Columbia and Boone County leaders announced guidelines Thursday for the first phase of re-opening following a stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and Boone County Health Director Stephanie Browning said the local guidelines are similar to the state’s re-opening phase, with a few more restrictions.
While the state requires occupancy limitations for retail businesses, the local requirements will apply to all businesses. Locations that are smaller than 10,000 square feet will be limited to 25 percent of the authorized occupancy, while locations larger than 10,000 square feet will be held to 10 percent capacity.
Personal care facilities, such as hair and nail salons, will have more restrictions to occupancy.
Venues such as movie theaters, bars, and playgrounds, will remain closed.
Officials say these guidelines will take effect Monday, May 4. There is no set end date for the re-opening phase, but officials say they will revisit the restrictions in three-to-four weeks.
Read the full city and county orders below:
(This story was last updated at 5:41 a.m. Friday.)
Gyms can reopen (people working out indoors and breathing the same air or swimming at an indoor pool, again, breathing the same air) but children cannot be taken to a playground which is outdoors. This closure should be revisited every two-three days not in 3-4 weeks. That is another month folks – so for another month the “disallowed” businesses will continue to suffer. At this rate we will see massive closures. Now we reopen – there will be a small spike in cases and then what? This could become like rolling blackouts. Please revisit these suggestions every few days – not in a month.