No matter what color or pattern they are, Wayne County Commissioners and Richmond Mayor Dave Snow are recommending all residents living and/or working anywhere in Wayne County wear protective face masks when it is necessary to be in public places.
That was just one of the newest guidelines in a joint executive order issued this week based on recommendations from Wayne County Health Department and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order.
Other items include:
* All gas stations should post in a conspicuous place at all gas pumps signs that direct customers to sanitize their hands prior to and after use.
*Businesses should frequently clean and sanitize all high-touch surfaces, which includes point-of-sale touch screens and gas pump handles.
*All businesses with checkout lanes, whether such lanes are operated by an employee or are considered “self-checkout” lanes, should close every other checkout lane in order to assist in greater social distancing among customers.
*Every business that is permitted to remain open to the public under the various orders issued by the governor should ensure that the occupancy rate, at all times, be at or below 25 percent of the approved total occupancy limit as set forth in such businesses’ permits.
*All businesses selling food and beverage should encourage all employees and patrons to wear facial masks or coverings and should refrain from offering any self-serve food and/or beverage of any kind at all locations.
*Retail businesses providing the necessities of life should limit the number of customers in their facility at any given time to achieve the CDC’s required social distancing. They should also limit their hours of operation and consider implementing separate operating hours for the elderly and other vulnerable customers; and comply with social distancing and sanitation of applicable areas and other mitigations measures to protect its employees and the public.
*In the event that a business has carts for use by its customers, all employees expected to move such carts should be offered personal protective equipment in order to ensure their safety, and all carts should be cleaned and sanitized prior to each use.
* All social and country clubs are to be closed.
* Richmond’s public transit system is suspending all bus fare until April 20, so those needing to utilize public transportation offered by the city for essential travel may do so without cost until that date. Additionally, the city will honor any bus passes purchased in the month of April through May 31.
* The Richmond landfill is modifying its hours to be open to the general public from 8 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The landfill shall remain open pursuant to its normal operating hours for any businesses deemed to be “essential” pursuant to previously issued executive orders executed by the governor.
The mayor and commissioners will continue to monitor local developments relative to the COVID-19 emergency and additional, more restrictive directives may be forthcoming if the situation so requires.
Wayne County Health Department created a short video to show how to make a simple mask from basic household items.