Idaho Rebounds: Stage 1 begins Friday
Specific guidance issued for youth activities, child care, places of worship
The first phase of Gov. Brad Little’s plan to reopen Idaho in stages begins Friday.
During the first stage of the four-phase plan, which begins May 1, certain services may open, provided that they can do so safely by following protocols outlined in Idaho Rebounds Guidance. These include establishing a protocol to maintain six-foot physical distancing requirements for employees and patrons, identifying how the business will provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene and identifying strategies for addressing ill employees.
Under the guidelines, vulnerable Idahoans should continue to self-quarantine and gatherings of any size should be avoided. Nonessential travel should be minimized.
In addition to the Stage 1 protocols for opening for general businesses, Idaho Rebounds has issued more specific guidance for youth activities, child care facilities and places of worship.
CHILD CARE
Child care facilities should use the following protocols as they prepare to offer activities on May 1:
• Review the Centers for Disease Control’s “Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs,” including information on physical distancing; hand hygiene; food preparation and meals; washing, feeding and holding a child; diapering; cleaning and disinfecting.
• Develop plans that address staff and child safety and limit spread, such as considering accommodations for staff who may be at increased risk of severe illness or using physical distancing strategies to limit the number of different people with whom children and staff have contact.
• Protect staff, children and their families from the spread of COVID-19 by screening staff each day for illness and having a provider greet children outside at arrival and administer screening questions prior to entering the facility.
• Identify how the facility will provide sanitation and personal hygiene for staff and children.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Places of worship should use the following protocols:
• Identify how the place of worship will maintain the six-foot physical distancing requirements for staff, volunteers and worshippers.
• Identify how the place of worship will provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene.
• Consider whether to modify specific religious rites, rituals and services — such as accepting online collections or donations, or modifying or temporarily specific traditions, such as the practice of communion — consulting with local public health officials as needed.
• Develop and provide alternative ways to stay connected to worshippers and offer remote services.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Youth organizations should use the following protocols:
• Establish protocols to maintain six-foot physical distancing among participants, where possible, and between youth, adult leaders and coaches, and parents or other spectators.
• Establish protocols to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19, such as having parents/guardians pick up their youth outside and instructing youth and adult leaders to avoid physical contact with one another.
• Establish plans to provide adequate hand hygiene and sanitation.
• Identify strategies for working with public health to notify adult leaders, youth and their families if the organization learns a participant or adult leader as developed COVID-19 and may have been infectious to others while at a youth activity.
For more details on protocols for child care facilities, youth activities and places of worship, visit www.IdahoRebounds.gov.