Houses of worship will be able to hold modified in-person services and retail businesses will be able to open their doors again by the end of May, according to a plan laid out Wednesday by Gov. Andy Beshear to reopen part of the state’s economy.
Beshear provided three dates for various businesses that may begin Phase 1 of reopening as long as they can meet the 10 rules of the “Healthy at Work” plan previously provided by his administration. Those rules include social distancing, masks for all workers, and closing common areas such as waiting rooms or lobbies.
On May 11, phase one of the plan includes allowing automobile and boat dealerships to reopen in a limited capacity that reduces person-to-person contact as much as possible. Also on May 11, manufacturing and construction companies will be able resume operations; professional services can return to 50% capacity; horse racing can return with no fans; and pet grooming/boarding can reopen.
“We’ve been able to work with a couple of these industries in the midst of this virus, with many parts of manufacturing being essential and construction being essential,” Beshear said. “It’s given us the experience where we believe we have the right guidelines to do it safely. (Other industries listed for May 11) are very low-contact and/or have provided plans that we knew that we could work with.”
On May 20, houses of worship can hold in-person services with a limited capacity — meaning allowing a percentage of their occupancy to attend a worship service under proper guidelines.
“We’re going to be working with them to see a gradual schedule where we can go from the one experience to some of the other pieces that typically happen — like Sunday school for instance,” Beshear said. “Let’s start here, and then let’s have a good dialogue where we can work with those that run our houses of worship to get a plan to be able to do more as we go.”
Also on May 20, retail shops — including many forward-facing businesses — will be open in a reduced capacity.
On May 25, social gatherings of 10 people or less can occur — using social distancing and wearing masks where necessary. Barbershops, salons, cosmetology businesses and similar services will also be allowed to reopen on this date.
Some businesses not included in phase one are restaurants, gyms, public pools, day care facilities and summer camps.
Beshear noted that any sort of surge in cases could delay reopening plans.
“We want you to know that we think this is possible, but it’s all contingent on all of us doing this right, on making sure that we don’t see a spike in the virus,” he said. “But there is at least a light I hope you see at the end of the tunnel where we can get together a little more.”
If things go even better than expected, some businesses may even be able to open a few days sooner than planned.
“Everything up here is fluid depending on the coronavirus,” Beshear said.
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The full reopening plan outlined Wednesday is as follows:
May 11
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Vehicle or vessel dealerships
- Professional services (50%)
- Horse racing (no fans)
- Pet grooming/boarding
May 20
- Retail
- Houses of worship
May 25
- 10-person social gatherings
- Barbers, salons, cosmetology businesses and similar services
What will not reopen under Phase 1:
- Restaurants
- Gyms
- Movie theaters
- Campgrounds
- Youth sports
- Public pools
- Day care facilities
- Summer camps
The 10 rules to reopening a business under the Healthy at Work plan are:
- Continue telework where possible
- Phased return to work
- Onsite temperature/health checks
- Universal masks and other necessary PPE
- Close common areas
- Enforce social distancing
- Limit face-to-face meetings
- Sanitizer/hand wash stations
- Special accommodations
- Testing plan
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
