Businesses and Employers

Work Spaces

• Ensure clear planning, preparedness and organization within the workplace:
  • Assign a COVID coordinator for communication, planning and obtaining supplies necessary to implement proper precautions
• Increase frequency of cleaning and supplement high-frequency disinfection of high-touch surfaces
  • High-touch surfaces include door handles, countertops, electronics, bathroom fixtures, etc.
  • Eliminate or regularly clean items shared by individuals in common spaces including coffee-maker, condiments and vending machine
• Ensure proper ventilation
• Discourage shared work spaces, maintain six feet between work spaces
• Post signage for employees and customers on good hygiene and safety measures
  • Provide supplies and guidance for routine disinfection of work spaces
• Minimize in-person meetings when possible and provide remote alternatives
• Provide appropriate protective gear like gloves and face coverings and encourage proper use
• Work Accommodations. Employers are strongly encouraged to provide reasonable work accommodations, including accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals who cannot obtain access to COVID-19 vaccine or who for medical or other legal reasons cannot take a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Face coverings. All employers must implement the face covering requirements in Section I.A of this Order, as applicable.
  • Mask are required for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated patients, residents and visitors, and medical-grade masks are required for un vaccinated or not fully vaccinated staff in the following settings that serve vulnerable or at-risk populations:
    • Homeless Shelters
    • Prisons, Community corrections programs and facilities
    • Jails
    • Emergency medical and other healthcare settings
• Face coverings: Public transportation conveyances and hubs.
  • The CDC has regulations requiring face coverings in these settings.
• Face coverings: CDPHE requires universal mask use for staff, visitors, and residents in residential care facilities regardless of vaccination status.
• Face coverings: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
• Disease mitigation practices. Employers and sole proprietors are strongly encouraged to follow the best practices for disease mitigation found in CDPHE Guidance.

Employees

• Adhere to social distancing requirements:
  • Six feet between employee work spaces, discourage shared work spaces
  • Modify flow to minimize contact, designate doors for entry or exit only
  • Encourage digital documents to the greatest extent possible
• Enable or maximize telecommuting and remote work
• As allowed under state law, owners, operators, and managers of any business or service may, at their discretion, continue to require individuals entering or within their locations to wear face coverings or show proof of full vaccination.
  Per Gov. Polis' executive order/public health order, the general rule is that face coverings are not required any longer. For people who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated, it is suggested they wear a mask, though not required. Masks are still required for unvaccinated or those not fully vaccinated in specific settings outlined in Colorado Executive Order D 2021 103, and for everyone within businesses, organizations, agencies or municipalities that request masks be worn. Masks continue to be optional for those 10 or younger, for those who can’t medically tolerate it and in other specific activities.
  • Allow flexible work schedules where possible to lessen the need to be in work spaces, or allow employees to work when the space may be less crowded. Vulnerable individuals and those with child care needs should be given special consideration
• Encourage frequent breaks to wash hands:
  • Provide hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer
  • Phase breaks and shifts to reduce employee density
• Conduct symptom and temperature checks for employees
  • Require employees showing signs or symptoms, or those who have had contact with known positive cases, to remain home. Connect employees with appropriate benefit provider
• Per Colorado Public Health Order 20-38:
  • state contractors entering state facilities to provide services to a client, patient, resident or youth living in the facility who have a medical or religious exemption from immunization approved by their employer, are required to be tested for COVID-19 twice weekly, and excluded from the facility and required to isolate if they test positive;
  • all other state contractors entering state facilities who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated or who have a medical or religious exemption from immunization approved by their employer, are required to be tested for COVID-19 twice weekly, and excluded from the facility and required to isolate if they test positive; and
  • confirmation from state contractors that all state contract workers who are not fully vaccinated and are required to participate in twice weekly COVID-19 testing are doing so is required.
    

Customers

• Facilitate social distancing requirements with markings for lines
• Provide dedicated in-stores hours for vulnerable individuals
• Post signs encouraging safety measures. Let customers know if you are requiring masks.
• Provide hand sanitizer at entrances and high-traffic areas
• Install shields, barriers or screens where possible between customers and employees
• Implement contactless solutions where possible including payments, no-touch trash cans and digital document receipts

This guidance is intended to provide a summary of applicable provisions of CDPHE Amended Public Health Orders and does not contain all of the requirements set forth therein. In addition, while every effort will be made to keep the information in this guidance current, Public Health Orders may be amended from time to time. Please review the most recent version of Public Health Orders on CDPHE’s COVID-19 website. If there are any conflicts between the Public Health Order and this guidance, the Public Health Order controls.

NOTICE FOR RESTAURANTS AND FOOD SERVICE: Any new outdoor seating spaces need to be approved by El Paso County Public Health by emailing the Restaurant Application - Outdoor Dining and Expanded Seating form to [email protected] For guidance on outdoor dining click here.

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