Below you will find information for reopening your business in the Green Phase. This information is being updated as questions arise. Please review the links and if you have any questions, please contact Gina at manager@downtownbellefonteinc.com.
Information below has come from the following sources:
For information specific to restaurants and food establishment, see the Guidance for Businesses in the Restaurant Industry
Q: Where do I find info on reopening my business?
A: You can find all information on reopening on the DCED Business Resources website.
Q: What do I need to do to reopen?
A: You must comply with the guidelines outlined in the COVID-19 Business Guidance document. In addition, you must sign and display in your store the COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses document
Q: Do I need to install plexiglass in front of my register?
A: Yes. You need to install some a shield or barrier at registers and check-out areas to physically separate cashiers and customers.
Q: Are all employees required to wear masks?
A: Yes. In fact, as the employer, you need to provide non-medical masks for employees to wear at all times and make it mandatory to wear masks while on the work site.
Q: Can I require customers to wear a mask?
A: Yes. All customers are required to wear masks while on the premises. If they refuse, you can ask them not to enter your store. There are exceptions (such as medical conditions) so be mindful of that.
Q: Should I modify my hours?
A: This is a judgement call, but the guidelines require you to do extra cleaning and sanitation as well as provide opportunities for those at high risk to patronize your store, so creating modified hours to accomplish this would be wise.
Q: I cannot follow all of the CDC and DOH guidelines. What do I do?
A: There is no easy answer to this, but we would suggest a few options. First, consider delaying your reopening until you can meet these guidelines. Second, the guidelines encourage you to continue virtual business such as teleworking, online shopping, curbside pickup, and delivery, even in the green phase. It’s obviously the safest option although it might not be the most economical.
Q: What will happen if I don’t follow these guidelines?
A: To be honest, we aren’t sure. It’s unclear right now what and how this will be enforced. However, we would caution that failure to comply with the guidelines could jeopardize your business in the long run. Should you encounter an issue with insurance or need your licence renewed, it is likely that the first question will be to what extent you complied with the state guidelines for reopening. If you are found to be in violation of these guidelines, it is possible you could be held liable or lose your operation license.
Q: Is Downtown Bellefonte Inc. enforcing these guidelines?
A: No. We are here to provide information and resources to our business owners and are not legal enforcers.
Additional Coronavirus information from DBI: