What will Lexington’s reopening look like? Here’s what the city’s plan recommends
In February, Lexington had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state at just 3.1 percent.
In just four months, the city’s unemployment has soared to 25 percent, the highest since the Great Depression. To date, more than 44,000 people in Fayette County have filed for unemployment, according to city numbers.
To get Lexington’s economy restarted and to get more people working, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton unveiled a blueprint Monday that includes 330 recommendations from Lexington’s COVID-19 Economic Response Committee.
“Our economy was strong before this pandemic struck, and today we are taking the first step to recover that strength,” Gorton said. “We have outlined a gradual, responsible path back to the workplace.
Lexington’s COVID-19 Economic Response Committee unveiled Lexington’s plan Monday, just two weeks after it had its first meeting on May 4.
Sixteen subcommittees were charged with drafting reopening guidelines for places of worship, restaurants, hotels, professional businesses, healthcare, education, college and high school sports, agriculture, equine industries and nonprofits and arts groups.
Gorton said Monday 132 people worked on the industry-specific recommendations.
The group’s recommendations are headed to Gov. Andy Beshear for approval.
Some of the 330 industry-specific recommendations include:
For fitness centers, the group recommended cutting off towel service and not allowing use of drinking fountains. Basketball gyms should be limited to individuals and no team play. It also recommended not allowing members to shower in locker rooms and allowing members to self-scan membership cards to decrease contact between clients and staff.
For churches and other worship centers, the group recommended sitting family groups on every other row. Dismissal should occur by row to cut the number of people trying to exit at the same time. It also encouraged church greeters to prop open doors so worshipers won’t have to touch doorknobs. Face masks should be worn during services, the group recommended.
For K-12 and university education, the group recommended removing chairs and re-configuring rooms to encourage maintaining six-feet of distance and quarantining students, staff and their direct contacts for 14 days after a positive COVID-19 test.
Under Beshear’s Healthy at Work initiative, several business sectors have already reopened. On May 11, professional offices, construction, manufacturing and some car dealerships were allowed to open but with restrictions. By Friday, many restaurants will reopen to in-person dining at limited capacity as well retail stores. On May 25, hair salons and barber shops will also be allowed to reopen with restrictions.
Gyms and movie theaters will reopen on June 1.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 5:14 PM.
