COVID-19 mask requirements extended for service providers

July 21, 2020
Posted by Sheila Harris

Pursuant to Section 192.300 RSMo and CSR 20-20.050(3), the Board of Trustees of the Barry County Health
Department are authorized and have promulgated orders intended to enhance the public health and prevent
the infectious, contagious, communicable, or dangerous diseases, such as the COVID-19 virus, in the County.
The Barry County Health Department is authorized to promulgate such mandatory or advisory rules, policies,
and guidance as is necessary and appropriate to implement the Order. Mandatory rules and policies so
promulgated shall have the force of law to the greatest extent possible.

These rules are a phased community mitigation process that allow businesses to return to full operations
while managing the likelihood COVID-19 spread in our community. If these rules are not complied with or
prove ineffective, we reserve the right to institute additional and more stringent mandatory rules.

Enforcement
The Barry County Health Department (BCHD) pursuant Section 192.300 RSMo and CSR 20-20.050(3), may order
businesses not compliant with these orders to remain closed for a time, as determined by the BCHD, sufficient
to ensure all appropriate control measures are instituted. Additionally, the Barry County Health Department,
upon notice of non-compliance with these Orders may initiate legal action to seek a court judgement to ensure
compliance.

Phase 2 Mitigation – Beginning July 16, 2020
All persons, organizations, and businesses must comply; this may serve as your only notice
Requirements – Face coverings and physical distancing continue to be the most effective way to mitigate
the spread of COVID-19. Due to recent rapid increases of positive tests in and near Barry County as well
as the increase of COVID-19 cases in work places, these rules were implemented to mitigate the spread
of COVID-19 and the need for any additional restrictions.
• Source Control Masking – Service providers/servers wearing a cloth or surgical style mask is
required when providing personal services where physical distancing is not practicable.
These services include, but are not limited to:
• All types of food and/or beverage service.
• Tanning salons and services, nail services, spa type services, therapeutic
massage (unless under the care of a physician.)
• Hair cutting, styling, washing, or coloring services.
• Other types of non-physician dermatological services.
• Body decoration/modification services, including tattooing, piercing, branding,
scarification, shaping, implants, scalpelling, and painting.

Recommendations – Strongly suggested practices to lessen the chance of contracting COVID-19.
• Enhanced Hygiene Practices – Owners and organizers are responsible to ensure surfaces that
are frequently touched must be wiped with an appropriate antimicrobial solution that is allowed
to air dry between individual users. An easy way to do this is using a bleach solution (1/3 cup of
bleach in 1 gallon of water) in a spray bottle, sprayed on the surface and not wiped.
• Physical Distancing – Separation of persons or groups by a minimum of 6 feet) is recommended
at all times.
• All buildings open to the public – Including all businesses, government offices, organizations,
agencies, and places of worship) may return to maximum occupancy, as allowed by regulation
or ordinance.
• Persons at High Risk – Cloth face coverings are recommended at all times when in public or
physical distancing (>6’) cannot be maintained. Persons who are greater 65 years of age, who
are immuno-compromised or have chronic medical conditions are at a higher risk of contracting
COVID-19 and should follow the CDC guidance on face coverings.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/groups-at-higherrisk.
html
Advice to Businesses – Contract tracing shows that workplaces, even small businesses with few
employees/visitors, are a significant source of community spread of COVID-19, we are strongly urging
you to enact the following at your Barry County business:
•  Require your staff members to wear masks at least while not six feet apart and any time a customer or visitor comes to your business.
• Require customers to wear masks upon entry to your facility, especially while traveling through
shared spaces to an individual’s office or meeting space.
• Sanitize high-touch surfaces between each and every customer/visitor.

How to discuss masking with your employees and customers – We understand that mask requirements
are a difficult subject to approach and are often met with resistance, but it is vital that every business takes
personal responsibility to protect community health. Consider using the following to help staff and
customers/visitors to understand the importance of preventative masking:
• Make sure staff knows that you care about their health and the health of their family members
and that is first and foremost why masking is important. “I know masks are an inconvenience,
but you are essential to our team and we want to protect you.”
• Explain to customers your responsibility to your employees and the community. “We are just
trying to do what we can to protect our staff and our customers.” You might consider also
adding, “We, as a small business, have a small staff, and we have to protect them so we’re here
to serve our customers.”
• Emphasize responsibility. “If we voluntarily institute these measures, we can keep the
community safe and also keep from having business shut back down again. We want to do
everything we can to protect the most vulnerable of us in our community and support the
economy.”
The Barry County Health Department may be forced to enact stricter requirements if COVID cases
continue to rise in our communities. If we work together to protect each other through voluntarily
cleaning surfaces and wearing masks, we can avoid that. Put on a mask. Have your employees and
customers put on masks. We are all in this together.