Fighting the Covid 19 pandemic needs to be job #1 for every public health official. While the federal government provides funding and the state provides regulations, I believe there are several steps our local government can take that might help slow the spread of this persistent virus.
Here is one new idea.
Every place of public assembly has an established maximum capacity, referred to as the “occupancy load.” Typically, the certificate that shows that number is posted on a wall. You would be hard pressed to find it in most locations. Effective on December 26th, the state reduced the capacity of certain places in order to reduce the threat of community spread of Covid 19. This change lasts until at least January 10th and, if things don’t get better, will probably be extended.
Given that we, the general public, don’t know the original occupancy number, how do we determine when we walk through the door if a facility is in compliance with the reduced number?
For example, my wife Cindy and I decide to catch a quick bite at a local restaurant. We enter wearing masks, are shown to our seats and read the menu off our cellphones. We look around and see several other patrons doing the same. The staff is keeping busy. Is this scenario in compliance with the December 26th regulation? We don’t know. Are we at risk? We don’t know.
If we are going to turn the corner away from Covid it is important for everyone to follow the rules. It is also important for every business to follow the rules. The vast majority of local businesses are stepping up and ensuring a safe place to enter and stay for a while. Those that aren’t are achieving an unfair advantage over those that do and I, for one, want to be able to reward those who are watching out for me and my loved ones by visiting their establishments.
A solution: the posting of the temporary occupant load at a place of high visibility by the entrance of an establishment. That way, we can see what the rules say the number should be, take a quick look around and make a decision, based on facts. To some it won’t matter but for those who want to make an informed decision it would be helpful.
I’ve done some research. Go to a restaurant in Reno, Nevada or a cafeteria at the University of Tennessee and you will see a prominent sign stating the number of people who should be in that facility in these Covid times. If the occupant load changes, the number on the sign changes. Seems sort of simple. Seems pretty informative. Seems like a new idea for Fairhaven.
Kevin A. Gallagher, Fairhaven (Kevin Gallagher is a candidate for the Fairhaven Board of Health)
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