Vicksburg Safe Return order, June 1 to June 15, 2020 – full text

PROCLAMATION REGARDING THE RE-OPENING OF VICKSBURG WHILE MINIMIZING THE RISK OF INFECTION AND TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 EFFECTIVE MONDAY JUNE 1, 2020 AT 8:00 A.M UNTIL JUNE 15, 2020 AT 8:00 A.M.

WHEREAS, pursuant to §§45-17-1 through 45-17-13, and §33-15-17 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, the Mayor is authorized to proclaim that a Civil Emergency exists defined as any natural disaster or man-made calamity resulting in the death or injury of persons to such an extent that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare; and

WHEREAS, §21-19-3 gives municipalities the authority to make regulations to prevent the spreading of contagious or infectious diseases and to make quarantine laws for that purpose; and

WHEREAS, §33-15-17 authorizes the Mayor to control or restrict egress, ingress and movement within the local emergency area necessary to facilitate the protection of life and property; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to these laws, the Mayor is authorized to issue such orders as he deems necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Vicksburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has spread across this nation is a worldwide pandemic and as of May 29, 2020, the Mississippi Department of Health has reported 14,790 positive confirmed cases and 710 deaths in Mississippi, 8 of which were in Warren County; and

WHEREAS, previous emergency orders have required that persons stay at home and that certain businesses be closed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Mississippi has adopted a Safe Return Order in an effort to continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while allowing the businesses to open and persons to return to work; and

WHEREAS, it is likewise necessary for Vicksburg businesses to safely open and Vicksburg citizens to safely return to work.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICKSBURG pursuant to §§45-17-1 through 45-17-13, §21-19-3 and §33-15-17 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, the following regulations apply:

