BESHEAR ANNOUNCES BUSINESS RE-OPENINGS FOR MAY, PART OF JUNE

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced Phase 2 of his plan for reopening Kentucky’s economy on Thursday, which includes restaurants in late May.

Under the plan, restaurants can reopen their doors to in-person traffic on May 22 at 33% capacity indoors and unlimited seating outdoors, so long as they follow social distancing guidelines.

“I know this isn’t the capacity that our restaurants probably want,” Beshear said. “But the studies that we look at show that we have to be really careful about this step.”

“This allows it to be open for Memorial Day weekend,” Beshear added. “But please be careful, everybody out there over this weekend.”

Beshear also announced that movie theaters, fitness centers, campgrounds, child care centers and certain youth sports will be able to reopen under public health guidelines in June.

Beshear originally laid out his first phase of a plan for re-opening several portions of Kentucky’s economy on April 29. In order to re-open, various businesses must follow public health guidelines set forth by industries and the state in its “Healthy at Work” initiative. These rules include enforcing social distancing, closing common areas and making masks universal for employees, among others.

Under phase one of the plan, manufacturing companies can re-open their doors on May 11, and horse racing can occur without fans. On May 20, places of worship can hold in-person services, and retail shops can welcome back customers. And on May 25, 10-person or less social gatherings can occur, and barbershops can re-open doors.

With the things that can reopen in May, Beshear said they represent “cautious steps that are going to be done with strict compliance.”

“I would not be suggesting these if I did not think that we could not do them safely,” Beshear. “And if it proves that we can’t do any of them safely, it is always subject to pause.”

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For the things opening on May 11, Beshear hopes to have finalized guidelines from his administration for industries on Monday to give them a week to prepare.

Public pools were not included in phase one or phase two of this plan, among other things, according to Beshear.

“The ability, even when we’re able to expand groups that can together in the size, (with) a public pool, we will never be able to contain that to the size we need,” Beshear said on April 30. “I know people look forward to it. I know it’s important in the summer. But that’s going to spread the coronavirus, and it would prevent us from doing all of this.”

Along with discussing his plan for what will and will not reopen in the near future, Beshear also said his administration’s freeze on evictions will continue through the end of May, at the very least.

Background: Gov. Beshear outlines 10 rules for reopening a business in Kentucky

“As we slowly open back up the economy, there are still a lot of folks whose industry or area won’t be open, and we want to make sure we’re there for them,” Beshear said on April 30.

On Thursday, Beshear said he plans for bars to be able to reopen in July, as well as to allow gatherings of 50 people or less.

Here’s the full plan so far:

May 11

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Vehicle or Vessel Dealerships
• Professional Services (50%)
• Horse Racing (No Fans)
• Dog Grooming / Boarding

May 20

• Retail
• Houses of Worship

May 22

• Restaurants (33% capacity indoors, unlimited outdoors if spaces needed for social distancing)

May 25

• 10 Person Social Gatherings
• Barbers, salons, cosmetology, businesses and similar services

June 1

• Movie theaters
• Fitness centers

June 11

• Campgrounds

June 15

• Child care centers
• Youth sports (low touch and outdoors)

What will not reopen under Phase 1 and 2

• Public pools
• Day care facilities
• Summer camps
• Bars

More: Chiropractors, optometrists adjust to new ‘normal day’ when reopening in COVID-19 pandemic

From The Louisville Courier-Journal