Governor Beshear's benchmarks for reopening Kentucky's economy

When will businesses be able to open their doors again? Yesterday evening, Governor Andy Beshear outlined seven benchmarks Kentucky must meet in order to safely reopen the economy, which reflect the guidance the federal government announced on Thursday.

“We believe our approach is very much in line with the White House. The plan put out by the White House has certain thresholds that states should meet before we start taking certain steps,” Gov. Beshear said. “The benchmarks are being driven by public health. We are all on the same page about what keeps people safe.”

“We have to make sure we do it smart, we do it safely,” he added. “That we don’t let our guard down, that we don’t start focusing on the next game until we win this game.”

Criteria to Move to Phase One

• 14 days where cases are decreasing
• Increased testing capacity and contact tracing
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) availability
• Ability to protect at-risk populations
• Ability to social distance and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on large gatherings
• Preparedness for possible future spike
• Status of vaccine and treatment

Once Kentucky meets certain benchmarks, the federal guidance says it is safe to move to Phase One of reopening.

Phase One

Individuals

• Individuals should continue to practice good hygiene
• People who feel sick should stay home
• All vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place
• All individuals, when in public, should maximize physical distance from others
• All individuals should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, unless precautionary measures can be strictly observed
• Minimize non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel

Employers

• Should continue to encourage telework
• If possible, should return to work in phases
• Close common areas
• Minimize non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel
• Strongly consider special accommodations for personnel who are members of a vulnerable population

Specific types of employers

• Schools and organized youth activities that are currently closed should remain closed
• Visits to senior living facilities and hospitals should still be prohibited
• Large venues (sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under strict physical distancing protocols
• Elective surgeries can resume, as clinically appropriate, on an outpatient basis at facilities that adhere to CMS guidelines
• Gyms can reopen if they adhere to strict physical distancing and sanitation protocols
• Bars should remain closed

When will we get to Phase One?

“We think that following these benchmarks, possibly before May we could see some loosening in the health care area,” Gov. Beshear said. “We could see the ability to open up in some small ways before May, during May and beyond, but this will be a phased approach based on our benchmarks and recommendations from many groups. We have to ensure any actions we take protect the sacrifices that so many Kentuckians have made.”

Phases Two and Three

The White House also outlined Phases Two and Three, which are only for states with no evidence of a rebound and that satisfy the gating criteria a second and third time. Gov. Beshear will detail Kentucky’s plan for entering these phases in due time, but here’s a quick overview from the White House’s plan.

Phase Two:

• Non-essential travel can resume
• Reopening of schools and organized youth activities
• Large venues (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.
• Gyms can remain open
• Bars may open with diminished standing-room occupancy
• Visits to senior care facilities and hospitals still prohibited

Phase Three:

• Vulnerable individuals can resume public interactions but continue to practice social distancing
• Employers can resume unrestricted staffing of worksites
• Visits to senior care facilities and hospitals can resume

For more information on the White House’s criteria and all three proposed phases of reopening, visit whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.