By Mike Bailey
City Manager
Safer at Home
The City Council extended the Governor’s “Safer at Home” order to all residents and not just the vulnerable population. Why did the Council feel this was important?
While the vulnerable population is at the greatest risk of suffering severe complications from the disease, all residents are at equal risk of contracting and spreading the disease. The Council’s measures are intended to slow the spread of the disease to ensure that our first responders and health system are not overwhelmed.
What does Bartlesville’s “Safer at Home” order mean?
It means just what it says, we are all safer at home. All residents should stay home except when working in a critical infrastructure sector as defined by Governor Stitt or when conducting essential errands.
How does someone know if their job is part of a critical infrastructure sector?
Governor Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce have provided clarification on what the Governor defined as an essential industry at https://www.okcommerce.gov/covid19/.
What is an essential errand?
The Council defined essential errands as those that are critical to everyday life. They include:
- Obtaining medication, groceries and gasoline
- Visiting medical providers
- Exercising
Church
In light of the Governor’s order and the City’s “Safer at Home” order, can I go to church?
The City recognizes the need for both physical and mental health exercises during this crisis. Under the Governor’s order, we believe that “drive in” churches are allowed, provided that parishioners stay in their cars at all times and maintain at least six feet of space between vehicles. However, most local churches opted for a virtual Easter service. We believe this is the safest option at this time and applaud them for bringing worship to the homes of their parishioners. This is a great example of providing a critical service in a creative manner.
Activities
Is there an exhaustive list of allowed activities?
No. It is up to each citizen to use common sense when determining if their errand qualifies under one of the categories in the ordinance. However, we can list the most common questions we’ve received:
- You can shop for groceries, medicine, gas, repairs and other essential goods and services.
- You can go to a restaurant for curbside or drive-through service.
- You can go to the doctor and take care of other essential needs.
- You can exercise outside, including on sidewalks, trails and in public parks. You can enjoy outdoor activities like long walks, bike rides, golf and fishing.
- You can go to work in an essential job. You can also do business with someone working in an essential job.
- You can drive, bike, walk and take transit. You don’t need special ID or a permit. Police aren’t asking people to prove why they’re outside their home.
- You can work from home if you work in a job defined by the State as non-essential. You can also work with someone doing a non-essential job from home. Even if it’s an essential job, employers are encouraged to allow employees to work from home if possible.
- Staff are allowed on-site even at closed non-essential businesses for basic tasks like maintenance and security.
- You can check on someone in need.
- You can donate at blood drives, volunteer at food banks, and participate in other disaster response activities.
Daycare
The Council allowed daycares to remain open, but made some changes to how they are allowed to operate. What were the most significant changes?
Daycares are now only allowed to serve children of essential workers who have no other caregiver at home. Essential workers are those who are employed in a critical infrastructure sector as defined here: https://www.okcommerce.gov/covid19/.
In addition, daycares must cut their current teacher-to-child ratio in half and provide physical separation between the groups. In other words, if the State allows 10 children in one room with one teacher, the City now requires that group to be split in half. In this example, the daycare would now be allowed five children in one room with one teacher.
What if a daycare doesn’t have the space to put the different groups of children in separate rooms?
We have allowed daycares to put up physical barriers and divide a single room into two spaces, but they still must meet all State and fire code related rules. This will allow them to serve the same number of children as before, but it will further break up the groups of children. We believe this will reduce the danger of viral spread in this age group.
Why was it so important to address daycares?
The Council has been advised by multiple experts that children are often the silent carriers of this disease. While they may be at low risk of complications from the disease, they are at high risk of contracting and spreading the disease without showing any symptoms themselves.
Retail
Retail facilities were a big topic of discussion at the Council meeting. What types of actions were taken to help prevent the transmission of the virus in retail stores?
The Council took several measures that we believe will make our retail stores safer for both customers and employees. The biggest action was to limit the number of customers that are allowed in a retail store. Each facility is allowed one customer per 800 square feet of building space. The stores are required to post the maximum number of customers and ensure compliance.
What about really small stores? Will they be limited to one or two customers?
The Council took this into account and set a minimum of six customers. An 800 square foot store would be allowed six customers at a time, as would a 4,800 square foot store.
Is the square footage used in the calculation just the space that customers can use, or is it the entire store?
The Council took a very macro approach and used total square footage. This allows City staff to quickly determine if a maximum customer calculation is reasonable without having to measure the entire interior of each store. Additionally, the Council allowed stores to include fenced in areas that customers access in their calculation (i.e., garden centers, enclosed equipment displays, etc.)
What other actions did the Council take to make retail spaces safer?
The Council barred minors under the age of 14 from entering unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. They required certain signs and warnings to be posted throughout the store; made personal protective equipment (i.e., gloves, masks, etc.) mandatory for employees where it is available; required physical barriers to separate customers from customer service reps (i.e., sneeze guards or physical barriers that create six feet of separation); and strongly recommended the use of a cloth or procedure mask for all customers.
Isn’t there a shortage of masks? Won’t requiring employees and requesting customers to wear masks make this worse?
There is a shortage of masks, but in particular, there is a shortage of N95 certified masks for first responders and health care providers. The Council made it clear that the City is not recommending N95 masks for the public. The masks being recommended for the public are based on a CDC recommendation. More information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.
Council action
Did the Council take any other actions that impact the public?
The Council banned a few other activities. Garage sales, estate sales, auctions and door to door soliciting are not allowed during this emergency.
How did the Council arrive at these recommendations?
The Council created the Covid-19 Emergency Advisory Board to help guide them through this pandemic. The advisory board is staffed with emergency services leaders, physicians, medical professionals, hospital administrators, and members of the City Council and County Commission. The advisory board’s recommendations were the nucleus of the actions taken by the City Council.
Previous ordinance
The City Council had previously passed an ordinance that contained some restrictions. Are those still in effect, and can you remind us what they are?
The previous ordinance is still in effect. The most critical sections of that ordinance are:
- Most City facilities are closed to the public.
- Bars, restaurants, taverns, etc., cannot allow customers into their facilities. They can provide curbside, drive-thru and delivery where allowed by law.
- Gyms, exercise facilities, bowling alleys and movie theaters are closed.
The ordinance allows spas and salons to operate by appointment only. However, the Governor’s executive order will not allow them to operate at all.
Violations
Is it a crime to violate this ordinance?
Violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor. However, we are more interested in educating the public at this time. There are no plans to write citations for incidental or accidental infractions. Willful or repeat offenders are another matter.
If I see a person or business violating the Governor’s or City’s restrictions, how do I report it?
The Bartlesville Police Department has set up a streamlined method, so that the public can report these violations. This will allow them to more effectively investigate and track complaints. You can report these at https://www.cityofbartlesville.org/public-safety/covid-complaints/.
More information
Where should the public go for more information or to contact the City about the pandemic and the local response?
City staff and the City Council understand the anxiety and frustration that this disease is causing our community. We have set up an email address specifically for citizens to express their concern, support and advice, or just to ask a question about Covid-19. The email address is covid-19@cityofbartlesville.org. We also encourage the public to check out the City’s Covid-19 Hub webpage, https://www.cityofbartlesville.org/covid-19-hub/. There is a tremendous amount of information on this page. And while you’re there, sign up for City Beat, the City’s free, weekly e-newsletter, to stay informed about all City activities.
Is there anything else you would like the citizens of Bartlesville to know?
It is important to remember that this is an emergency caused by a global pandemic. As such, these restrictions are temporary, but none of us can predict when the pandemic will pass. Until then, please stay home, stay safe, and stay healthy. The wellbeing of our community is in each of our hands.