(COLUMBIA, MO) -
The City of Columbia and Boone County are advancing into the next step of the ongoing reopening and COVID-19 response efforts. As previously outlined, Phase 2, Step 3 of the reopening will begin at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Stephanie Browning, director of Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) has issued Order No. 2020-07 and order 2020-07(c) to signal the beginning of this next step. This order is effective until July 20, unless extended, rescinded or modified. This order includes a framework for all establishments within Boone County to operate with social distancing requirements and disinfection guidelines.
Highlights:
- Occupancy limitations are removed for most businesses, to the extent in which social distancing requirements can be met.
- No standing bar, counter or buffet service for bars and restaurants.
- Large venues, entertainment facilities, movie theaters and nightclubs are to submit an operational plan to PHHS. Once approved, these facilities can operate with a maximum of 100 people provided social distancing requirements are maintained.
- Child care, day camps and other dependent services can operate with stable group sizes of up to 50 children.
- Facilities that offer personal care services, such as hair and nail salons, massage services and others, can operate with 50% occupancy or a total of 50 people, whichever is fewer.
- Pools can operate with the following restrictions after a disinfection and monitoring plan is submitted to PHHS:
- Swimming pools monitored by an attendant will be required to maintain social distance at all times. It is the attendant’s responsibility to ensure social distancing is maintained.
- Pools not monitored by an attendant must have 50 people or fewer and must follow social distancing.
- Sports
- Non-contact, limited contact, and contact sports and activities are permitted in stable groups of 50 participants.
- The spectator area of any sport is limited to 50% of occupancy, or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Social distancing requirements must be met for all spectators.
- Long-term care facilities are to follow guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and must maintain high levels of infection prevention.
- Mass gatherings of more than 100 people are not permitted. Social distancing should continue to be practiced at all times when around others not in the same household.
- Guidance is available for both private and public gatherings to ensure best practices for all attending.
"As a community, we are staying the course because we know that everyone’s health and wellbeing are at stake," Browning said. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how everyone’s health depends on cooperation. We must keep working together to save lives and protect our healthcare system by slowing the spread of the virus."
Although there has been a rise in cases in Boone County, PHHS continues to closely monitor several factors that continue to determine the pace in which the community reopens. At this time, all triggers are being met to move forward in the reopening process. We continue to monitor these factors to ensure that:
- Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is available.
- Hospitals are able to treat all patients with COVID-19 without crisis standards of care.
- All symptomatic people can be tested.
- Public health can maintain active disease investigation, contact tracing, and monitoring.
Businesses should refer to the business guidance document provided by PHHS for more information on how to safely operate during this time. If you are a business with questions about operating requirements, please email [email protected].
PHHS encourages everyone to review the Order in its entirety. Additional information can be found in the FAQ document or by emailing [email protected] for general questions.
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