(WWJ) As Michigan begins to think about reopening in phases, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is taking steps to make sure essential businesses are keeping customers and employees safe.
She signed Executive Order 2020-60 Sunday to ensure enhanced cleaning, social distancing and screening measures at grocery stores and pharmacies.
It includes requiring the stores to set aside at least two shopping hours per week for people over 60, pregnant women; and people with pre-existing conditions. This includes heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.
The order also mandates the businesses inform all other employees if a coworker tests positive for COVID-19. This must be done without violating the health privacy of the employee.
Grocery stores and pharmacies must also implement other measures including:
-Require cashiers to wear a cloth mask or face covering
-Allow workers to have enough breaktime to wash their hands
-Keep employees six feet apart
-Eliminate salad bars, free samples and tasting stations
-Regularly disinfect shopping carts, baskets and self-serve kiosks
-Encourage checkout at self-serve kiosks
-Forbid employees from working if they are sick and send them home immediately
-Provide accommodations for vulnerable workers through “low exposure work assignments” or allow them to take an unpaid leave until Michigan’s State of Emergency and State of Disaster ends
-Put in place a program to screen employees for fever and symptoms, including temperature checks with dedicated or touchless thermometers
-Close to the public every night to deep-clean and sanitize the store
You can see the complete list here.
“This is not a time to slow our efforts, we must continue to be smart,” Governor Whitmer said in the press release. “By establishing these guidelines, we can protect Michigan families and our frontline workers. When we come together, we can slow the spread of this virus and save lives.”
The new Executive Order goes into effect right away and continues through May 22. The “Stay at Home, Stay Safe” Order, EO 20-59, is in place through May 15.