CHEYENNE — Local business owners may be able to open their doors sooner than later under certain exemptions following almost two months of closure due to the COVID-19 spread.
Sweetwater County Emergency Operation Center spokesman Jason Mower announced tonight an exception request process for local businesses that wish to petition the state for permission to reopen their doors on a limited basis as the state carefully continues to move forward in softening COVID-19 restrictions.
The announcement comes on the heels of State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist’s third continuation and modification of the three state health orders which took effect on Friday.
A business must present in its request a COVID-19-specific operating plan that includes the implementation and maintenance of the proper physical distancing, cleaning, sanitation, and other public health and safety measures necessary to prevent the spread of the virus at their establishment.
The request will be presented to Sweetwater County Public Health Officer Dr. Jean Stachon, who will then share the information with Harrist. Upon approval from Stachon and Harrist, that business may then reopen its doors and begin operating on a limited basis in accordance with the approved operating plan.
“In coordination with Dr. Stachon and Public Health Director Kim Lionberger, local business owners who are interested in submitting an exemption request can find the form, with instructions, online at sweetwater311.org,” Mower said.
“In addition to specific exemptions, as part of these latest modified health orders, state officials have now also given counties the
authority to consider more or less restrictive measures based on their own local health data and their ability to handle any increases in COVID-19 cases should they occur,” according to Stachon. “We have drafted two variances addressing restaurants, bars, coffee shops, churches, and other worship services, and funerals.”
Stachon also said the county plans to finalize these variances by the close of business tomorrow and submit them to the state for consideration.
“We are so far fortunate to have been spared the brunt of the disease in Wyoming here in Sweetwater County,” said Sweetwater County EOC and County Commissioner Chairman Randy Wendling. “I’d like to attribute this, at least in part, to the great work we have done together as friends and neighbors in all doing our part to respect proper social distancing and follow current health recommendations.”
Wendling continued, “While we have a continued obligation to make sure our citizens are safe and healthy, we also have a responsibility to start thinking about how to save our small businesses and restore our local economy.”
We have reviewed the state’s guidelines, and as the metrics they’ve identified suggest that our numbers here in Sweetwater County may be stabilizing, we are now working on a variety of different things, cautiously, safely and in a measured and systematic way, to get people back to work and reopen our doors to the greatest extent currently possible,” Wendling added.
THE LATEST COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS NEWS & INFO FROM THE WYOMING DEPT. OF HEALTH
What to do if you feel sick: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are showing symptoms, please call your primary care provider or seek medical attention.
Please follow these tips to slow the spread of this virus:
- Follow Public Health Orders
- Practice social distancing of 6 feet or more.
- Wear cloth face coverings in public settings, especially when physical distancing of at least 6 feet isn’t available.
- Stay home when sick and avoid other people unless you need medical attention.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Older people and those with health conditions that mean they have a higher chance of getting seriously ill should avoid close-contact situations.
- Long-term care and healthcare facilities should follow guidelines for infection control and prevention.
For current news, updates, closures and resources, please visit our COVID-19 Coronavirus page here.
