OKC Mayor's New Proclamation Lists Rules For Businesses Opening Friday

This Friday, many businesses across Oklahoma are reopening for the first time in over a month and a half.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has released a new proclamation with different restrictions.

The new proclamation comes first with a list of general rules that people still have to follow. 

The rules still include no gatherings of 10 or more people, city owned playgrounds and basketball courts will continue to be closed, and the city is still emphasizing the importance of social distancing and staying six feet apart.

More specifically though, when it comes to places of worship and entertainment venues, employees must have their temperature checked daily. If any workers have a fever of 100.4 or higher, they should not be at the facility.

Seating must also be staggered with at least two seats between customer groups.

Gyms are also allowed to open Friday. In addition to checking workers for any fever, employees who have contact with the public must wear face mask. Equipment must be sanitized after each use, along with regular disinfecting of doorknobs, gates, counters, locker rooms and bathrooms.

Hand washing and sanitizing supplies must be made available for both employees and customers as well.

The proclamation includes a long list of specific rules for the restaurant and food industry.

Like other businesses, employers must check employees temperatures every day.

All servers and staff who interact with customers must wear face masks. All tables and seating areas must be at least six feet apart from each other, and must be cleaned after every guest. Menus and condiment bottles must be single use or able to be wiped down.

Mayor Holt says these restrictions will allow the city to move into a new phase of COVID-19 response, without abandoning public health protections.

"I'm never going to feel great about it because we are moving into a new phase. I didn't feel great about going into the last phase. Every one of these transition is a tough balancing act," the Mayor said.

The city says this phase of their plan is expected to last around two weeks depending on how things go.