Flaggs has a plan to re-open businesses in Vicksburg

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. rolled out proposed plans to re-open some businesses in a limited way during his Q&A session Wednesday evening.

The plans are dependent on Gov. Tate Reeves lifting the shelter-in-place order on April 27, and allowing non-essential businesses to re-open.

Flaggs plan includes three phases, and it is not set in stone at this time.

First on Flagg’s list of phase 1 re-opening is restaurants. He proposed the following limitations:

• Screen and evaluate customers and professionals who exhibit signs of illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath;
• All menus, table coverings and eating utensils should be disposable.
• There shall not be any condiments on the table, but condiments shall be provided upon request and only in disposable packets or containers.
• There shall not be open seating, but seating shall be by a host/hostess or by reservation. There shall be no more than 8 people at a table at a time. Restaurants should keep a daily log of names and contact information of customers in the event there is a positive case and persons need to be notified.
• All employees must wear a mask at all times.
• There shall not be more than 2 people in the restroom at a time and the restroom shall be disinfected hourly.
• Tables and chairs shall be disinfected after each party leaves the restaurant and before the next party is seated. Tables shall be placed six feet apart to the extent possible.

Barber shops and beauty salons in addition to a small group of other personal services are also on the mayor’s phase 1 list. He proposed the following limitations:

• Screen and evaluate customers and professionals who exhibit signs of illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath;
• Require professionals who exhibit signs of illness to not report to work or to seek medical attention;
• Prohibit gatherings of customers and professionals during working hours;
• All customers and professionals must wear a mask at all times
• All professionals must wear an apron, smock or cape over their clothes at all times. The apron, smock or cape should be changed between customers.
• Customers must wash or sanitize hands upon entering the business.
• Customers must wait in their car or outside until the professional is ready for them. There should not be any inside waiting areas.
• If salon chairs cannot be spaced 6 feet apart, professionals should stagger scheduling customers so that customers never sit closer than 6 feet to each other.
• Professionals should disinfect all non-porous implements prior to each use and follow infection control procedures mandated by respective licensing boards.
• Professionals should clean and disinfect all chairs, headrests, doorknobs, counter tops, bathrooms, between customers.
• Massage and nail professionals should wear new gloves for each customer.
• Each professional should keep a daily log of customers with contact information.
• There should not be any walk-in customers without an appointment.
• To the extent possible, suspend the use of Personal Identification Numbers pads, PIN entry devices, electronic signature capture, and other credit card receipt signature requirements to the extent such suspension is permitted by agreements with credit card companies and credit agencies.
• No more than 10 persons should be inside the business at any one time.
• Social Distancing should be practiced.
• Hours of operation should be between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

These proposals are subject to revision before being finalized.