Back to Business North Adams

June 2020

North Adams Phase 2 Back to Business Toolkit

May 2020

The Reopening Massachusetts plan released last week outlines workplace safety standards and sector-specific guidance that businesses must follow in order to reopen. As we move through the plan over the coming weeks and months, the City of North Adams and the North Adams Chamber of Commerce are here to help businesses reopen, modify operations, and meet all state and local safety standards to keep you, your employees, your customers, and our community safe and healthy. This guide is designed to provide a quick reference to reopening guidelines and public health advice. We will update it based on your feedback and as new information becomes available.

The City of North Adams Health Department, first responders, and the city and North Adams Public Schools administration are working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide updated information about COVID-19, the novel Coronavirus.

What is the Coronavirus?

Source: the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses and are generally spread through respiratory secretions (droplets from coughs and sneezes) of an infected person to another person. Symptoms of novel coronavirus include: fever, cough and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, pneumonia (fluid in the lungs). Information about how this novel coronavirus spreads is still limited.

While the risk of the coronavirus to Massachusetts residents remains low, the risk for contracting influenza remains high and residents are urged to get the flu shot if they have not already done so. To prevent any virus, people are advised to take many of the same steps they do to help prevent colds and the flu, including recommendations to:

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes and face.
• Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
• Stay home when feeling sick.