Shelby County has entered the second phase of its ‘Back to Business’ plan, allowing more close-contact businesses such as nail salons and tattoo parlors to reopen after shuttering in March as the coronavirus spread locally. It also marks the first time in about two months that gatherings of up to 50 people are permitted if social distancing practices are maintained.
This phase keeps in place capacity restrictions of 50 percent for businesses like restaurants and retailers. Gyms and libraries can increase their occupancy from a quarter to half full.
Tattoo parlors and nail salons, like barber shops, have their own set of requirements, including keeping an appointment book with client contact information and increased cleaning of work stations between customers.
The Shelby County Health Department has mandated masks for employees across numerous sectors but has so far stopped short of requiring the same of customers. The County Commission voted Monday night to urge the department to make face coverings compulsory, with certain exceptions.
Health officials have indicated an openess to the idea, but for the moment are still relying on persuading people of the benefits of face coverings in public and encouraging them to keep a six-foot bubble.
“All of us individually have a responsibility to each other to maintain social distancing,” said department director Dr. Alisa Haushalter at Monday’s daily briefing. “This is a different way of life, and I think we all have to be patient with each other as we try to learn new skills around social distancing.”
Some tourist destinations such as Graceland will reopen this week, running tours at 25 percent capacity. Given its international draw, its reopening raises concerns about travel-related transmission of the virus. The company that manages the site told The Daily Memphian that they don't expect many vistors from "outside the country and hard-hit areas on the East and West coasts."
Haushalter visited the Whitehaven attraction last week to sign-off on safety protocols, including COVID symptom screenings for employees and guests.
“There are many measures that are being put in place to ensure that people stay six-feet apart, particularly if they are not travelling together or touring together,” she said. “All of those are mechanisms that reduce transmission.”
The Health Department is prepared to work with counterparts across state lines, she noted, should travel related cases of COVID-19 emerge.
Haushalter gave the go-ahead for the second phase of reopening after taking a close look at a recent increase in ICU bed utilization. She said the uptick was due to COVID outbreaks at specific nursing homes, along with other medical emergencies such as heart attacks. But bed utilization has since fallen.
“Each of the [hospital] facilities indicated that they were quite comfortable, that they had the ability to meet needs and demands of the community if needed,” she said.
It will be at least three weeks before the county is able to move ahead with the third phase of its economic revitalization plan, based partly on further progress in testing and a reduction in the number of positive COVID cases.
This post has been updated with local media reports on Graceland's reopening.