ATLANTA — As Georgia braces Friday for the reopening process to begin, with certain small businesses allowed to operate again under the order of Gov. Brian Kemp, how they're supposed to operate isn't always clearly explained.
The governor frequently references his 20-point list of "Minimum Basic Operations" requirements meant to make business activity in the Peach State safe.
Those include a range of rules, from screening workers for fever and respiratory illness and separating workspaces by at least six feet, to prohibiting the use of PIN-pad card machines and handshaking.
"Just like the thousands of businesses currently operating throughout Georgia, I am confident that business owners who decide to reopen will adhere to Minimum Basic Operations, which prioritize the health and well-being of employees and customers," Gov. Kemp told 11Alive earlier this week.
So what are the Minimum Basic Operations? They're these:
- Screening and evaluating workers who exhibit signs of illness, such as a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, cough or shortness of breath
- Requiring workers who exhibit signs of illness to not report to work or to seek medical attention
- Enhancing sanitation of the workplace as appropriate
- Requiring hand washing or sanitation by workers at appropriate places within the business location
- Providing personal protective equipment as available and appropriate to the function and location of the worker within the business location
- Prohibiting gatherings of workers during working hours
- Permitting workers to take breaks and meals outside, in their office or personal workspace, or in such other areas where proper social distancing is attainable
- Implementing teleworking for all possible workers
- Implementing staggered shifts for all possible workers
- Holding all meetings and conferences virtually, wherever possible
- Delivering intangible services remotely wherever possible
- Discouraging workers from using other workers' phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment
- Prohibiting handshaking and other unnecessary person-to-person contact in the workplace
- Placing notices that encourage hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen
- Suspending the use of Personal Identification Number ("PIN") pads, PIN entry devices, electronic signature capture, and any other credit card receipt signature requirements to the extent such suspension is permitted by agreements with credit card companies and credit agencies
- Enforcing social distancing of non-cohabiting persons while present on such entity's leased or owned property
- For retailers and service providers, providing for alternative points of sale outside of buildings, including curbside pick-up or delivery of products and/or services if an alternative point of sale is permitted under Georgia law
- Increasing physical space between workers and customers
- Providing disinfectant and sanitation products for workers to clean their workspace, equipment and tools
- Increasing physical space between workers' worksites to at least six (6) feet
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