The Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce is happy to partner with the Downtown Carlisle Association to assist our area businesses with the necessary tools and resources to help them re-open after the shutdown. Below is an evolving list of resources that will be updated as they become available and as our area continues to move through the state's phases of re-opening. The information below is for businesses operating in the GREEN Phase of Governor Wolf's Phase Re-Opening of Pennsylvania.
In the GREEN Phase the following guidelines apply:
- Continued Tele-work Strongly Encouraged
- Businesses with In-Person Operations Must Follow Updated Business and Building Safety Requirements
- All Businesses Operating at 50% Occupancy in the Yellow Phase May Increase to 75% Occupancy
- Child Care May Open Complying with Guidance
- Congregate Care Restrictions in Place
- Prison and Hospital Restrictions Determined by Individual Facilities
- Schools Subject to CDC and Commonwealth Guidance
Social Restrictions that apply in GREEN:
- Large Gatherings of More Than 250 Prohibited
- Restaurants and Bars Open at 50% Occupancy
- Personal Care Services (including hair salons and barbershops) Open at 50% Occupancy and by Appointment Only
- Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities, and Personal Care Services (such as gyms and spas) Open at 50% Occupancy with Appointments Strongly Encouraged
- All Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) Open at 50% Occupancy
- Construction Activity May Return to Full Capacity with Continued Implementation of Protocols
- All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning
- Monitor public health indicators; adjust orders and restrictions as necessary
Guidelines Based on Industry
Employer Guidance: Follow CDC guidelines for employers, Including:
• Social distancing by maintaining six feet from others
• Protective equipment like masks and gloves must be provided
• Proper sanitation every workday
• Voluntary temperature checks before entering the workplace (no more than 100.4 degree)
• Implement a workplace tracing policy and procedure after a positive COVID-19 test
• Anyone with symptoms must stay home and cannot return to work until cleared by a doctor
• High traffic areas must be cleaned on a regular basis
• Capacity requirements cannot exceed 20% of occupancy
• Encourage employees to work from home where possible
• Groups cannot be any larger than 25 people
• Retail operations should have specific hours or make special accommodations for vulnerable populations
• Workplace safety operational guidelines must be established and provided to employees
These steps are recommended to protect employees and prepare your business for disruption:
Identify a workplace coordinator who will be responsible for COVID-19 issues and their impact at the workplace.
Examine policies for leave, telework, and employee compensation.
- Leave policies should be flexible and non-punitive, and allow sick employees to stay home and away from co-workers. Leave policies should also account for employees who need to stay home with their children if there are school or childcare closures, or to care for sick family members.
- When possible, use flexible worksites (e.g., telework) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts) to help establish policies and practices for social distancing (maintaining distance of approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) between employees and others, especially if social distancing is recommended by state and local health authorities.
Review your leave policies with all employees and provide information about available employee assistance services. Share information on steps they can take to protect themselves at work and at home, and any available
Identify essential employees and business functions, and other critical inputs such as raw materials, suppliers, subcontractor services/products, and logistics required to maintain business operations. Explore ways you can continue business operations if there are disruptions.
Prepare business continuity plans for significant absenteeism, supply chain disruptions, or changes in the way you need to conduct business.
Establish an emergency communications plan. Identify key contacts (with back-ups), chain of communications (including suppliers and customers), and processes for tracking and communicating about business and employee status.
Share your response plans with employees and clearly communicate expectations. It is important to let employees know plans and expectations if COVID-19 occurs in communities where you have a workplace.
Other Resources
General Office Guidelines (AIHA)
Disinfection Cleaning Tool (CDC)
Disinfecting Building Facility (CDC)
PA DOH Guidelines for Opening (PA DOH)
Employer Guidance: Follow CDC guidelines for employers, Including:
• Social distancing by maintaining six feet from others
• Protective equipment like masks and gloves must be provided
• Proper sanitation every workday
• Voluntary temperature checks before entering the workplace (no more than 100.4 degree)
• Implement a workplace tracing policy and procedure after a positive COVID-19 test
• Anyone with symptoms must stay home and cannot return to work until cleared by a doctor
• High traffic areas must be cleaned on a regular basis
• Capacity requirements cannot exceed 20% of occupancy
• Encourage employees to work from home where possible
• Groups cannot be any larger than 25 people
• Retail operations should have specific hours or make special accommodations for vulnerable populations
• Workplace safety operational guidelines must be established and provided to employees
Retail and other businesses (back of house recommendations)
- Training– Our employees will be trained in COVID-19 safety guidelines and these Protocols. We will encourage our tenants, vendors and contractors to implement this training.
- Social Distancing
- Desks and workstations will be separated by 6 feet or more or separated by a barrier.
- Employees will be required to adhere to state and local guidelines for social distancing which are generally 6 feet of distance between individuals.
- Signage will be posted reminding employees of CDC hygiene and safety guidelines.
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Use– Facial coverings, as recommended by the CDC, will be worn by our employees while on property performing work duties or interacting with other persons or as mandated by state and local jurisdictions. We will encourage our tenants, vendors and contractors to implement the same precautions.
- Personal Hygiene– Our employees will be allowed and encouraged to take frequent breaks for handwashing or disinfecting of hands with a sanitizer. Hand washing must be performed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, as recommended by the CDC.
