‘Threat is not gone.’ Reeves extends order but loosens rules on outdoor recreation.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Friday that he is extending his Safer at Home order for another week until 8 a.m. June 1, but with changes that open outdoor recreational facilities and school athletic facilities.
Reeves’ order was originally set to expire Monday morning after recently allowing restaurants and retail stores to open with social distancing restrictions and limited capacity.
Under this extension, Reeves added Holmes County to the list of seven hotspot counties that will be under stricter orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 in those communities.
“Over the past two weeks, we have steadily opened up more and more of our economy,” Reeves said. “That is good and right. It is necessary. There are very, very few businesses still closed. There will still be some guidelines in place for businesses — but we will be out of the business of closing down anybody.”
He said he hopes after another week he will be able to let the order expire for good.
He said with a three-day Memorial Day weekend, Mississippians most not gather in large groups.
“The threat is not gone,” he said. “We must stay vigilant.”
“Please, if you get together, so in small groups, stay six feet apart ... wear a mask if at all possible.”
Guidelines for outdoor recreational facilities, which include amusement marks, mini golf and playgrounds, are:
For businesses/facilities
▪ Before they can reopen, the entire outdoor park must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom, including areas not open to the public.
▪ All outdoor parks are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
▪ Waiting areas and lines must mark spots at least 6 feet apart to ensure social distancing. Employees must be stationed there to make sure social distancing is followed.
▪ Use no more than 50% of the outdoor park’s capacity.
▪ Outdoor parks must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
▪ Equipment must be rearranged and/or deactivated to ensure at least 6 feet between customers.
▪ All high-touch areas must be sanitized at least once every two hours.
▪ Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances.
▪ Food services are allowed, following restaurant guidelines under Executive Order No. 1478.
For employees
▪ All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
▪ All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
▪ Face coverings must be provided to all employees. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
For customers
▪ Customers must be screened upon entry into the outdoor park.
▪ Customers must sanitize their hands upon entry and when moving between rides or equipment.
Schools and sports complexes
▪ Schools may open weight rooms and training facilities for use by students, following previous guidelines set for gyms.
▪ Team practices at outdoor sports complexes and multi-field complexes and schools’ outdoor practices are allowed to resume, following outdoor recreational activities guidelines.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 2:58 PM.
