Coronavirus rebound: What you can and can’t do. Masks, gatherings, haircuts and more
Idaho has begun what could be a long, slow process of reopening after much of the state was shut down as COVID-19 spread.
But what does that mean to you? Do you have to wear a mask to the store? Can you gather in groups? When can you dine inside a restaurant? What do you need to know to be safe?
Here’s a Q&A based on questions asked of us in recent days.
When can I eat in a restaurant again?
Idaho is reopening in four stages set by Gov. Brad Little. As of last Friday, May 1, we’re in Stage 1. You’re still expected to minimize nonessential travel. Your place of worship can reopen if it follows strict social distancing guidelines. You are urged to continue telework whenever possible.
Stage 1 is tentatively planned to end Friday, May 15, if certain criteria are met. Some requirements for moving on to Stage 2 include a downward trend of COVID-like cases and a robust testing program for health care workers, according to the plan released by Little last week.
When Idaho moves to the second stage, restaurant dining rooms can open again “once their plans have been submitted for approval by local public health districts.” Your favorite dine-in restaurant could reopen as soon as Saturday, May 16. Many restaurants are making reopening plans now.
Bars cannot open until Stage 4, tentatively set for June 13.
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Do I really have to wear a mask?
Legally? No.
Should you? It’s highly recommended by everyone from the state of Idaho to President Donald Trump to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts say masks can help to slow the spread of the virus, even if they aren’t 100% effective.
According to the CDC, the best masks:
- Are comfortable but fit snugly against your face.
- Can be secured with ties or ear hooks.
- Allow you to breath without any sort of restriction.
- Include multiple layers of fabric but can still be laundered.
- Are worn where social distancing measures are hard to maintain, such as grocery stores.
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When can we gather again?
In Stage 1, at least through May 15, you and others should avoid both public and private gatherings, including funerals, meetings and parties. Small gatherings, up to nine people, will be OK in Stage 2, which tentatively begins Saturday, May 16, as long as people follow appropriate social distancing measures and take other health precautions.
Future stages allow for bigger gatherings. In Stage 3, which is tentatively scheduled to start May 30, gatherings of up to 50 people are acceptable with appropriate distancing. Stage 4 — tentatively scheduled to start June 13 — allows groups of more than 50 people as long as everyone can social distance.
Those are state requirements. Some localities could set their own limits. In Boise, for instance, Mayor Lauren McLean has a staged plan similar to Little’s and the authority to set her own stage dates, but she has given no indication yet that she will.
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I am over 60. Can I go out?
Yes, but you may want to be careful. State guidelines say that vulnerable people should stay home. They do not specify what makes a person vulnerable, but the CDC says older adults, 65 years and older, and people with serious underlying medical conditions, are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
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What is legally required of me?
In terms of Gov. Little’s Stay Healthy order, not much for individuals. Businesses face more burdens.
Some parts of the order say people “shall” do something, while others say “should.” The shalls are required under authority granted by state law. The shoulds are recommendations.
For individuals
Here are the shalls, with violations considered misdemeanors punishable by up to six months in a county jail and a $1,000 fine:
- Do not enter the state if you have tested positive for COVID-19, if you are exhibiting symptoms or if you’re presumptively diagnosed with it, unless you’re coming for medical care or are an Idaho resident.
Self-quarantine for 14 days if you enter the state, or for your entire stay if less than 14 days, unless you are performing what the state deems an essential function.
- Maintain 6 feet of physical distancing between yourself and other people whenever possible.
Here are the shoulds:
- Self-isolate if you are particularly vulnerable.
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds as often as possible.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
- Stay home if sick.
- Wear a face mask.
- Regularly clean things you touch a lot.
For employers
Employers have additional guidelines. Here’s what Section 7C of Little’s “Stay Healthy” order says:
“Employers shall:
“Develop and implement measures to ensure employees and customers are maintaining at least 6-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible;
“Provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene for employees, vendors, and patrons;
“Frequently disinfect commonly touched and high-traffic areas and regularly clean those areas.
“Employers should:
“Identify how personal use items such as masks, face coverings, and gloves may be required by employees, vendors, and/or patrons;
“Provide services while limiting close interactions with patrons;
“Identify strategies for addressing ill employees, which should include requiring COVID-19 positive employees to stay at home while infectious, and may include keeping employees who were directly exposed to the COVID-19 positive employee away from the workplace, and the closure of the business until the location can be properly disinfected;
“On a case-by-case basis, include other practices appropriate for specific types of businesses such as screening of employees for illness and exposures upon work entry, requiring non-cash transactions, etc.;
“Implement additional protocols established in the Governor’s Guidelines for Opening up Idaho and the business-specific protocols published at https://rebound.idaho.gov/.”
