RE-OPENING RESOURCES

WE ARE NORWALK STRONG

Updated 5/14/20

The decision to open your business is yours. Please do what is best for your business and employees.

COVID-19 Iowa Guidance - here

Iowa Department of Health ReOpening Guidance here

DSM Forward - Industry Specific

DSM Forward is a compilation of playbooks devoted to helping businesses and industries prepare for next steps related to economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. DSM Forward includes industry-specific playbooks with assessments and recommendations — leveraging international, national, state and local sources, and following federal, state and local public health official recommendations — to help guide businesses and organizations as they determine pathways toward the future in an everchanging landscape. HERE

Small Business Best Practices - Iowa Retail Initiative

Business is not as usual for all small businesses during this pandemic time. Now is the time to get creative and learn great ways to connect with customers through some best practices you can implement in your own business or in your communities. 

COVID-19 CUSTOMIZABLE FLYER - from US Chamber of Commerce website - link here

Help share the  “Five Commitments of Containment”

  1. I will maintain 6 feet of social distance
  2. I will wash my hands often
  3. I will cover my face in public
  4. I will stay home when I am sick
  5. I will get tested immediately if I have symptoms

Consider all applicable measures listed below for your business:

Signage 
Place Social Distancing Protocol signs at each public entrance of the facility or work site to inform all employees and customers that they should:

  • avoid entering the facility or location if they have a cough or fever
  • maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another
  • sneeze and cough into a cloth or tissue or, if not available, into one’s elbow
  • and not shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact.


Measures To Protect Employee Health 
Distribute Health Measures Protocol to all employees including:

  • Everyone who can carry out their work duties from home has been directed to do so.
  • Individual discussions have taken place with employees about the fact that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk for serious illness. Options have been explained to high risk employees, including ways to minimize face-to-face interactions, maintaining six feet of distance from other people, remote work if possible, and leave policies for employees who choose not to come to work.
  • All employees have been told not to come to work if sick (including any of the following: headache, sore throat, fever, dry cough, recent inability to taste and smell, shortness of breath, ear aches, body aches, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, and abdominal pain).
  • Symptom checks are being conducted before employees may enter the work site.
  • Any other measures taken by your facility.


Measures To Keep People At Least Six Feet Apart

  • All employees have been instructed to maintain at least six feet of distance from customers and each other (employees may momentarily come closer when needed to accept payment, deliver goods or services, or when otherwise unavoidable).
  • All desks, individual work stations, or work areas are separated by at least six feet.
  • Tape or other markings have been placed at least six feet apart in customer line areas inside the store and on sidewalks to public entrances with signs directing customers to use the markings to maintain distance.
  • Order areas are separated from delivery areas to prevent customers from gathering.


Measures To Prevent Crowds From Gathering

  • The number of customers in the store at any one time is limited to _________ , which allows for customers and employees to easily maintain at least six-foot distance from one another at all practicable times.
  • An employee is monitoring the door to ensure that the maximum number of customers in the facility set forth above is not exceeded.


Measures To Increase Sanitization
Hand sanitizer, soap and water, or effective disinfectant is available to the public and employees at or near the entrance of the facility or work site, at checkout counters, workstations, and anywhere else where people have direct interactions. Location(s) include:

  • Disinfecting wipes or spray that is effective against COVID-19 are available near workstations and all high-contact surfaces (including payment portals, carts, baskets, pens, shared tools, heavy equipment, etc.). Location(s) include:
  • Employee(s) have been assigned to disinfect all high-contact surfaces frequently.
  • Break rooms, bathrooms, and other common areas are being disinfected on the following schedule:


Measures To Prevent Unnecessary Contact

Contactless payment systems have been provided or, if not feasible, payment systems are sanitized regularly.

Describe:

  • Curb-side drop-off/pick-up of products is available.
  • People are prevented from self-serving any items that are food-related (including bulk food, plates, cups, lids, etc.).
  • Optional—Describe other measures (e.g. providing senior-only hours):


Measures To Reduce Exposures in Employee Transportation

  • Hand sanitizer is used by each passenger when entering the vehicle.
  • The number of passengers has been reduced by 50% of the vehicle’s occupancy, and passengers sit in locations to maximize the distance between one another.
  • Passengers will wear a non-medical, cloth face-covering when in a vehicle containing more than 1 person.
  • Windows will remain open and ventilation is increased.
  • All high-contact surfaces of the vehicle are disinfected at the end of each day.


Thank you for your efforts in helping keep our Norwalk area community healthy. 

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