6A | WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Stores must post clear
signs listing COVID symp-
toms, encouraging physical
distancing, and asking cus-
tomers with symptoms to
stay home.
“Frequently
clean
and sanitize work areas,
high-traffic areas and com-
monly touched surfaces in
both customer/public and
employee areas of the store,”
OHA wrote. “Wipe down
changing room doorknobs,
walls and seating between
each customer use.”
Finally, all employees are
required to wear cloth, pa-
per or disposable face cov-
erings, with no exceptions
being listed. Businesses
must provide those cover-
ings for employees.
However, customers —
although encouraged — are
not required to wear masks.
“Strongly encourage all
customers to wear cloth,
paper or disposable face
coverings,” OHA said. “If a
store sets a policy that all
customers are required to
wear cloth, paper or dispos-
able face coverings, store
management should con-
sult with their legal counsel
to determine whether such
a requirement can be en-
forced.”
The state has not re-
quired citizens to wear
masks, though it strongly
suggests people do so, par-
ticularly in enclosed set-
tings or while indoors. In-
stead, the state has put the
onus on businesses to de-
cide on whether to require
customers to wear a mask
—putting businesses in a
difficult position. While on
one hand there’s the safety
of their clients and employ-
ees, the majority of hand-
made masks don’t protect
the person wearing them
from contracting the virus.
Instead, they help prevent
the wearer from spreading
the virus. Because of that,
current mandates protect
customers, but not employ-
ees.
However, it’s not always
easy for businesses to re-
quire or even request face
masks be worn. Nationally,
businesses and states have
faced boycotts, social me-
dia harassment, with peo-
ple threatening physical
violence against employees
— including, in one case,
the fatal shooting of a secu-
rity guard who had asked a
customer to wear a mask.
Without clear guidance
from the state, a business
can be faced with a decision
of either potentially endan-
gering the health of its em-
ployees or the health of its
bottom line.
There are other sugges-
tions that OHA makes that
retail stores should follow
“to the extent possible,” but
are not required. These in-
clude encouraging one-way
flow with marked entranc-
es and exits, placing clear
unclear exactly how much
risk is involved when eating
in a restaurant.
Buffets, salad bars and
soda refill stations are
banned, as are karaoke
machines, pool tables and
bowling. However, video
lottery terminals will be
allowed if users can be six
investigation,” OHA wrote.
“Unless otherwise required,
this information may be de-
stroyed after 60 days from
the appointment.”
Employers must im-
mediately send home any
employee with COVID-19
like symptoms until 72
hours after symptoms have
“Let me be clear, these choices are not easy ...We’re not in the
clear, in the country or in our state. COVID infections could spike
quickly, if we aren’t careful — all of us.”
— Oregon Governor Kate Brown
barriers in front of cashiers
and prohibiting customers
from trying on items that
are worn on the face, such
as cloth masks, scarves,
headbands and eyewear.
What will a restaurant or
bar look like?
The most notable change
in restaurants will be how
they are set up.
“Ensure tables are spaced
at least six feet apart so that
at least six feet between
parties is maintained, in-
cluding when customers
approach or leave tables,”
OHA requirements stated.
Bar seating that fac-
es an employee, such as
a bartender, are prohibit-
ed, though tables facing a
window or wall are accept-
able if a six-feet distance is
maintained.
It’s up to businesses to
determine seating config-
urations, but they are al-
lowed to remove seating
or blocking off every other
booth.
Only parties of 10 or less
will be accepted, though
they do not have to be six
feet apart when sitting.
As for employees, “me-
ticulous hand hygiene” is a
must, and employees must
wear gloves when cleaning
and sanitizing. All employ-
ees must wear face cover-
ings, even if they work pri-
marily in the kitchen area.
However, customers are
not required to wear masks
while seated at their ta-
ble. Obviously, eating with
a mask is not viable, but
some recent studies have
shown that diners without
a mask may be particular-
ly vulnerable to catching
the virus while sitting in a
restaurant. Airflow from air
conditioning units or open-
ing doors spread the virus
around the enclosed area,
which in turn spreads to
diners sitting for an extend-
ed period of time. However,
the science surrounding the
spread of COVID-19 is still
evolving, and it remains
feet apart and the machines
are cleaned after use.
Finally, restaurants and
bars must “End all on-site
consumption of foods and
drinks, including alcoholic
beverages, by 10 p.m.,” the
OHA wrote.
The stated justification
for the rule is that as the
night wears on and when
alcohol gets involved, in-
hibitions are loosened and
social distancing guidelines
could be ignored or harder
to enforce as a result.
There are a host of
non-required requests by
OHA, including assigning
a designated greeter or host
to manage customer flow.
Reservations are encour-
aged, and it is suggested
businesses should “assign
employees to monitor cus-
tomer access to common
areas, such as restrooms, to
ensure that customers do
not congregate.”
What will personal ser-
vices look like?
