6 things your business should be doing if still open to the public

If your business is still open to the public, the Fredericksburg City government has just posted a list of the six things business owners in its city should be doing in the wake of the coronavirus spread.

The list comes amid Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s mandatory stay-at-home order for state residents, which restricts residents from leaving the state, and only making trips to essential business like grocery, hardware, automotive stores, and restaurants.

That order remains in effect until June 10.

Fredericksburg tells us those six things are:

1.      As appropriate, such as at customer service windows and cash register lanes, encourage the use of physical barriers or sneeze-guards such as plexi-glass or acrylic partitions to separate retail workers from members of the general public.

2.      Use rope-and-stanchion systems to keep customers from queuing or congregating near work areas. For example, provide a waiting area for customers that is separated by at least 6 feet from a cash register workstation. Signage that instructs individuals waiting in line to remain 6 feet back from work areas may bolster the effectiveness.

3.      If an entity has concrete or similar hard surface flooring, tape applied on the floor in 6 foot increments also serve as customer staging while awaiting in lines.

4.      Whenever possible, direct customers to self-checkout kiosks to minimize worker interaction with customers. Establish protocols and provide supplies to disinfect frequently-touched surfaces in workspaces and public-facing areas, such as points of sale. For example, wipe down credit card terminals and pens/styluses and sneeze-guard barriers between each customer. Wipe down worker-facing touch screens, keyboards, or other equipment at least as often as workers change workstations.

5.      Frequently clean push bars and handles on any doors that do not open automatically, and be sure to clean any plexi-glass or acrylic barriers often.

6.      Consider restricting the number of customers allowed inside the facility at any point in time. For example, in smaller convenience stores adhere to the state maximum of 10 patrons or less depending on the square footage of the business.   Some stores have implemented this by specifying hours dedicated to vulnerable populations (elderly people, people with underlying health conditions, etc.).