With California hoping to fully reopen this June, according to the Governor, “Everyday activities will be allowed to resume, and businesses can reopen with "common-sense risk reduction measures," such as wearing masks.” It’s definitely great news, and it can be tempting to say, ‘everything is back to normal’. But in reality, it’s a new normal, and adapting your protocols to protect your employees and the public will become even more important as the volume of people entering your business surges.

The CDC recommends a layered approach to reduce exposures to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This approach includes using multiple mitigation strategies. Now is a good time to review your existing protocols. Here are 4 Key Checkpoints to assess the following areas so that you’re ready when it’s time to open your doors wide.

1. Mask policies – how will you manage people who feel that with reopening, masks are no longer needed? Especially for your frontline employees working with customers, preparing them to manage this is critical.
2. Social distancing – how will you manage traffic flow and seating among not only customers but employees? Will desks be spaced differently? Will you be using plexi shields?
3. Sanitizing & Disinfecting – with more frequent need for sanitizing and disinfecting, how will you manage the scheduling of employees to handle this? And ensure you have adequate supplies on hand?
4. Air Monitoring & Purification – air transmission has been recognized by the CDC as one of the high-risk sources for Covid-19. What are you doing to monitor and cleanse your air of harmful viruses and bacteria?

Just as you had to make a plan for when California shut down, now is the right time to develop your Reopening Plan before the State fully reopens. Remember, “An ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure!”