New Rules New Yorkers Must Follow During Outdoor Entertainment
New York officials released a number of new guidelines you must follow.
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Low-risk outdoor arts and entertainment include outdoor zoos, botanical gardens, nature parks, grounds of historic sites and cultural institutions, outdoor museums, outdoor agritourism, local agricultural demonstrations and exhibitions; and other similar institutions/activities.
Below is new COVID-19 guidelines issued by the state for what's considered "Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment"
Physical Distancing
- Limit workforce and patron/visitor presence to no more than 33% of the maximum occupancy for a particular area at any given time, inclusive of patrons/visitors, who must only be permitted entry into the institution if they wear an acceptable face covering, provided that they are over age 2 and able to medically tolerate one.
- Ensure limited indoor capacity to accommodate patrons/visitors who may need to enter/exit through indoor space to access the outdoor arts/ entertainment space, restroom(s), payment locations, or in an emergency, and allow such ingress/egress in a socially distant manner.
- Ensure a distance of at least 6 ft. is maintained among individuals, except for members of the same household or party, at all times, unless safety or the core activity requires a shorter distance (e.g. operating cash registers), in which case all individuals must wear face coverings.
- Ensure that employees wear face coverings any time they interact with patrons/visitors, and that all individuals, including employees and patrons/ visitors, wear face coverings any time they ‘re within 6 ft. of another person.
- For exhibits in a small area, calculate and enforce maximum occupancy limits and social distancing. Monitor/control flow of traffic into the site and exhibits to adhere to capacity requirements, and enhance employee/security presence to enforce limitations on gathering size, as necessary.
- Only permit group tours for members of the same household or party and with a maximum capacity under social gathering requirements at the time, including employees and patrons/visitors.
- Close high-risk interactive exhibits (e.g. those requiring patrons/visitors to touch or wear objects).
- Close children’s play areas or exhibits with play equipment, unless such areas/exhibits can be cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized between each child using the area/equipment who is not a member of the same household or party.
- Move any picnic areas and benches 6 ft. apart or close them if they can’t be moved.
- Operate in accordance with industry-specific DOH guidelines where appropriate
Protective Equipment
- Ensure patrons/visitors are only permitted entry into the institution if they wear an acceptable face covering; provided they are over age 2 and able to medically tolerate one.
- Ensure patrons/visitors wear face coverings whenever they are in common areas or scenarios where it may be difficult to maintain 6 ft. of distance (e.g. entering/ leaving the facility, traversing an enclosed small exhibit, interacting with employees) and whenever they are within 6 ft. of individuals who are not members of their household or party.
- Ensure that any time employees come within six feet of another person, acceptable face coverings are worn. Employees must be prepared to don a face covering if another person unexpectedly comes within 6 ft. Employees also must wear face coverings any time they interact with patrons/visitors.
- Provide employees with an acceptable face covering at no-cost to the employee and have an adequate supply of coverings in case of need for replacement.
- Acceptable face coverings include but are not limited to cloth (e.g. homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana), surgical masks, and face shields. Clean, replace, and prohibit sharing of face coverings. Consult CDC guidance for information on PPE, as well as instructions on use and cleaning.
- Limit the sharing of objects among employees, as well as the touching of shared surfaces; or, require employees to wear gloves (trade-appropriate or medical) when in contact with shared objects or frequently touched surfaces; or, require employees to perform hand hygiene before and after contact.
Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection
- Adhere to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) and maintain logs on-site that document date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection.
- Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations on-site, including handwashing with soap, running warm water, and disposable paper towels, as well as an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not available/practical.
- Make hand sanitizer available throughout common areas (e.g. near exhibits).
- Conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of the site and more frequent cleaning and disinfection for high-risk areas used by many individuals and for frequently touched areas. Use Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) products identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as effective against COVID-19.
- Discontinue headsets/equipment loaned/rented to patrons/visitors unless they can be properly disinfected after each use.
- If single-use maps are not provided, ensure they are cleaned and disinfected after every use.
- Provide for cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas in the event an individual is confirmed to have COVID19, with such cleaning and disinfection to include, at a minimum, all heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces (e.g. badge scanners, restrooms, handrails, door handles, vending machines, communal coffee stations). Follow CDC guidelines on cleaning your facility after a suspected or confirmed case
Communication
- Affirm you have reviewed and understand the state-issued industry guidelines, and that you will implement them.
- Post signage throughout the location to remind personnel and patrons/visitors to adhere to proper hygiene, social distancing rules, appropriate use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfection protocols.
- Conspicuously post completed safety plans on-site.
Screening
- Implement mandatory daily health screenings for employees and, where practicable, contractors and vendors (but do not mandate for patrons/visitors or delivery personnel), including an assessment (e.g. questionnaire, temperature check) asking about (1) COVID-19 symptoms in past 14 days, (2) positive COVID19 test in past 14 days, and/or (3) close or proximate contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in past 14 days. Responses must be reviewed and documented daily.
- Immediately notify the state and local health department upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 test results.
- Designate a site safety monitor whose responsibilities include continuous compliance with all aspects of the site safety plan.