Gov. Lee announced yesterday that most restaurants and retail locations will reopen beginning Monday, April 27th. The Tennessee Pledge plan provides guidelines for businesses reopening in phases.
According to the Tennessee Pledge, the average daily growth rate for COVID-19 has been stable for over 14 days, and there has been a downward trajectory of positive tests as of April 1st, per the TN Department of Health.
As a result of COVID-19 and the measures taken to mitigate the virus, there have been at least 413, 000 unemployment claims in the state of Tennessee between March 1st and April 18th. Unemployment first affected those in the entertainment, recreation, and service industries, but has now spread to affect almost every industry in the state.
The Tennessee Pledge states the following guidelines for the reopening of restaurants and retailers:
Restaurant Guidelines
Protecting Employees
- Wear face coverings and gloves
- Report any symptoms of illness to supervisor
- Follow daily sanitation protocols
Protecting Customers
- Limit occupancy to 50% of seating capacity
- Space tables 6 feet apart
- Limit seating to 6 per table
- Use social distancing standards in waiting areas
- Keep bar area closed
- No live music
- Screen customers with basic questions about COVID-19 symptoms
Business Operations
- Sanitize all front-of-house contact surfaces every two hours
- Use disposable menus or sanitize menus between each use
- Use rolled silverware/napkins stored in sealed bins
- Sanitize chairs and all tabletop items after each table turn
- Do not offer self-serve buffets, shared condiments, or beverage station re-use.
- Provide ServSafe COVID-19 training for all food handlers
Retail Operation Guidelines
Protecting Employees
- Wear dedicated cloth face coverings, gloves, and other personal protection items as recommended by the CDC
- Report any symptoms of illness to supervisor
- Provide training on personal protective equipment based on CDC guidelines
- Sanitize hands with soap and/or hand sanitizer
- Stagger shifts, breaks, and meals to maintain social distancing
Protecting Customers
- Limit customer occupancy to 50% of store capacity
- Customers should wear face coverings inside stores
- Consider shopping hours for the elderly, medically vulnerable, and health care workers
- Establish one-way aisles and traffic patterns for social distancing
- Increase curbside, pickup, and delivery service options
- Prompt customers regarding the importance of social distancing
Business Operations
- Establish enhanced cleaning protocols that follow CDC guidelines
- Designate separate entrances and exits
- Use plastic shields or barriers at checkout between the customer and clerk
- Adjust store hours to allow time for enhanced cleaning
- Prohibit the use of reusable bags
- Suspend “self-service” food stations and dining areas
- Suspend the sampling of food and personal hygiene products
- Management-level employees should monitor compliance
- Add social distancing “reminder” signage and announcements
These guidelines have been set for the majority of restaurants and retail locations that will be reopening on Monday. There are a remaining number of counties that will be determining their own reopening phases, such as counties with larger cities like Nashville and Knoxville.