Boone County reopen order more strict than state order

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

The state of Missouri and Boone County have new reopen orders going into effect Monday morning at midnight.

There are not many differences between the two, however, the Boone County reopen order is more strict on allowing businesses to reopen.

Cole County has been following statewide guidelines since April 25 and will continue to follow the state's order through May.

Carrie Tergin, the Jefferson City Mayor says the capital city's residents have been doing a good job so far.

"The key is for people to realize that there are things that we should all be doing so that we can reopen safely," Tegrin said. "For the last over a week now we've been under the state's order and locally people are really doing their part, and they know what they should be doing and so they're, they're doing that they're going out very carefully."

Previous stay at home orders expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 3.

New reopening orders will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, May 4.

Here's what the orders look like:

For the Missouri's Economic Reopening Phase 1, anyone and everyone in Missouri is being ordered to follow these guidelines to the best of their ability:

• Maintain 6 ft. of social distancing when possible.
• Businesses must limit the amount of individuals in the building.
  • Businesses less than 10,000 sq. ft. can only have 25% or less people than the building's fire code occupancy.
  • Businesses more than 10,000 sq. ft. can only have 10% or less people than the building's fire code occupancy.
• No visiting long-term care facilities.
• Schools shall remain closed.
• Restaurants may now offer dine-in services.
  • Must maintain 6 ft between tables.
  • No more than 10 people per table.

Boone County's Reopening Plan Phase 2, Step 1 follows many of the same guidelines as the state but with a few exceptions.

• Bars, large venues, movie theatres and playgrounds must remain closed until further notice.
• Pools may open but must provide a plan for disinfecting and maintaining to the Columbia/Boone County Health Department.
  • Pools with a lifeguard must maintain social distancing orders
  • Pools without a lifeguard can not have more than 10 people at the pool.
• Personal care businesses, nail salons, barber shops must require employees to wear a mask where social distancing is not possible.
  • 10 or fewer people in the shop at one time or 50% of occupancy, whichever is less.
• Intentional gatherings limited to 10 people.
• High risk individuals continue to stay home.
  • High risk individuals are classified as 65 years or older, long-term care facility residents and people with pre-existing health conditions considered by the CDC to be high-risk.
• Non-retail businesses may reopen, provided they maintain social distancing, 6 ft and fire occupancy limit orders.
• Retail stores, gyms and restaurants can reopen but must follow social distancing orders and fire occupancy limit orders.
• Churches and religious services may reopen but must follow social distancing and fire occupancy rules.
• Daycares may open and continue to follow guidance from the health department.

Fire occupancy limit orders are as follows:

• Businesses less than 10,000 SQ FT can only have 25% or less people than the building's fire code occupancy.
• Businesses more than 10,000 SQ FT can only have 10% or less people than the building's fire code occupancy.

"We want to balance business with safety and I think here in Cole County, we've done a really good job of that and we just appreciate everybody doing their part and even though we don't have a local order we haven't since April 25 and we are following the state guidelines that people seem to be very tuned into that and following that closely," Tergin said. "I'm also proud of Cole County Health Department for putting out such great recommended guidelines for businesses and for everyone to follow."

You can find more information on what you can and cannot do in Cole County at colehealth.org.

You can find more information on the Boone County order here.

These orders will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., Sunday, May 31, 2020, unless extended by further order of the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services.