Stabilization Phase Planning

As part of Summit County's Stabilization Phase response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summit County's Stabilization Work Group recently completed a review of nominations and applications for various business sector representatives. These representatives will collaborate with the Health Department to further refine industry and business-specific protocols, building on work already compiled at the State, regional and local levels, which will be due by April 27. 

Before the April 27 deadline, individuals who own or manage businesses in Summit County can participate by viewing the roster of Business Sector Representatives and Staff Liaisons and reach out to the appointed contacts within their industry with questions, concerns, or input regarding business protocol and modified business operation due to COVID-19. This roster can be viewed here or downloaded as a PDF below.

Business owners, employees, and members of the public are encouraged to view the county's FAQ document regarding the Stabilization Phase found below. The Summit County Concerns Line (435-333-0050) is operated by trained staff who are also able to answer questions and receive public feedback in both English and Spanish. This line is open Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm.

Links:

Stabilization Roster
PDF: https://www.summitcounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/10885/Stabilization-Phase-Representatives-Liaisons-v_4

Web Page: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR_POuyyMBOa8CXhX69nT22aQpDWyGKI5NaVLr6g1ZufwRt8PCMhIAQOcDhs-YOrwuzLxZr0JQyl-05/pubhtml

FAQ
PDF: https://www.summitcounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/10871/StabilizationPlanningFAQ_April2020-FINAL

For more information on the COVID-19 outlook in Summit County, visit summitcountyhealth.org/coronavirus.

Summit County COVID-19 Stabilization Planning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) April 2020

What is the “stabilization phase”?

Utah Governor Herbert issued a statewide plan for reactivating the economy and stabilizing public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, which divides response efforts into three different phases: Urgent, Stabilization, and Recovery.

The Urgent phase is the highest-risk level (“Red”) in which we are currently, and focuses on response efforts that reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus and attempt to prevent surges in infection rates that overwhelm the healthcare system. Health orders involve stay-at-home requirements, strict social distancing, and sanitization.

The Stabilization phase is moderate-risk level (“Orange” to “Yellow”), which allows for the gradual easing of restrictions implemented during the Urgent phase under specific protocols and conditions that still protect public health.

The Recovery phase is low-risk level (“Yellow” to “Green”) when response efforts implemented in the previous phases stabilize and the economy returns to positive growth.

Indicators that allow the transition to the next phase of the emergency involve virus transmission rates, hospital capacity, and other public health data.

What is the Stabilization Working Group?

Summit County created a working group to focus on and plan for the stabilization phase of the emergency and what it looks like specifically in Summit County. This group consists of members from County elected and appointed leadership and the Health Department, Park City staff, Mayors from the cities of Francis, Kamas and Oakley, Park City Chamber of Commerce, Park City Lodging and Restaurant Associations, Park City Community Foundation, People’s Health Clinic, and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.

This group meets almost every day and is currently facilitating a process with business and community members on developing protocols for a new health order that would transition Summit County into the stabilization phase of this emergency (i.e. the “stabilization health order”).

Who are the “sector representatives” and “staff liaisons”?

Business and community members were invited to apply to represent their business sector in working directly with the County on protocols for the stabilization health order that would allow businesses to gradually reopen in the stabilization phase while continuing to keep employees and the public safe from virus transmission.

“Sector representatives” are the individuals who applied and were appointed to represent their business sector in this planning process. These individuals are expected to reach out and collaborate with other businesses in their sector to identify risks, exposure, and mitigation strategies specific to their business operations and provide that information to the Health Department to evaluate for the stabilization health order.

“Staff liaisons” are either members of the Working Group, or County or Park City employees assigned to support the sector representatives through the planning process and submit a formal proposal to the Health Department to approve for the stabilization health order.

What sectors are involved in the planning process?

