With the publication of Tennessee Pledge the guidelines for reopening business after being forced to close due to the pandemic. The intention is to recover the economy little by little, but ensuring that it is done in safe conditions to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. Learn more in Hispanic Entrepreneurs.
Tennessee Pledge: Safety remains a priority
The plan to gradually reopen business in Tennessee has been put in place. First it was restaurants and retail stores, then beauty salons, nail shops, and barber shops joined in 89 counties.
Other industries like gyms or tattoo shops will have to wait. Similarly, the rest of the counties will work on their own plan.
The decision was made because the COVID-19 contagion curve in Tennessee has decreased. Tests with positive results have had a steady downward trajectory since early April. However, return to activities should be done as safely as possible.
Through the Tennessee Pledge, developed by the Economic Recovery Group, Tennessee citizens are expected to return to work "in a safe environment, restore their livelihoods and restart the economy of our state".
The plan makes it clear that companies must take steps to protect their employees and customers. Likewise, workers must join the provisions they establish to avoid contagion among their colleagues and with customers.
Due to the nature of the disease, the plan will be evaluated frequently to make adjustments as necessary.
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Impact on the economy
After the order to stay home was given and the non-core businesses had to close, it was possible to reduce the spread of the virus. Evidence was increased, as was health care capacity, and disease monitoring was more effective. However, this necessary measure had a great impact on the economy.
Some data on the effect of the pandemic on the economy that the Tennessee Pledge released are the following:
- 412,895 workers filed unemployment claims with the Department of Labor between March 1 and April 18.
- In total, 15% of the state workers declared themselves unemployed.
- The retail industry stopped receiving $ 870 million in net sales in March alone. The April figure is estimated to be even higher.
- The requests to open new businesses were reduced by 53%.
The first industries to feel the impact were entertainment, recreation and accommodation, but it quickly spread to the rest of the sectors. Small businesses are hit hardest and will have the hardest time recovering. However, they can resort to resources available in Tennessee to boost your recovery.
Guidelines for reopening business
The plan to reopen Tennessee establishes the guidelines that all businesses must take into account when reopening their doors. The safety protocols recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must be implemented.
Below, we present the basic instructions to be followed by all businesses that start operating again:
- Examine employees who report to work to make sure they have no symptoms of COVID-19. They should be asked questions as to whether they have been in contact with a sick person; if you have a loss of smell or taste; if you have a sore throat, cough, or trouble breathing.
- Take employees' temperatures every day when they arrive at work with a thermometer that does not require contact.
- In case a worker shows symptoms or answers yes to any of the questions, seek medical help immediately.
- Clean and disinfect the work area daily. In the case of surfaces with the highest contact, they must be sanitized every two hours.
- Readjust schedules and implement social distancing measures to reduce the possibility of contagion.
- Establish an action plan to follow if it were to detect any case of COVID-19 in the company.
- Limit self-service options.
- Allow employees to work from home as much as possible.
- Inform about the provisions of the Families First Response to Coronavirus Act.
- Update disease policies to include virus symptoms.
- Post signs that show health policies.
What should employees do?
The recommendations for workers are as follows:
- If you have been in contact with an infected person, if you feel symptoms or are diagnosed with COVID-19, you should stay at home.
- Members of the most vulnerable populations should not go to the workplace.
- Use a mouth cover when you are in public, medical masks are for health personnel.
- Comply with social distancing measures and other guidelines established by the employer.
The Tennessee Pledge also specifies the steps to take in restaurants and retail stores. Follow these guidelines to reopen business and help stop the spread of disease.