Section 3 of the order sets mandatory closure requirements for certain businesses in Stage 1:
“The following businesses within the state of Idaho are required to remain closed except to perform minimum basic operations, as defined in Section 6:
“Bars and nightclubs;
“Restaurant dining rooms (takeout and delivery continue to be allowed);
“Indoor gyms and recreation facilities;
“Close contact services (e.g. hair salons, nail salons, massage parlors, cosmetic, etc.);
“Large venues (e.g. movie theaters, concert venues, sporting venues, etc.).”
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Why are businesses being allowed to violate Gov. Brad Little’s restrictions?
Enforcement of the governor’s orders has been the exception, not the rule. Instead, Little and local officials have mostly relied on educating those who violate orders and using what Little called “peer pressure” to get people to follow them.
Nonetheless, Little’s Stage 1 order says: “The violation of any mandatory provision of this order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. Violation of or failure to comply with this order may constitute a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both pursuant to Idaho Code § 56-1003(7)(c). The governor and director (of the Department of Health and Welfare) requests that the sheriffs and chiefs of police in the state of Idaho, and Idaho State Police ensure compliance with and enforce this order.”
On Wednesday, Little said on Boise State Public Radio’s “Idaho Matters” program that Idaho will consider revoking state-issued licenses for businesses that don’t follow the mandatory portions of his plans. That could include professional licenses, like cosmetology licenses, or liquor licenses.
He said the vast majority of people had made “incredible sacrifices” since the first orders were put in place and that it wasn’t fair for some businesses to violate orders and have the chance to profit from violations.
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Why did Stage 1 open day care centers and youth activities but not schools?
The governor allowed organized youth activities, such as sports leagues, and day care centers to reopen in Stage 1, which began Friday, May 1. But he deferred to the State Board of Education on rules for schools.
The board said in April that schools could reopen this spring if they still wished to late in the semester, but it changed those guidelines this week in a way that would make it difficult for most large districts to reopen.
It is up to local districts and schools to make the final decision, and they must follow specific criteria:
- Statewide stay-home orders must have been lifted (they ended April 30), and schools must have a social distancing plan in place and approved by the local health district.
- Statewide reopening criteria must have been met as defined by rebound.idaho.gov, the state’s webpage dedicated to reopening.
- A re-entry plan must be approved by the local school board that identifies minimum protocols for cleaning, planning for vulnerable staff and students, a communication plan for parents, an absenteeism plan for students whose parents are not comfortable with them returning to schools, and a point of contact for each school district to collaborate with public health officials.
- Schools must have a plan in place for an immediate closure if any students or faculty are diagnosed with COVID-19, which much be approved by the health district.
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When will beauty salons be allowed to open?
You can get haircuts and trimmed nails when salons open in Stage 2, tentatively scheduled to start May 16. The businesses must meet protocols that include physical distancing, personal protections and adequate sanitation.
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Will Idaho state campgrounds be open for Memorial Day weekend?
Nicole Blanchard, the Statesman’s outdoors reporter, said they will not be open for the May 25 long weekend.
As Blanchard reported, the campgrounds are scheduled to reopen May 30 with some restrictions, including some changed hours. Those who booked a campsite from May 15 (when Idaho State Parks and Recreation originally planned to open campgrounds) and May 29 will receive refunds.
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Are HOA pools opening for the season?
That is up to whoever operates the homeowners’ association pool. Group size limitations would apply: no groups now, up to 9 people in Stage 2 (tentatively starting May 16), up to 50 people in Stage 3 (tentatively starting May 30), larger groups in Stage 4 as long as social distancing is maintained.
In Boise, city pools will not open this summer, which officials say is both because of physical distancing rules and because of cost evaluations based on a shorter season.
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When does the 6-foot bubble go away?
In the best-case scenario, on June 26, the target date for the end of Stage 4.
That timeline is heavily dependent on the number of cases going down. The state is re-evaluating stages every two weeks to see if it is feasible to advance to the next stage. Idaho has been in Stage 1 since last Friday, May 1.
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What do I do if I leave the state?
Different states have different guidelines, so check before you travel.
When you return home, you must self-quarantine for 14 days. That directive applies in both Stages 1 and 2. It is lifted for the first time in Stage 3, which could begin as soon as May 30.
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 11:06 AM.
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