk.

Monitoring for Symptoms

Employees who have symptoms when they arrive at work or become sick during the day should immediately be separated from other employees, customers, and visitors and sent home.
Conduct daily symptom screening (use this standard interview questionnaire) (English|Spanish) of employees at entrance to workplace with immediately sending symptomatic workers home to isolate.
Post signage at the main entrance requesting that people who have been symptomatic with fever and/or cough not enter, such as Know Your Ws/Stop if You Have Symptoms flyers (English - Color, Black & White; Spanish - Color, Black & White).
Have a plan in place for immediately removing employee from work if symptoms develop.
Establish and enforce sick leave policies to prevent the spread of disease, including: o Enforcing employees staying home if sick. o Encouraging liberal use of sick leave policy. o Expanding paid leave policies to allow employees to stay home when sick.
Per CDC guidelines, if an employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is presumed positive by a medical professional due to symptoms, the employee should be excluded from work until: o No fever for at least 72 hours since recovery (without the use of fever-reducing medicine) AND o Other symptoms have improved (e.g., coughing, shortness of breath) AND o At least 10 days have passed since the first symptoms
Per CDC guidelines, if an employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19 but does not have symptoms, they should remain out of work until 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test, assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since their positive test.
Require symptomatic employees to wear masks until leaving the office. Cleaning and disinfecting procedure should be implemented by designated personnel following CDC guidelines once the sick employee leaves.
Provide employees with information on help lines to access information or other support in reference to COVID-19, e.g. 211 and Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463).

Protecting Vulnerable Populations

Designate a specific time for persons at higher risk to access the venue without the general population (such as early morning, or late afternoon).
Enable employees to self-identify as high risk for severe disease and reassign work to minimize face-to-face contact and to allow them to maintain a distance of six feet from others, or to telework if possible.

Combatting Misinformation

Provide workers with education about COVID-19 strategies, using methods like videos, webinars, or FAQs. Some reliable sources include NC DHHS COVID-19, Know Your W’s: Wear, Wait, Wash, NC DHHS COVID-19 Latest Updates, NC DHHS COVID-19 Materials & Resources
Promote informational helplines like 211 and Hope4NC and other Wellness Resources.
Put up signs and posters, such as those found Know Your W’s: Wear, Wait, Wash and those found Social Media Toolkit for COVID-19.

Water and Ventilation Systems

Follow the CDC’s Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation to minimize the risk of diseases associated with water.
Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods. Do not open windows and doors if they pose a safety or health risk to people using the facility