Exceptions granted for Carbon County

On May 8, it was announced that Carbon County had been granted exceptions to two public health orders issued by Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Alexia Harrist.

The exceptions pertain to the 1st public health order, which effectively closed restaurants and bars in the area on March 20, and the 2nd public health order, which forbade gatherings of 10 or more people. The full text of these variances can be found on the Carbon County website at http://carbonwy.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=175.

Effective immediately, businesses such as restaurants, coffeehouses, cafes, bars and microbreweries are allowed to operate under the following restrictions:

- All patrons of the business shall be seated at tables (including booths)

- Tables shall be limited to groups of six, preferably of the same household

- Tables with guests must be positioned so that guests at different tables are at least six feet apart from each other when seated

- Signage must be maintained to remind individuals from separate parties to stand at least six feet apart and waiting areas must have floor markers to indicate proper spacing

- The business shall ensure that social distancing guidelines are maintained while customers enter and remain in the establishment

- Staff should wear face coverings at all times and perform hand hygiene between interactions with each table

- Staff shall avoid touching items that have been placed on the table and the table must be cleared off by a dedicated staff member once all guests have left

- The business may not operate if personal protective equipment, EPA-approved disinfectants and sanitizers, soap and other necessary cleaning supplied are not available

- Employees must be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 or exposures to an individual with COVID-19 prior to each shift and employees with symptoms or exposure shall not be allowed to work. Logs must also be kept and available for inspection by the local health officer

- No dart/pool leagues, dances, events or karaoke may take place at the businesses

- and signage must be maintained to discourage people who are ill from entering the building and still will prevent people who are symptomatic with a COVID-19 illness from entering the building.

Under the order forbidding gatherings of 10 or more people, the following variances are now in place:

- religious organizations and funeral homes may allow gatherings as long as six-foot distance is maintained between individual household groups at all times

- the number of people in a confined area at any time must be limited to allow for adequate distancing between households

- Close contact between members of different households is prohibited before, during and after the meeting or service

- Reading materials, collection plates and communion trays must be passed out to individual attendees by staff rather than passed between attendees

- Religious organization leaders and staff shall be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 or exposure to a person with confirmed COVID-19 during the previous 14 days. Staff with symptoms of illness or known exposure to a person with COVID-19 infection within the previous 14 days shall not participate in the service.