Eau Claire issues new Public Health Order

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department has issued a new Public Health Order which loosens requirements in the county and goes into effect at midnight tonight.  These decreased requirements are taking place despite an increase in cases and risk in the county, and primarily reflect the fact that the health department has been able to keep up with contact tracing in the county. Please see today's information briefing for more details on recent outbreaks in the county. Eau Claire County is moving to Step D in the Respond Together Eau Claire Plan.

Changes in this step include:

• Public gatherings may have up to 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors, with physical distancing between households maintained.

• Door-to-door solicitation is discouraged, but not prohibited

• Recommended occupancy is 50%

• It is now recommended to limit the number of workers present on premises instead of required

• Self-service food and beverage operations and self-dispensing unpackaged food are now discouraged, but not prohibited

• This order requires physical distancing be regulated in smaller spaces where large groups may form, such as restrooms, coat closets, or other spaces.

• Waiting areas at 1-on-1 personal services are now encouraged to remain closed, but not required to be closed.

• Wearing a cloth face covering when physical distancing can not be maintained is strongly encouraged.

Public gatherings are those planned events with a number of people in attendance that could strain the planning and response resources, including public health and community health care resources, of the community hosting the event, such as a concert, festival, conference, or sporting event. Gatherings of any kind outside of a household unit shall exercise physical distancing and comply with all other requirements for public spaces and public buildings found in section 2 of the order. Organizers of public gatherings are still required to document contact information of attendees for contact tracing purposes, and actively screen and prevent attendance of individuals, including staff, volunteers, and attendees, who have symptoms of COVID-19. See this link for a sample guest sign-in sheet.