Last week the ADHS released criteria that they propose to use to determine when the businesses that are closed by executive order (bars/nightclubs and gyms) can open again. The guidelines propose levels of community spread, that if met, would allow the closed businesses to begin operating with certain restrictions.
There are two key components to resuming business operations. First is the quality of the establishment’s implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies. This plan outlines mitigation strategies tailored for specific types of business operations. Business must attest to their implementation of these strategies prior to operating.
The second is the level of spread occurring in the community. The CDC defines community spread as follows (all 3 metrics need to be bet to qualify for the category):
Minimal Community Spread: Evidence of isolated cases or limited community transmission, case investigations underway; no evidence of exposure in large communal setting. This category would require a percent positivity of under 5%, case rates of less than 10/100,000 per week and COVID like illnesses of less than 5%.
Moderate Community Spread: Sustained transmission with high likelihood or confirmed exposure within communal settings and potential for rapid increase in cases. This category includes a percent positivity of under 10%, case rates of between 10 and 100/100,000 per week and COVID-like illnesses of between 5 and 10%%.
Substantial Community Spread: Large scale, controlled community transmission, including communal settings (e.g., schools, workplaces). This category includes a percent positivity of more than 10%, case rates of more than 100/100,000 per week or COVID-like illnesses of over 10%.
Upon reopening, the bars/restaurants and gyms are supposed to implement the safety protocols and guidelines and turn in an attestation form committing to stay in compliance. The attestation form is supposed to be posted in a visible location in the facility. Additional details can be found in the ADHS COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses.
The dashboard at azhealth.gov/businessCOVID19 indicates whether counties meet the recommended benchmarks. Data on the dashboard will be updated weekly on Thursdays. The percent positive metric on the ADHS dashboard will be lower than the percent positive numbers that are posted on well-known sites like John’s Hopkins and the COVID Tracking Project because it is calculated differently and many of the laboratory results are excluded from the calculations.
Maricopa County Department of Public Health also launched a dashboard to help school officials in Maricopa County determine if their communities are meeting reopening metrics. The tool allows school superintendents, principals and other decision-makers to see two weeks’ worth of data on the three metrics set by ADHS and ADE for opening schools: Maricopa.gov/SchoolDashboard.
Editorial Note: The protocol ADHS developed distinguishes between bars that have a “food establishment permit” and those that don’t. They say that bars that don’t have one can’t open until the percent positivity is less than 3%.
The problem is that every single bar and nightclub has a “food establishment permit” because the mixed drinks are considered food. I think you’ll see that they modify their guidance to reflect the type of liquor license the establishment has instead. Time will tell.
