West Virginia Safely Opening Small Businesses

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Note: Effective as of July 7, 2020, all individuals over the age of 9 are required to wear face coverings when in confined, indoor spaces, other than one’s residence or while actively engaged in the consumption of food and/or beverage, and when not able to adequately social distance from other individuals who do not reside in the same household, pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 50-20.

Per CDC Guidance, exempt from this requirement are:
• children younger than 2 years old,
• anyone who has trouble breathing through a face covering, and
• persons who unable are to remove th face covering without assistance.
In preparing a place of business to return employees to work, small businesses of ten ormfewer employees should consider adopting rules and regulations to protect theirmemployees and customers. Employers should consider the following guidelines to help protect their employees, customers, and the citizens of the State of West Virginia:

OPERATIONAL RESTRICTIONS/REQUIREMENTS

o Screen employees: Screen all employees reporting to work daily for COVID-19 symptoms with the following questions:
• Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
• Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
• Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
• Have you had new loss of taste or smell?
• Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
• Sick employees: Direct any employee who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms (i.e., answers yes to any of the screening questions or who is running a fever) to leave the premises immediately and seek medical care and/or COVID-19 testing, per CDC guidelines. Employers should maintain the confidentiality of employee health information.
o Plan ahead: Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
• Social distancing and protective equipment;
• Temperature checks;
• Testing, isolating, and contact tracing;
• Sanitation;
• Limiting use and increased disinfection of common and high-traffic areas; and
• Limiting non-essential business travel.
o Training: Train all employees on the importance and expectation of increased frequency of handwashing, the use of hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol,and provide clear instruction to avoid touching hands to face.
o Cleaning: Implement workplace cleaning and disinfection practices, according to CDC guidelines, with regular sanitization of common surfaces. Ensure that staffing and supplies available for such facilities is sufficient to enable enhanced sanitization and cleaning measures in accordance with appropriate CDC guidelines.
o Monitor: Monitor your employees for indicative symptoms and keep an open line of communication. Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns to the employer.
o Hygiene: Provide a place to wash hands or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol.
o PPE: Require employees to wear PPE when appropriate, with special considerations for those employees that come into contact with the general public. Per Executive Order 50-20, all individuals over the age of 9 are required to use face coverings (masks, bandannas, face shields, etc.) when in confined, indoor spaces, other than one’s residence or while actively engaged in the consumption of food and/or beverage, and when not able to adequately social distance from other individuals who do not reside in the same household.
o Tracing: Develop and implement policies and procedures for employee contact tracing following employee with a positive COVID-19 test and inform the local health department of such positive test and tracing.
o Phase in: If possible, return employees to work in phases and spread out shifts to reduce excessive or unnecessary interaction.
o Telework: Allow teleworking to the greatest extent possible
o At-risk individuals: Consider special accommodations for employees that are members of a vulnerable population, like senior citizens or immunocompromised people, including encouraging teleworking to the maximum extent possible among other measures.
o Touch points: Point of sale equipment, doorknobs, light switches, and buttons should be cleaned and sanitized frequently.Encourage customers to make non-cash payments
o Cooperation: Plan for potential COVID-19 cases and work with local health department officials when needed (i.e., monitor and trace COVID-19 cases, deep-clean facilities).
o Signage: Post extensive signage on health policies, including the following documents in the workplace to help educate all on COVID-19 best practices: • CDC: Stop the Spread of Germs • CDC: COVID-19 Symptoms
Where employees must come into contact with the general public and/or customers, consider additional precautionary measures to protect the safety of employees, visitors, and the citizens of the State of West Virginia.
o Consider further limitations on existing occupancy limits;
o Enforce reasonable and appropriate social distancing requirements in all areas, including waiting areas;
o As appropriate, establish an appointment schedule to reduce excessive or unnecessary interaction;
o Institute measures to limit close physical interaction between employees and visitors; and
o Per Executive Order 50-20, all individuals over the age of 9 are required to use face coverings (masks, bandannas, face shields, etc.) when in confined, indoor spaces, other than one’s residence or while actively engaged in the consumption of food and/or beverage, and when not able to adequately social distance from other individuals who do not reside in the same household. As appropriate, require PPE, including appropriate face coverings, for all employees and visitors.