Fredericksburg Offers Coronavirus Protection Guidance To Stores

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The City of Fredericksburg is offering guidance for workers and employers at retail businesses that are still open during the coronavirus crisis, particularly those operations where workers have frequent contact with the public such as drug stores and grocery stores.

City officials are asking retailers to assess the hazards to which their workers may be exposed and ensure employees use infection and hygiene controls to prevent exposure.

Among the guidelines Fredericksburg businesses should follow are:

• Encourage the use of physical barriers or sneeze-guards such as plexi-glass or acrylic partitions to separate retail workers from members of the general public.
• Use rope-and-stanchion systems to keep customers from queuing or congregating near work areas. For example, provide a waiting area for customers that is separated by at least six feet from a cash register workstation. Signage that instructs individuals waiting in line to remain six feet back from work areas may bolster the effectiveness.
• If an entity has concrete or similar hard surface flooring, tape applied on the floor in six-foot increments also serve as customer staging while awaiting in lines.

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• Whenever possible, direct customers to self-checkout kiosks to minimize worker interaction with customers.
• Frequently clean push bars and handles on any doors that do not open automatically, and be sure to clean any plexi-glass or acrylic barriers often.
• Consider restricting the number of customers allowed inside the facility at any point in time. For example, in smaller convenience stores adhere to the state maximum of 10 patrons or less depending on the square footage of the business.

As of Thursday, 336 people in the Rappahannock Area Health District had tested positive for the coronavirus and nine people have died. Fredericksburg has reported 20 positive cases and no deaths from the coronavirus.

The City of Fredericksburg notified about 40 employees last week that they will be placed on furlough status as of May 2 due to the coronavirus crisis wreaking havoc on the city's revenues. The furlough period is expected to last at least until July 31. By mid-July, the employees will be notified of their employment status as of Aug. 1, the city said.

Businesses can contact the City of Fredericksburg’s Risk and Safety Officer at 540-372-1028 or the Fredericksburg Fire Department at 540-372-1059 for more information and guidance on coronavirus protections.

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