All information in this COVID-19 Response Resource issue is effective as of April 15, 2020.

Today Governor Little announced that Idaho’s Stay-at-Home Order is extended two weeks to April 30, 2020, consistent with President Trump’s guidelines and the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

But for those Idahoans who want to open businesses and get employees back to work, your ability to do so (if your company is not deemed essential under the Governor’s order) will depend upon your company’s ability to provide your product or service under social distancing guidelines. If your business can comply with Idaho’s guidance on maintaining social distancing while operating, you are safe to open May 1 without official approval of your re-open plan.

In his press conference, the Governor made clear that in addition to those businesses deemed to be essential, another wave of businesses should be able to open once they reformulate policies and procedures to comply with the new order. Governor Little hopes the guidance will be robust enough to avoid an approval process for every company’s operations plan.

If you are currently a business not deemed to be essential by the Governor’s March 25 Order, and your company can handle delivery or curbside transactions — barring any change to Idaho’s key health indicators — your company is free to open if you can operate with the following plans in place:

  • Maintain social distancing for staff and patrons
  • Provide adequate sanitation and protective coverings for employees, vendors and patrons
  • Offer curbside and pickup delivery
  • Limit the number of people in your business at any one time to provide for safe distancing
  • Direct the flow of people in the operation to avoid close contact of staff and patrons

And be aware that additional guidance will be issued.  Because the next two weeks is designed to be a period of time for companies to prepare operation plans to comply with such guidance, it is prudent for “non-essential” businesses to plan, prepare, draft policies, and run scenarios for re-open, and to stay informed when more guidance is available.

Governor Little expressed in his press conference that Idaho’s stay-at-home order has been successful and that the curve in Idaho is flattening. Because of this, we should see an increasing amount of businesses begin to reopen under the amended stay-at-home order after the end of the month. 

If you have any questions about the new order, whether your business can comply or how to bring your employees back to work under the new order, please contact Amy A. Lombardo by calling (208) 562-4900 or send an email to ALombardo@parsonsbehle.com

 

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