Geary County officials have unveiled a four-phase plan for reopening the economy and activities once the Governor's Stay at Home order ends Sunday night.
Health Officer Tammy Von Busch said the four phases will gradually increase the number of people that are allowed in facilities. The first one will allow a maximum of 10 people at gatherings. "The next one will allow 30, phase three will allow 90 and then phase four will be to open up like normal."
Von Busch credited the public for flattening the curve of the coronavirus and maintaining the health of the community. She said during the next step we need to be aware the risk is still present and social distancing, cough etiquette and avoid activities that put people at increased risk of contracting the spreading the disease.
Von Busch encouraged businesses to allow telehealth, and members of the community to wear masks. She noted in Phase one, "gyms and fitness centers, beauty and barbershops, tatoo parlors and other personal service businesses will remain closed. Bars and nightclubs will remain closed for curbside and carryout service. theaters, other indoor leisure activities, swimming pools, playground equipment, summer camps, organized sports facilities, fairs, festivals, carnivals, parades, commencements and graduation will remain closed. Self service food and beverages will not be allowed. " Phase one will run until May 18th.
Von Busch noted that under the Governor's direction the activities and number of gatherings will gradually increase as she phases in new plans.
Von Busch noted that each phase is intended to cover 14 days but she guessed the plan it could be modified, depending on how the situation progresses.
In phase one restaurants will be able to reopen. explained Von Busch. "We're going to allow the restaurants to open in compliance with the governor's orders. They need to maintain the six-foot distancing, no more than 10 in a group of people that come in, the governor's order states that they have to have some kind of a physical barrier. So they're going to have to come up with something, obviously booths." The Health officer added, "Tables they're going to have to be sure that they've got enough distance and some way of preventing people from coming in contact with each other."
Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said the Emergency Operations Center was activated for COVID-19 for the first time back on March 13th. It consists of representatives law enforcement, fire department, emergency management and the health department with support from other agencies and departments. "I want to thank all these agencies and personnel for working together as we come up with a plan to continue to keep all of our citizens safe as we tackle the coronavirus as a unified group."
Berges said it has not been the decisions of one individual department but was a joint effort in determining what was best for local citizens. "Personal safety along with employee safety is our priority as we move forward."
Berges noted in recent weeks there have been communications with Pottawatomie and Riley County EOC staff. We have attempted to have all three plans somewhat mirror each other as many of our local citizens travel to and / or work in either Riley or Pottawatomie County." Berges added, By following the Governor's order and the new Geary County order as long as we can keep the virus from spreading locally in a couple of weeks we can move to even less restrictions."