MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Local leaders from Shelby County and all of its municipalities released a framework to gradually reopen businesses but did not clarify when it would go into effect.
“There’s been a lot of cooperation and collaboration with everyone. We know the sacrifices every body has had to make as a community,” Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman said.
All the leaders emphasized the rules would go into effect county-wide and would impact all jurisdictions in the same way.
The three-phase plan is data driven and will be monitored and adjusted as time goes on, officials said. It will be based on the following indicators:
- Number of new cases remains stable or decline for 14 days
- Hospitalizations remain stable or decline for 14 days
- Hospitals have the capacity to treat all patients
- Testing and tracing capability must be efficient for containing the virus
In addition, the city will look at other indicators such as the current supply of PPE, if the public is following social distancing protocols and the number of ventilators in use.
Once the indicators indicate the city can move forward, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said he would sign an executive order moving the area into Phase One.
Health officials said they are analyzing data and will try to give as much notice as possible for the transition.
“Key criteria for when we open up to phase one does have to be a stabilization or a downward trend of new cases day to day for 14-day period,” said Dr. Alisa Haushalter, director of the Shelby County Health Department.
Statistics had shown a leveling of cases in Shelby County until this weekend, when the numbers appeared to spike.
“It’s too early to say that increase number reflects that we’re starting all over again,” Haushalter said.
Phase One
- Libraries will be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity; employees must wear masks
- No groups of 10 or more people
- Social distancing required
- Churches at 25% capacity
- Elective surgeries and diagnostic, medical and procedural visits allowed
- Telehealth encouraged
- Nursing homes continue to have precautions in place
- Elective dental visits/procedures allowed if medically necessary (fillings, extractions and root canal)
- Restaurants and bars at 50% capacity; must maintain social distancing; employees wear masks; no communal items
- Grocery stores at 50% capacity; require face masks and gloves for employees serving or preparing food
- Hardware stores at 50% capacity
- Retail stores and commercial business limited to 50% capacity; employees with customer interaction must wear masks
- Manufacturers and distributor companies must require face masks for all employees; symptoms check for employees; employees must be social distanced
- Offices must require face masks and symptom checks; employees must be social distanced;
- Non -contact sport facilities will be allowed to reopen, but you cannot share equipment; employees must wear masks
- Basketball courts, baseball field and other contact sport facilities will remain closed
- Gyms will be limited to 25% capacity; workouts limited to 45 minutes
- Fully automated car washes allowed
- Hair, nail salons and spas to remain closed
- Theaters, sports arenas, auditoriums to remain closed
- Bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, etc to remain closed
- Festivals, public events are prohibited
Phase Two
- Groups of up to 50 allowed
- Libraries, churches, gyms to 50% capacity
- Contact sport facilities can open as long as they only allow a certain number of people
- Hair, nail salons and spas can reopen
Phase Three
- Libraries, churches, restaurants/bars, grocery stores, hardware stores, retail stores/commercial businesses, non-contact sports facilities and gyms to 75% capacity
- Elective surgeries, procedures allowed
- Entertainment/performance venues, recreation facilities, festivals, public events are prohibited, but subject to regulations regarding size of groups
There will be at least two weeks between each phase. City leadership will be monitoring the situation and, if deemed necessary, can delay the next phase.
Any business that opens early will be subject to closure, fines and fees.
Complete information on the back to business plan can be found here.