- Enhanced Sanitizing and Disinfecting
- The following areas will be disinfected regularly during the day and upon indication of additional need:
- Breakrooms
- Restrooms
- Counters
- Workstations
- Employee-Only Areas
- Touchpoints, including the following, will be disinfected frequently and upon indication of additional need:
- Transaction Registers/Computer Touchscreens/Keyboards
- Shared Communications Equipment Including: Phones, Radios, etc.
- Light Switches
- Doorknobs/Door Handles
- Copy Machines/Multi-Function Machines
- Counters
- Drawer Handles, Etc.
- Self-Service Customer Transactions
- When paying by credit/debit card, customers should utilize credit card receptacles without exchanging the card with an employee.
- During each transaction, employee and Customer should maintain at least 6 feet of separation or be separated by a transparent barrier.
- Employees should wash hands or utilize hand sanitizer after each Customer transaction.
- The following areas will be disinfected regularly during the day and upon indication of additional need:
Other Resources
Guiding Principles to Keep in Mind
The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. The risk of COVID-19 spread increases in a restaurant or bar setting as follows:
- Lowest Risk: Food service limited to drive-through, delivery, take-out, and curb-side pick up.
- More Risk: Drive-through, delivery, take-out, and curb-side pick up emphasized. On-site dining limited to outdoor seating. Seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
- Even More Risk: On-site dining with both indoor and outdoor seating. Seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
- Highest Risk: On-site dining with both indoor and outdoor seating. Seating capacity not reduced and tables not spaced at least 6 feet apart.
COVID-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. It is thought that the virus may spread to hands from a contaminated surface and then to the nose or mouth, causing infection. Therefore, personal prevention practices (such as handwashing, staying home when sick) and environmental cleaning and disinfection are important principles that are covered in this document. Fortunately, there are a number of actions operators of restaurants and bars can take to help lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread. (CDC Website, May 20, 2020)
Other Resources
PA Liquor Control Board Extension for Outdoor Seating/Serving Area (added 6/3/20)
Decision Tool for Restaurants & Bars (CDC Guidelines)
Bars Industry Guidelines ( AIHA)
Restaurant Reopening Guide (National Restaurant Association)
Employer Guidance: Follow CDC guidelines for employers, Including:
• Social distancing by maintaining six feet from others
• Protective equipment like masks and gloves must be provided
• Proper sanitation every workday
• Voluntary temperature checks before entering the workplace (no more than 100.4 degree)
• Implement a workplace tracing policy and procedure after a positive COVID-19 test
• Anyone with symptoms must stay home and cannot return to work until cleared by a doctor
• High traffic areas must be cleaned on a regular basis
• Capacity requirements cannot exceed 20% of occupancy
• Encourage employees to work from home where possible
• Groups cannot be any larger than 25 people
• Retail operations should have specific hours or make special accommodations for vulnerable populations
• Workplace safety operational guidelines must be established and provided to employees
Other Resources
The Council of Non-Profits (added 5/21/20)
Employer Guidance: Follow CDC guidelines for employers, Including:
• Social distancing by maintaining six feet from others
• Protective equipment like masks and gloves must be provided
• Proper sanitation every workday
• Voluntary temperature checks before entering the workplace (no more than 100.4 degree)
• Implement a workplace tracing policy and procedure after a positive COVID-19 test
• Anyone with symptoms must stay home and cannot return to work until cleared by a doctor
• High traffic areas must be cleaned on a regular basis
• Capacity requirements cannot exceed 20% of occupancy
• Encourage employees to work from home where possible
• Groups cannot be any larger than 25 people
• Retail operations should have specific hours or make special accommodations for vulnerable populations
• Workplace safety operational guidelines must be established and provided to employees
Other Resources
Employer Guidance: Follow CDC guidelines for employers, Including:
• Social distancing by maintaining six feet from others
• Protective equipment like masks and gloves must be provided
• Proper sanitation every workday
• Voluntary temperature checks before entering the workplace (no more than 100.4 degree)
• Implement a workplace tracing policy and procedure after a positive COVID-19 test
• Anyone with symptoms must stay home and cannot return to work until cleared by a doctor
• High traffic areas must be cleaned on a regular basis
• Capacity requirements cannot exceed 20% of occupancy
• Encourage employees to work from home where possible
• Groups cannot be any larger than 25 people
• Retail operations should have specific hours or make special accommodations for vulnerable populations
• Workplace safety operational guidelines must be established and provided to employees
Other Resources
Below are some guidelines for religious organizations to follow as they re-open for worship services and other meetings.
Other Resources
Please see below for the type of institution you are inquiring about.
Consideration for Summer Camps (CDC Website)
Considerations for Opening Schools (CDC Website)
Colleges & Universities Guidelines (CDC)
Protecting the most vulnerable in our population is vital and essential. Please see the resources below to ensure you are following the guidelines set forth for your type of institution, or service program.
Other Resources
Need PPE for Your Business
SmartMed Prescription Center
233 E. High St. , Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 243-9100
Holly Pharmacy, Inc.
31 N. Baltimore Ave., Mount Holly Springs, PA 17605-1302
(717) 486-5321
Quality Care Pharmacy
1 Sprint Dr., Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 249-5691
Big Spring Pharmacy, Inc.
91 South High St., Newville, PA 17241
(717) 776-0288
TexVision
10 Pine Hill Dr., Carlisle, PA 17013
(877) 503-5247 x 7459
STATEWIDE (masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer)
https://dced.pa.gov/pennsylvania-covid-19-ppe-supplies-business-2-business-b2binterchange-directory/