Businesses not required to close for positive COVID-19 test

Businesses in Waldo are making changes to the way they do business in order to keep staff members and customers healthy.

AS RESTAURANT OWNERSTRY TO KEEP THEIRBUSINESSES AFLOATDURING THE PANDEMIC --THEY ARE ALSO WORKINGTO PROTECT YOU ANDTHEIR EMPLOYEES.BUT EVEN WITHPRECAUTIONS IN PLACE -EMPLOYEES CAN STILLTEST POSITIVE FOR THEVIRUS.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER MCKENZIENELSON FOUND OUT HOWRESTAURANTS HANDLETHAT SITUATION.MCKENZIE NELSON - REPORTINGBUSINESSES HERE INWALDO ARE MAKINGCHANGES TO THE WAYTHEY DO BUSINESS, INORDER TO KEEP THEIRSTAFF MEMBERS ANDTHEIR CUSTOMERS SAFEAND HEALTHY.MOLLIE LOTHMAN - CO-OWNEROF MCLAIN"S BAKERYSOur goal is to try to stayas healthy as possible, keepour employees as comfortableas possible and still try andserve people.THE PANDEMIC HASFORCED BUSINESSESEVERYWHERE TO MAKEADJUSTMENTS " ALMOSTON A DAILY BASIS.LOTHMANSIt"s really hard I knowto come into work from anowners perspective butI"m sure also from anemployees perspective to notknow exactly what each day isgoing to hold.IN MARCH - MCLAIN"SBAKERY SHUT DOWN ITSDINING ROOM.NOW - THE DININGOPTIONS HAVE EXPANDEDTO A WALK UP WINDOWAND SEATING AREAOUTSIDE.WITH THE CHANGES - ALSOCAME CAPACITYREGULATIONS - LIMITINGTHE NUMBER OFCUSTOMERS ANDEMPLOYEES IN ONELOCATION.LOTHMANSIt might slow down ourticket times a little bit butit"s worth it to us.ACROSS THE STREET ATBIER STATION " OUTSIDESEATING IS ALL THAT"SAVAILABLE.JOHN COUTURE - OWNER, BIERSTATIONSWe have not allowedpeople inside except to usethe restroom since thebeginning of COVID.THE OWNER SAYS THEDECISION WASPRECAUTIONARY.COUTURESLuckily, we havenhad anything yet, but I feellikeyou just always have to beprepared because you neverknow.

It could happen toanyone at anytime.IF A BUSINESS HAS A STAFFMEMBER OR CUSTOMERTEST POSITIVE FOR COVID" THERE ARE A FEWSTEPS THEY SHOULD TAKEAND DOESN"T ALWAYSRESULT IN A SHUT DOWN.COUTURESWe"ve alreadydiscussed as a staff that ifthere"s any infection onour staff at all, we"re goingto immediately close.

Wedon"t feel it"sresponsible to stay open andmake it work if somebody hasit.LOCAL HEALTHDEPARTMENTS SAYBUSINESSES SHOULDFIGURE OUT WHO THEPATIENT WAS IN CLOSECONTACT WITH "THAT"S ANYONE WHOWAS LESS THAN 6 FEETAWAY FOR 15 MINUTES ORMORE.THOSE PEOPLE SHOULDISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS "REGARDLESS IF THEYTEST NEGATIVE.LOTHMANSWhat we"ve leaned isit"s very situational anddepends on what"shappening, who they"vebeen close to, when theyfound out that they"vebeen exposed, things like that.So we"re trying to handleeach situation as it comes.HEALTH OFFICIALSRECOMMEND SANITIZINGAND MONITORING THEBUSINESS FORTRANSMISSION.IF THE CASE COUNTGROWS " CLOSING THEBUSINESS FOR A DEEPERCLEAN WOULD BERECOMMENDED.IN Kansas City, MCKENZIENELSON,