Author Spotlight
Sophie Henschel
The special committee for reopening Johnson County held a two-hour virtual meeting Tuesday regarding plans for reopening the county. Set up with a “trial and error state of mind”, according to information released my Johnson County, the current plan is a draft that still needs to be passed and finalized.
The current draft of the plan suggests there will be four stages of reopening the county, each of which incrementally eases restrictions. After having lived in each phase for approximately two weeks, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment will conduct surveillance to measure the community impact.
Before the county can proceed to a new phase, certain criteria must be met. According to jocogov.org, there must be “Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period, or downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests).”
Currently, the county is continuing with lockdown precautions — officially set to expire May 3 — until numbers confirm that the curve has truly been flattened.
Once this can be proven, Phase One would take place, consisting of continued encouragement for seniors and vulnerable populations to stay home, no gatherings over 10, working from home if possible and mask-wearing in public.
In regards to the openings of businesses, Phase One would allow restaurants to hold dine-in customers at 50% capacity with guidelines implemented. Retail stores along with hair salons, nail salons, gyms and outdoor playgrounds could also open under specified guidelines.
If all goes as planned and the curve continues to flatten, Phases Two through Four will continue with restaurants at 75% capacity and eventually 100%, entertainment venues slowly opening and life slowly returning back to normal.
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