Cortland County Phase Three Businesses Prepare to Reopen

(Photo from wattagnet).

This is a press release from Cortland County Clerk of the Legislature Eric Mulvihill.

With the release of the New York State phase three business re-opening guidelines earlier this week many local businesses are looking to re-open their doors and greet their customers with heightened safety in mind as early as this Friday.

Under Phase 3 of the state's four-phase reopening plans, nail salons, tattoo parlors and spas may reopen, and restaurants can resume indoor dining with a series of restrictions, including:

  • Indoor capacity limited to no more than 50% of maximum occupancy.
  • All indoor and outdoor tables with seating for customers separated by a minimum of 6 feet in all directions.
  • When social distancing is not feasible between tables, physical barriers enacted between tables that are at least 5 feet high and cannot block exits.
  • Patrons must wear face coverings except while seated.
  • Signs that show six-foot spacing in any lines for customers waiting to order, pick-up food, be seated, or use the restroom.

Nail salons, massage businesses, spa services, and tattoo parlors must maintain the same social distancing and 50% occupancy requirements as other phase three businesses. Waiting rooms must remain closed and all customers and employees must wear masks. Employees in direct contact with customers also need to wear face shields, like hairdressers need to do. All services that do not allow for a mask to be worn, such as lip and nose piercings, face massages, facials, and lip waxing are banned.

Other steps that will need to be taken include:

  • Manicure, pedicure baths and bowls and drying tables and tanning beds need to be disinfected between each use with EPA-approved solution.
  • All wax containers must be replaced or cleaned and disinfected between each customer, and no double-dipping of applicators.
  • Each customer would receive new or cleaned and disinfected supplies, such as towels, finger bowls, and spatulas.
  • Similar steps need to be taken for massages. Linens must be changed between clients and laundered.
  • Saunas, steam rooms, or any other services that take place in enclosed spaces have to be shuttered "where it 
is inherently difficult to maintain social distancing and/or unsafe to wear an appropriate face covering."

For more information on the phase three guidelines, required safety plans, and business affirmation documents you may log on to the Cortland County website at Cortland-co.org.