Schools should allow students to eat lunch in their classrooms; diner should use disposable menus and plates; businesses should close break rooms – these are a few CDC recommendations to safely reopen schools, restaurants, and businesses, as some states are looking to gradually ease some restrictions.
The new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been sent to Washington. However, they still have to be reviewed by the Trump administration before revealing them to the public.
Some recommendations were acquired from a federal official who was not authorized to release them publicly.
The CDC compiles new guidance for at least seven types of organizations, which include schools, workplaces, restaurants/bars, camps, childcare centers, religious facilities, and mass transit systems.
State and local officials will be adopting the new recommendations and enforcing them. Some state governments have already set a few rules for businesses. For instance, Michigan requires businesses to limit the number of customers in a store in a given time.
On Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that businesses that are planning to reopen must submit a plan to the state officials on how they will be doing that.
“The new guidance could give state officials cover if their requirements for businesses are challenged in the courts,” said Lindsay Wiley, a public health law expert.
“It allows the state to say ‘well the CDC said to do it this way,’ and the judge then is very happy to say ‘well yes you consulted CDC and that’s the appropriate body,’ and then uphold the restrictions and say they’re appropriately evidence-based,” she added.
“Schools should space desks six feet apart, nix any field trips and school assemblies, and have students eat lunch in their classrooms instead of the cafeteria,” according to new CDC recommendations.
The health organization says churches should hold services through video streaming or at drive-in or outdoor venues as much as possible.
For restaurants/bars, the CDC advises using throwaway menus, single-service condiments, and disposable forks, knives, spoons, and dishes.
Some trade groups have come up with their own recommendations. For instance, last week, the National Restaurant Association said restaurants should clean and sanitize reusable menus, while the CDC recommends using disposable menus.
Some companies with strong remote work capabilities have already started drawing up plans that go beyond the CDC’s recommendations, according to Bhushan Sethi, who is a global people and organization leader at PwC, a consulting firm.
He said most companies have been considering keeping their employees working from home even after officials lift stay-at-home orders. Referring to new CDC guidance, Sethi said, “It’s a bare minimum compared to the playbook that many firms are putting in place. Firms are acknowledging that people are going to be fearful.”
