By Scott D. Johnston
For The Daily World
Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler this week issued two executive orders, the first requiring that “All persons shall wear a face covering when they are interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces,” and the second extending indefinitely the closure of drive-on beach approach roads in the city, while ending the midnight to 5 a.m. curfew and reopening public restrooms.
The face mask order, issued Wednesday, also gives detailed requirements for local businesses, including social distancing, cleanliness, sanitizing and use of gloves. The order runs through June 30.
Dingler told The Daily World that “my concern is more people coming into town.” She said she was ordering an open-ended extension of her March 23 order closing all driving beach approaches in the city. She said opening those depends in part on what the state’s parks and natural resources departments do, as well as whether Grays Harbor County continues to keep its beach approach roads closed.
The face mask part of Wednesday’s order reads, in part:
“Specifically, this order states that people must wear face coverings when:
“a. Inside public spaces or waiting in line to enter public spaces
“b. When seeking healthcare
“c. Waiting for or riding on mass transit or other shared transportation, or waiting in line anywhere
“d. In common areas of buildings, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities
“e. Employees in areas where the public is present, likely to be present, or at any time when others are nearby
“f. Employees in any space where food is being prepared and/or packaged for sale or distribution
“g. Drivers/Operators of public transit.”
Regarding social distancing in business settings, the order states that businesses shall:
“a. Require employees and customers/visitors entering the premises of stores and businesses in Ocean Shores to maintain 6-feet social distancing as much as reasonably possible
“b. Limit the number of customers entering the premises to facilitate social distancing at store entrances, throughout store and at check-out lines.
“c. Where aisles may cause problems with social distancing, Stores shall limit to one-way movement through aisles
“d. Require all workers to stay at least six feet away from customers and coworkers, or provide plexiglass or other physical barriers
“e. Temporarily mark six-foot increments (using adhesive colored tape, chalk, etc.) on the ground or floor to ensure social distancing
“f. Post large print attention-grabbing signs readable from a distance (or use portable, electronic reader boards) that inform customers of social distancing practices
“g. Designate an employee or employees to monitor and facilitate distancing
“h. Discontinue self-serve unpackaged processed foods, free sample stands and product demonstrations.”
Dingler said she expects the signage businesses must post (paragraph f) to include the requirement that everyone on-site wear faced masks, and that businesses should deny admission to those not wearing face masks.
The order also requires businesses to:
“a. Supply hand-sanitizer in public and employee restrooms. Require workers to wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, such as when they arrive at work, leave their workstations for breaks, eat, use tobacco, and after handling money.
“b. Use sanitizing cleaner frequently on touchable surfaces such as shopping cart and shopping basket handles, counters, door handles, door push areas, seating, rented pedal/electric/motorized vehicles, vehicles used on business premises, and other frequently touched surfaces.
“c. Provide gloves and require that they are used for cart retrievers, handling money, common use of the same workspace, food safety, restocking, and cleaning, or where there is a likelihood of touching another person.”
As with all executive orders, these must be approved by the Ocean Shores City Council, which has thus far okayed all of Dingler’s COVID-19 related executive orders. Both will likely see council action at their next regular meeting, May 11.