Customers are required
to make an appointment,
which includes a prescreen-
ing for COVID.
“Contact client prior to
appointment and ask, ‘Have
you had a cough? Have you
had a fever? Have you had
shortness of breath? Have
you been in close contact
with anyone with these
symptoms or anyone who
has been diagnosed with
COVID-19 in the past 14
days?’” requires the OHA.
If the answer is “yes” to
any of the above, the ap-
pointment needs to be re-
scheduled.
If the answer is “no,” the
business should review in-
formation on how COVID
is spread, then gather the
client’s contact information
for any possible investiga-
tion.
“If there is a positive
COVID-19 case associated
with the business, public
health may need the busi-
ness to provide this infor-
mation for a contact tracing
cleared.
When a client arrives,
they must “wait in their car
or outside to be contacted
when the provider is ready
for the appointments,”
wrote the OHA. When
the client does enter, all
magazines, service menus,
snacks and beverages must
have been removed.
Temperature checks for
arriving clients is highly
suggested, but not required.
Social distancing will still
be enforced, except for pro-
vider-to-client contact. In
addition, only one provider
is allowed to work with a
client during the appoint-
ment. Providers must also
be wearing face coverings
while working with clients,
while clients have to wear a
clean cape, if applicable, for
the appointment. Providers
are allowed to use dispos-
able capes.
Finally, there are sever-
al cleaning requirements.
While many reflect stan-
dard practices, there are
new requirements, includ-
ing requiring clients to
wash their hands before
services begin. Employees
must also wash their hands
after “using the telephone,
computer, cash register
and/or credit card machine,
and wipe these surfaces be-
tween each use.”
Of the three types of
businesses reviewed, per-
sonal services has the lon-
gest list of requirements
and suggestions.
Will all businesses be able
to reopen with the restric-
tions?
Multiple businesses have
remained open during the
shutdown while adher-
ing to the majority of re-
quirements listed by OHA,
DAILY SERVING:
Pizza
Calzones
Clam Chowder
though some have been
lax, particularly when it
comes to employees wear-
ing masks. However, it is
hoped that the majority of
businesses will be able to
reopen in some capacity.
But the requirements
will cause some to remain
closed, particularly small
businesses.
Because restaurants have
to remove tables for social
distancing, they could see
a dramatic decrease in cus-
tomers they can serve in
one day, with some small
restaurants forced to reduce
to just a few tables.
The 10 p.m. curfews on
dine-in service could also
reduce clientele for late-
night bars and diners, lead-
ing to low overall sales.
See RULES page 7A
FAMILY STYLE SPECIALTIES:
Wednesday- Prime Rib
Thursday- Lasagna
Friday- Spaghetti &
Meatballs
9
201
Take Out Only
1285 Bay Street, Old Town Florence
(541) 902-8338
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REOPEN from page 1A
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T HE F OLLOWING B USINESSES ARE OPEN TO S ERVE Y OU.
They are open in a variety of ways… delivery,
pick-up, curbside, drive-thru, in-store shopping
with social distancing, appointments, and more.
To be included in this list for $ 49 a month, Call 541-997-3441.
Abby’s Legendary Pizza, 1374 Highway 101 • 541-997-2229 ............................................................................................................................Open daily 11 am – 9 pm.
Off ering delivery and curb-side takeout. ................................................................................................................ Online ordering is easy at https://abbys.com/order.
Florence Janitorial Services , 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. .......................................................................................................................................................................541-997-2385
Jerry’s Place Bar and Grill, 88274 Rhododendron Drive • 541-997-3815 .............................................................................................................Open Daily 11am-7pm
Call ahead and we will have it ready. Most orders are taking approximately 15 minutes. Growlers and 6 packs are also available.
Neil’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. ........................................................................................................................................................541-997-3825
Novelli’s Crab & Seafood, Boat Slip A13, Bay Street and Nopal Street • 541-639-7689 ..........................................................................Open every day 11 am – 5 pm.
Curbside Service or Delivery
Rosa’s Mexican Restaurant, 2825 Hwy 101 • 541-997-1144 .................................................................Open Monday-Saturday 10:30am-9:00pm for take out orders.
Call us for available menu items and place your order, we will deliver to your car.
Siuslaw Glass & Mirror, 1780 Kingwood • 541-997-8526 .......................................................................................................Open Monday – Friday , 8:30am-4:30pm.
TR Hunter Real Estate 1749 Hwy 101 • 541-997-1200 .........................................................................................Hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Saturday.
We’re taking extra precautions to insure the safety of our clients and walk-ins. And if you choose, we have online resources in place that will allow you to
conduct your real estate transaction from the safety of your home.
West Coast Real Estate Services, 1870 Highway 126 • 541-997-7653, www.jimhoberg.com ................................................................Open 8:30 am – 5:30 pm daily.
During these uncertain times, we are accessible by phone, website, email and by appointment.
We are conducting business as safely as possible for our clients as well as our staff .