Joplin moves into second step of Phase 2 recovery plan

Joplin Health Director Dan Pekarek discussed the various changes that are part of the second step of the Recovery Phase, nothing that this is a measured way to open the community while watching for any indications of community spread of the virus.

An updated Joplin’s Response and Recovery Plan can be found on the City’s website with details about Step 2 of the Recovery Phase. Step 2 continues the reopening of communities by relaxing the occupancy limitations and begins to resume mass gatherings on a limited basis.

Social distancing is still required for all interactions within the community. The full plan provides the comprehensive process to resume a normal life while preventing taking steps backward.

During the meeting Pekarek noted some of the changes from Step 1 as the community moves into Step 2 which allows a bit more activity than the first step. For example, the fitness centers can now open their locker rooms and hold group classes.

Participants should practice social distancing during the activities. Restaurants continue to practice social distancing among their table placements, however now groups of ten can be seated together moving from the six in the last step.

Mass gatherings of less than 50 individuals may resume. This limitation is for all events, other than funerals.

Theatres, places of worship, pools, personal service such as barbers and stylists move to 50% occupancy  of their building or fire code.

Retail businesses remain with 25% occupancy restriction of the entity’s authorized fire or building code occupancy for locations less than 10,000 square feet, and 10% of entity’s authorized fire or building code occupancy for locations 10,000 square feet or larger.

 

Other specific details can be found in the document found at www.joplinmo.org/coronavirus. More information about COVID-19 can also be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/ .