Mayor Ken McClure and Springfield-Greene County Health Department Director Clay Goddard announced a new order today lessening restrictions of business and community activities. The order is effective May 23-June 22, however, it will be reviewed prior to June 14, when it could change, if the City is ready to move into another phase.

The City’s Road to Recovery Plan document maps out the next few phases, based on data gathered throughout the phase.

The plan maps out the area’s next phases in reopening the local economy. The individual components and phases of the plan are subject to change based on local and national COVID-19 data as well as by measures tracked on the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard.

Phase 2 includes a 25% occupancy limitation for restaurants, bars, nightclubs, tap rooms, entertainment venues and museums based on square footage of the area. Be sure to read the plan for specific guidance for each facility.

For example: A 10,000 square-foot church will determine their allowed occupancy by calculating 10,000 square feet divided by 30 times .25 (83 people). This is in lieu of starting the calculation using the square footage of just the sanctuary. This change can be applied across the board to all facilities and outdoor areas identified in our order and Road to Recovery Plan.

The full order is located on the City’s website, along with a Road to Recovery Plan document that maps out projected phases 3 and 4. Future orders may not match projections exactly, so citizens and business owners are recommended to watch for future updates online and in future news briefings. The intent of the Road to Recovery orders is to reopen the local economy safely and in a measured approach.

This is Phase 2 in a multi-phased approach in which the community will open further as progress in made. The Road to Recovery orders still require businesses and organizations to adhere to social distancing to the greatest degree possible and to cleaning guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including, but not limited to when customers are standing in line (should be 6 feet apart) or when individuals, including employees, are using shared indoor or outdoor spaces.

Dining/Restaurants

• For dining establishments, the maximum number of customers allowed is limited to 35 or the result of the total square footage of the restaurant divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater. Tables should be spaced 6 feet apart.
• For dining establishments that offer outdoor seating, the maximum number of customers allowed in the outdoor dining area is limited to 35 or the result of the total square footage of the outdoor area divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater.

Example: 2,500 total square feet / 30 X .25 = 20 people.

Counter seating and self-service buffets are not permitted.

Bars, nightclubs and tap rooms

Bars, nightclubs and tap rooms can open at any one time for a particular facility (building, not room) with physical distancing requirements met, subject to the following:

• The maximum number of customers and/or patrons allowed in the facility shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the facility divided by 30 times 25%, or 25% of the total occupancy of fixed seating in a spectator area, whichever is greater, AND
• The maximum number of customers allowed in any outdoor space or area shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the space or area divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater.

Group entertainment

Businesses that bring groups of people together to share the same space, indoors or outdoors, in close physical proximity for a period of time for a particular facility (building, not room) may open with physical distancing requirements met, subject to the following:

• The maximum number of customers and/or patrons allowed in the facility shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the facility divided by 30 times 25%, or 25% of the total occupancy of fixed seating in a spectator area, AND
• The maximum number of customers allowed in any outdoor space or area shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the space or area divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater.

Sports and swimming pools

Sports courts/fields for non-contact sports, non-contact practices for contact sports provided that contact sports are prohibited, playgrounds and swimming pools may operate with physical distancing requirements met, subject to the following:

• The maximum number of customers and/or patrons allowed in the facility shall be limited to the result of the total square feet of the fixed seating spectator area divided by 30 times 25%, AND
• No more than 25 people in coordinated stable, separated groups which do not mix with each other.
• Swimming pool occupancy is limited to 25% of the bather load of the pool.

Personal care services

Personal care services can operate with the occupancy limitation based on square footage. The occupancy limitation includes employees, and masks are required on the part of the patron and the service provider if the distance between them during the service is less than 6 feet.

The formula to determine occupancy is:

The result of the total square feet of that part of the building devoted to the subject business divided by 30 times 25% for locations with a square footage less than 10,000 square feet = Maximum number of people allowed.

Example: 2,500 total square feet/30 x 25% = 20 people. 

Businesses with a square footage of 10,000 square feet or more should divide the square feet of that part of the building devoted to the subject business by 30 times 10% = Maximum number of people allowed.

Gyms and fitness centers

• The maximum number of customers and/or patrons allowed in a facility shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the facility divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater, AND
• The maximum number of customers allowed in any outdoor space or area shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the space or area divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater.
• Fitness classes may convene with physical distancing requirements met, given the maximum number of customers allowed in the facility shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the facility divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater.

Child care programs and day camps

Childcare programs must follow the social distancing provisions; must be carried out in stable groups, preferably with 25 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 25 or fewer children are in the same group each day); children must not change from one group to another; and if more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group must be in a separate room. Groups must not mix with each other; and childcare providers must remain solely with one group of children.

Religious services

• The maximum number of persons allowed at any one time for a particular facility shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the facility divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater, AND
• The maximum number of persons allowed in any outdoor space or area shall be limited to 35 or the result of the total square feet of the space or area divided by 30 times 25%, whichever is greater.

Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other similar religious facilities of any faith (“religious facilities”) may conduct “drive-in” services, at which participants gather in their vehicles and participate in the service together by remote means provided that:

• Motor vehicles are parked in every other parking spot or at least 9 feet apart.
• Participants do not interact physically with clergy, staff, or participants in other vehicles.
• No one exits a vehicle at any time while at the service.
• Participants, clergy and staff remain at least 6 feet apart from one another at all times, except participants that are part of the same household.
• Restrooms are closed except for emergencies.

Public gatherings

No special events of more than 50 people are allowed on City-owned property, public right-of-way, public streets, public buildings or other City facilities requiring a permit per city code.

All residents should encourage senior citizens and vulnerable populations should stay at home. Working from home, if possible, is also encouraged. Physical distancing, increased cleaning and hand hygiene are also encouraged. Wearing masks is encouraged during travel and monitoring upon return from non high-risk travel. Quarantine is encouraged upon return from high-risk travel.

The City will be under Phase 2 through June 22, but that may be shortened if the Mayor decided to amend or replace that order to move to Phase 3. The goal of the phased recovery plan is to reopen the community as quickly and safely as possible, while monitoring the spread of disease and taking action to keep the spread of disease to an acceptable level.

The Road to Recovery Plan is a “living” document that serves as a framework for Mayor Ken McClure’s future reopening orders. The plan allows community members and organizations to have a firmer understanding of what recovery looks like, when the spread of the disease is controlled and healthcare, public health and testing capabilities are strong.

Within this framework, community leaders will make decisions approximately every three weeks on whether the community is ready and prepared to take the step into the next phase or if it is prudent to remain in the current phase. Phases are fluid and based on dashboard indicators and state orders. To a large extent, the virus will dictate the timeline of recovery.

This dashboard covers five areas, including:

• detailed case information, including total and daily cases based on a person’s onset of symptoms and active, deceased and resolved cases.
• hospital capability, which is based on hospital staffing, supplies and space available to respond to COVID-19.
• public health capability, which is based on the capability to conduct epidemiological interviews and contact tracing, and risk pertaining to unmitigated community exposure for COVID-19.
• testing capability, which measures the estimated community testing capability for COVID-19. The index is based on the available testing and result turnaround time.
• regional data information, which measures the estimated public health capability and testing capability for surrounding counties.