Reopening Guidance

The following are general guidelines in key areas related to the control of COVID-19. These guidelines are to be considered best practices for businesses, including those in retail, service, and food service, when allowed to reopen under Governor Evers’ Badger Bounce Back Plan.  The guidelines listed below will help your business transition to safely reopen while reducing the spread of COVID-19 to employees and customers.  These guidelines were compiled from a range of government sources and include feedback from Wisconsin’s regional economic development organizations.  For more detailed information, visit the WEDC website for the complete Wisconsin General Guidance for all Business.

Remember, best business practices for COVID-19 may change over time. Contact the state COVID-19 hotline at 211 or WEDC at 855.INWIBIZ (855.469.4249) for the latest guidance.

For industry-specific guidance, please visit our Industry-Specific Guidance for Reopening webpage

Social (Physical) Distancing

  • Clearly communicate your business’s expectations and commitment to social distancing by displaying signage on premises and on your website, if applicable.
  • Keep store traffic to a manageable size based on current guidelines.
  • Implement measures for maintaining social distancing between employees and customers, and also employees and employees, where possible.
  • Minimize and reduce interaction with common touchpoints, such as item handoff, cash transactions, etc.
  • Post signage on the front door letting customers know about changes to your policies and instruct them to stay away if they are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Face Coverings

  • Utilize the proper types and amount of PPE where needed.
  • Employees should wear cloth or disposable facemasks where direct interactions with customers are unavoidable
  • If disposable gloves are used, replace gloves frequently, especially when switching between  customers, and always sanitize or wash hands between changing pairs of gloves.
  • Avoid touching the face, especially if wearing a facemask and gloves.

Sanitation

  • Frequently clean and disinfect common touchpoints and high traffic areas using approved disinfectants or sanitizers, if working in areas where food is stored, produced, served, or packaged.
  • Common areas include door handles, desks, phones, light switches, and faucets.
  • Provide soap and water and access to hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 % alcohol for use by employees and customers.
  • Provide tissues and trash receptacles which do not require touching.

Employee Health

  • Implement clear policies and provide education to employees regarding illness and symptoms, specifically COVID-19.
  • Implement telework and other social distancing practices.
  • Exclude any employee from the workplace who is symptomatic.
  • Contact your local health department if one or more employees become ill.
  • Greenfield Health Department: (414)329-5275

For more detailed information, visit the WEDC website for the complete Wisconsin General Guidance for all Business.