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With Lycoming County now in the green phase, local business owners are excited to reopen and see community members coming into their stores to look around, buy a book or take a seat at a restaurant for the first time in a few months.
Though exciting, there are still guidelines in place by the state Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and business owners need to be apt to adapt their business normal to a new way of running.
"I am referring all of the businesses to the Department of Health and CDC guidelines," said state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township. "I am asking business owners to check back frequently because it seems to be changing. In addition, if they are represented by a state organization or association like bars and restaurants, they should also seek guidance from their state association."
According to Gov. Tom Wolf's plans and website, employers should be prepared to give employees non-medical masks to wear at all times and make it a requirement that all employees wear a mask while on the clock.
The guidance on the website also states that businesses should "require all customers to wear masks while on the
premises. Businesses that provide medication, medical supplies or groceries must provide an alternate, no contact, means of delivering goods for customers who cannot wear a mask."
It continues by saying those who cannot wear a mask, like those who are under the age of two or have other medical conditions, are not required to provide documentation stating the above information.
In addition, the Order of the Secretary of the Department of Health directs public safety measures for in-person operations, stating that any business that is now authorized as of May 19 to maintain their operations should implement, if applicable, the following social distancing measures and more:
• Provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business
• Make it a requirement for employees to wear masks while working except during a break time to eat or drink (in accordance with guidance from the state and CDC)
In another section, businesses other than health care workers who serve the public should adhere to the following guidelines and more according to the order:
• Require all customers to wear masks while in the business
• Deny entry to those who are not wearing masks unless the business itself is providing masks, medication or medical supplies, food and beverage
"I trust my business owners in Lycoming County to do the right thing for their employees but also their customers," Wheeland added.
Local small businesses like Otto Bookstore and Barrel 135 will have specific masking guidelines for their customers while other businesses like Nomad Distilling Co., Blagman's Tantalizing Treats and Wine and Design say they are providing options for customers.
Barrel 135, located on West Third Street, which plans to reopen this weekend, will require customers to wear their masks while in the restaurant and only remove them while sitting down at their perspective tables. All staff will be required to be masked at all times, Joshua Aucker, owner, said.
"It will be difficult in terms of eating," he said. "I have mixed feelings about it. … Some people are going to be for it and other people are not going to want to do it."
He added that the business has adapted to make each table 6 feet apart so their customers can be comfortable and so that the restaurant can remain in compliance.
"We will not be putting people at the bar," he said. "Luckily we have a patio that we can utilize and every table there and inside is 6 feet apart."
Otto Bookstore, located on West Fourth Street, hasn't changed much since the yellow phase other than that 10 people are now allowed in the store at a time with required masking, owner Kathryn Nassberg said.
She added that hand sanitizer is available at the book store's entrance and is throughout the store for customer use. If customers do not have masks, they can order their books online for curbside pickup or delivery.
"We are being pretty strict about it because we have staff who take care of older family members, or older staff members and just for everyone's safety," Nassberg said. "The county is doing OK right now, but that can change quickly."
Nomad Distilling Co. has had to bring in additional staffing to follow restrictions including masking, wiping down chairs, knobs and other surfaces between customers and are strongly encouraging the use of masks and hand sanitizer within their store or at their public events this summer while restrictions remain.
They also sell their own handmade hand-sanitizer for individuals who cannot find it at grocery stores or do not currently have any.
"I never want people doing something they don't feel safe doing," Sarah Kudlack, owner, said. "We are encouraging everybody to be distant. As long as everyone is behaving safely and no one is made to feel unsafe, I am not going to go out and be rude about the restrictions."
She added that the store will have signage up about masking and hand hygiene.
"As a human, I believe that there are certain societal rules. When you choose to live in a certain society, you are choosing to abide by those certain rules," she said. "With this pandemic, I do think that you have to speak up for what you believe in but also when you are choosing to live in a society, you are choosing to abide by its rules. I am happy to work and do what I can to abide by those rules."
Wine and Design and Blagman's Tantalizing Treats are taking cues from their customers' comfort levels, creating 6-feet barriers and encouraging the use of masks with signage but not requiring the use of masks.
Wine and Design in particular is starting to resume some events while maintaining off-site events until they figure out the "comfort level" of their customers.
There are hand sanitizers at each station and there are scheduled breaks to wash hands, said owner Stefanie Allison.
"We encourage people to wear masks," said Allison. "We are still figuring out what the new normal is. It is a touchy subject."
At Tantalizing Treats on Pine Street, there are barriers between the customers and employees where people order their ice cream or gelato flavors, and staff members are wearing masks but the use of masks for customers is not required, according to owners Earl and Tara Blagman.
"It is up to the customers (if they want to wear a mask)," Tara Blagman said. "But those who are doing the ice cream scooping are wearing them. It depends on the occupation, if we were waitressing I would understand it (requiring masking)."
"We have customers mostly going in and out," Earl Blagman said. "Traffic is coming in and getting ice cream and walking out like regular take out. They take it and sit at a bench or take a walk downtown."
For more information on green phase guidelines, visit the Department of Health website, health.pa.gov.