The below information is current as of the publication date listed. Because COVID-19 response measures on all fronts are continually evolving, clients should stay alert to new developments and consult with counsel on any critical questions.
Today, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health issued an order directing funeral homes, cemeteries and other life-sustaining businesses that are permitted to continue in-person operations to implement a series of safety measures for workers and customers. Among the requirements of the order are:
- Require all customers to wear masks while on premises and deny entry to individuals not wearing masks
- Provide masks for employees and mandate that employees wear them while at work
- Implement temperature screening for employees and send home employees that have a temperature of 100.4 or higher
- Symptomatic or sick employees are to remain at home
- Clean and disinfect high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines
- Ensure that common areas are cleaned on a regular basis
- Follow specified protocols when the business has been exposed to a person who is a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case
- Stagger start, stop, and break times to avoid gatherings of employees
- Limit employees in common or break areas to the number that can maintain social distancing of six feet
- Conduct meetings and training virtually or, if they must be in person, with no more than 10 people at least six feet apart
- Provide employees access to regular hand-washing with soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes
- Schedule hand-washing breaks for employees at least every hour
- Prohibit non-essential visitors from entering the business
- Conduct business by appointment only if feasible and, if not, limit occupancy to no more than 50% of the occupancy certificate, maintain social distancing of six feet, and place signage mandating social distancing
- Alter business hours as necessary to ensure sufficient time to clean
- Make all employees aware of the requirements of the order
The order is effective immediately and is enforceable starting at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19.
This latest order is in addition to the Secretary of Health’s April 6, 2020 order requiring certain building safety measures for life-sustaining businesses operating in buildings of at least 50,000 square feet.
Today’s order also comes on the heels of temporary enforcement guidance issued by OSHA this week for COVID-19 related complaints, referrals and illness reports.
Saxton & Stump’s attorneys are available to help navigate the regulatory, employment and financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.