Safe Return Order

1. Duration: This Safe Return Order to restart the economy and resume community activities safely shall be effective at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2020, and shall remain in full force and effect until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2020, unless rescinded, modified or extended.
2. Safer at Home: All vulnerable individuals, including all elderly individuals (age 65 or older per CDC guidelines) and individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune systems are compromised as such by chemotherapy for cancer or any other condition requiring such therapy, are strongly encouraged to stay at home as much as possible; to maintain appropriate distance from any member of the household who has been out of the residence in the previous 14 days; and, if leaving the home, to implement social distancing and to practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.
3. Group Gatherings (Social Distancing IS NOT Possible): Public and private social gatherings and recreational activities shall be limited to groups of no more than 20 people in a single indoor space or groups of no more than 50 people in an outdoor space where individuals are in close proximity (less than 6 feet) to each other.
4. Group Gatherings (Social Distancing IS Possible): Except as otherwise provided, public and private social gatherings and recreational activities shall be limited to groups of no more than 50 people in a single indoor space or groups of no more than 100 people in an outdoor space where individuals are able to maintain a minimum of 6 feet separation.
5. Travel: All travel may resume. Non-essential business travel should be minimized, and for any such travel individuals should adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
6. Business Operations: All businesses and non-profit entities operating within the City of Vicksburg may re-open/remain open subject to the following limitations to minimize person to person interactions and associated risk of transmission of COVID-19:
   1. Businesses and non-profits are encouraged to continue utilizing work from home or other telework procedures.
   2. Businesses and non-profit entities shall make reasonable, good-faith efforts to comply with the Mississippi State Department of Health’s and CDC’s regulations and guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, social distancing, sending sick employees home and actively encouraging sick employees to stay home, separating and sending home employees who appear to have respiratory illness symptoms, adopting and enforcing regular and proper handwashing and personal hygiene protocols and daily screening of employees and volunteers for COVID-19 related symptoms before beginning shift.
   3. All employees shall be required to report any symptoms of COVID-19 to their supervisor, and any employee who exhibits any of the symptoms of COVID-19 during their shift shall be sent home immediately and advised to consult with their physician.
   4. Retail businesses, convenience stores, cigar shops and liquor stores  shall adopt reasonable, good-faith measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including but not limited to, limiting the number of customers in their stores at one time to no greater than 50% of store capacity in order to ensure compliance with social distancing protocols, and frequent cleaning of high-contact surfaces (such as retail counters, door handles, credit card machines). All of these  businesses are encouraged to make hand sanitizer available to their customers upon entry of their stores.
   5. To the extent possible, all common areas where employees or customers are likely to congregate and interact shall be closed or strict social distancing protocols should be enforced (maintaining a minimum of 6 feet distance between individuals and no gatherings in groups of more than 20 people).
   6. Restaurants and bars shall continue to offer in-house (indoor or outdoor) dining pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 5, 2020.
   7. Bars that do not serve food are allowed to re-open subject to the limitations on restaurants and bars that serve food including limiting the number of customers to 50% of maximum capacity and setting hours of operation to close to the public no later than 10:00 p.m.
   8. Restaurants and bars are allowed to have live music. There shall be a minimum of 12 feet of separation between the musicians and restaurant/bar customers. It shall be the responsibility of the restaurant and/or bar to maintain social distancing between customers while live music is being performed.
   9. Salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, and other personal care and personal grooming facilities shall continue to operate pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 11, 2020.
   10. Tattoo parlors (including body piercing) shall continue to operate pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 15, 2020.
   11. Fitness centers and exercise gyms shall continue to operate pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 11, 2020.
   12. Dance studios shall continue to operate pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 15, 2020.
   13. Libraries and museums shall operate pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective June 1, 2020.
   14. Movie theaters and auditoriums shall operate pursuant to the limitations in the Proclamation effective June 1, 2020.
7. Outdoor Recreational Activities: Except as otherwise provided herein, outdoor recreational activities are permitted, as follows:
   1. Where possible, individuals shall maintain social distancing of a minimum of six feet separation between each individual.
   2. Group gatherings/activities shall be limited pursuant to Paragraphs I(c) and (d) of this Proclamation.
   3. Pools may continue to be open to the public between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. subject to group gathering limitations herein and any limitations or restrictions as may be imposed by local authorities.
   4. Outdoor sports complexes and multi-field facilities may operate subject to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 7, 2020 and June 1, 2020.
   5. Outdoor practices may continue, subject to the rules and regulations of the governing athletic associations, and in accordance with the limitations of subsections (i) and (ii) above.
   6. Outdoor places of amusement and recreation, including amusement parks and rides, waterparks, go-cart tracks, mini golf and playgrounds may continue to be open to the public subject to the limitations in the Proclamation effective May 25, 2020.
8. Indoor Recreational and Places of Amusement: Except as otherwise provided herein, indoor places of amusement, including children’s party and play facilities, playgrounds, trampoline facilities, bowling alleys, roller skating rinks, arcades, and social clubs (collectively “indoor places of amusement”) may open subject to the following limitations:
   1. Prior to resuming operations, the indoor place of amusement, including areas not open to the public, shall be deep cleaned, disinfected and sanitized.
   2. Indoor places of amusement shall make reasonable, good-faith efforts to comply with the Mississippi State Department of Health’s and CDC’s regulations and guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, social distancing, sending sick employees home and actively encouraging sick employees to stay home, separating and sending home employees who appear to have respiratory illness symptoms, adopting and enforcing regular and proper handwashing and personal hygiene protocols and daily screening of employees and volunteers for COVID-19 related symptoms before beginning shift.
   3. Indoor places of amusement shall conduct a daily screening of all employees at the beginning of their shift. Such daily screening shall include the following questions, and any employee answering any question in the affirmative shall be sent home:
      1. Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
      2. Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
      3. Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
      4. Have you had new loss of taste or smell?
      5. Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
   4. All employees shall be required to report any symptoms of COVID-19 to their supervisor, and any employee who exhibits any of the symptoms of COVID-19 during their shift shall be sent home immediately and advised to consult with their physician.
   5. All employees shall be provided training regarding minimizing the spread of COVID-19, including reinforcement of proper sanitation, hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, and using PPE.
   6. Break rooms shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and the number of employees in the break room shall be limited to allow for strict social distancing (a minimum of six feet between employees and no gathering of more than ten employees).
   7. Appropriate PPE shall be worn by all employees based on their duties and responsibilities and in adherence to state and local regulations and guidelines. Every employee who comes into direct contact with customers shall be provided a face covering, covering the nose and mouth, and shall be required to wear the face covering while on duty. Such face coverings shall be cleaned or changed at least daily.
   8. Signage shall be posted at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or other symptom of COVID-19 is permitted in the indoor place of amusement.
   9. Customers shall be screened for illness prior to their entry into the indoor place of amusement.
   10. The number of customers in the indoor place of amusement at one time shall be no greater than 50% of maximum capacity to ensure compliance with social distancing protocols.
   11. Hand sanitizer shall be available to their customers at all points of entry and exit and throughout the indoor place of amusement.
   12. All equipment, machines and games shall be rearranged to ensure at least six feet of separation between customers.
   13. Roller skates, bowling balls and shoes, laser tag guns, equipment, including trampolines, and any other item used by customers shall be sanitized and disinfected after each use.
   14. All high-touch areas, including all door handles shall be sanitized, at a minimum, once every two hours.
   15. Group gatherings, including special event parties, shall be limited to a maximum of 20 customers.
   16. The indoor place of amusement, including all equipment, machines and games, shall be wiped down, cleaned and sanitized daily.
9. Reception halls and conference centers: Reception halls and conference centers shall be permitted to re-open subject to the following limitations:
   1. The number of guests in the reception hall or conference center shall be no greater than 25% of maximum seating capacity.
   2. All events must be seated. Tables shall be arranged to ensure a minimum of 6 feet of separation between tables. Seating at each table shall be limited to a maximum of 6 guests.
   3. Food services are subject to the limitations placed on restaurants pursuant to previous Proclamations.
10. Religious Services: Places of worship are encouraged to limit attendees to 50% of capacity. All persons present are encouraged to wear masks. It is additionally recommended that a list of all attendees be kept. At all times, social distancing and sanitizing or washing hands should be practiced. Curbside church or communion services where attendees remain in their vehicles are encouraged along with live-stream, online broadcast or other social media platforms for viewing services.
11. Funeral services: Funeral services are recommended to be held outside at grave side with a limit of 50 persons. All persons present are encouraged to wear masks. It is additionally recommended that a list of all attendees be kept. At all times, social distancing and sanitizing or washing hands should be practiced. Funeral services inside shall be limited to 50% capacity, and social distancing should be practiced. Regardless of the location, all funeral services shall be at 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. through June 15, 2020. There shall not be any repast or other meal following the funeral with more than 10 persons.
12. Juvenile curfew – The Juvenile Curfew will remain in place as set forth in the Proclamation effective April 27, 2020.

Violations of this EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION will be subject to misdemeanor prosecution pursuant to Sec. 45-17-9 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, Sec. 33-15-7 and Sec. 1-9 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Vicksburg, including a fine of up to $1,000.00 and 90 days in jail.

THIS PROCLAMATION SHALL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 1, 2020 AT 8:00 A.M.  AND SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL 8:00 A.M. ON JUNE 15, 2020 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED HEREIN OR EXTENDED, MODIFIED OR REPEALED BY A SUBSEQUENT PROCLAMATION.

SO RESOLVED this the ____ day of May 2020.

____________________________

GEORGE FLAGGS, JR., MAYOR

CITY OF VICKSBURG, MS

ATTEST:

_____________________

WALTER W. OSBORNE, JR.

CITY CLERK