The Working Group appointed representatives from the following sectors:
  • Accommodation/Lodging
  • Administrative/Support
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Bars & Night Clubs
  • Caterers
  • Childcare/Preschool
  • Construction
  • Events/Mass Gatherings
  • Faith-based Organizations
  • Food Service – Coffee Shops
  • Food Service – Restaurants
  • Gyms/Fitness Providers (large facilities)
  • Gyms/Fitness Providers (small facilities)
  • Healthcare/Social Assistance
  • Home Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Real Estate/Rental/Leasing
  • Recreation
  • Recreation – Rentals/Outfitters
  • Resorts
  • Retail Trade/Wholesale Trade
  • Salons (nails, hair, spa)
  • Summer Camps
  • Transportation & Transit (people & cargo)
  • Warehousing
  • Waste Management/Remediation Services

What if my business sector is not on the list?

Your business will be required to follow the mandatory requirements issued by the Health Department which apply to every business but there will not be any business specific protocols listed in the stabilization health order for your business.

I applied but was not appointed as a sector representative. How can I still be involved in this process?

We encourage you to reach out to the sector representatives for your sector (or anyone in which you’re interested) and let them know you want to provide feedback for the development of the proposal that gets submitted to the Health Department.

I am a business owner. Do I need to submit a plan or application in order to reopen?

No. Once the stabilization health order is issued, you will be allowed to reopen/operate per the guidelines and timelines outlined in the health order, which apply to every business within that sector. You will be required to comply with both the mandatory business requirements and the business specific requirements (if there are any) listed for your business sector. You should not expect to return to business operations as they were before the pandemic. It will take time to ramp up and prepare your business to comply with the health protocols.

I am a business owner. Can I open on May 1, 2020? When can I start taking bookings/reservations?

Once the County issues the stabilization health order, businesses will be allowed to open under the guidelines and protocols specified in the health order. While the hope is to issue the new health order around May 1, 2020, it will depend on whether the data shows it is safe to move to the stabilization phase, which will be a decision made by the Health Department in consultation with the County Council and County Manager. If public health conditions in the County are not suitable for transition to the stabilization phase, the current stay-at-home health order will be extended. Nonessential businesses will not be allowed to open until the stabilization health order is issued, officially moving the County into the orange, stabilization phase.

I am a business owner. What if I’m not ready to open when the County issues the new health order?

The County’s stabilization health order will only set the date for when businesses will be allowed to start reopening. If businesses are not ready to reopen on the date the new health order is issued, they can open whenever they are ready after that date and are able to comply with both the mandatory and business-specific protocols described in the health order.

How will the County enforce the mandatory and business-specific protocols in the new health order?

For all the health orders, the County has taken the approach of educating about compliance when violations are discovered. However, there have been instances of blatant violations where the County’s public health officer and the County Attorney have taken enforcement actions. The County has limited enforcement resources but will react to complaints and violators that are brought to our attention. Some businesses, such as food service, bars, and salons, will be inspected to ensure compliance with the new order. We are also encouraging businesses operating in the same sector to keep each other accountable in complying with the protocols specified in the health order.

I keep hearing about the Governor’s 2.0 Plan. What is it?

On April 17, 2020, Utah Governor Herbert released the Utah Leads Together 2.0 Plan, which is version two of his health stabilization and economic reactivation plan for the State of Utah. That plan outlines a color-coded risk level guidance system: Red (high-risk), Orange (moderate-risk), Yellow (low-risk), and Green (new normal). There are conditions and protocols associated with each risk level to allow for gradual economic reactivation while protecting public health.

The Governor’s plan presents the concept of a dial that eases restrictions up and down and moves between the color guidance system based on infection rates and hospital capacity within different communities.

Summit County is adopting this concept and is following the Governor’s plan as much as possible. The community effort underway now to develop business specific protocols addresses both the gaps within the Governor’s plan and the unique aspects of Summit County’s economy.

To view the Governor’s Utah Leads Together 2.0 Plan and Phased Health Guidelines, go to: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-leads-together/