News from the GCVCC
The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce recently surveyed their members to ask what health and safety steps they are prepared to take in light of COVID-19 to protect employees and customers. Our goal was to assess the preparedness of our local small business community when the local economy is opened back up.
The survey revealed the majority of our small business community is prepared to take the same essential safety steps being taken by big box stores that have remained open. In some cases, the steps they can take go above and beyond current measures.
The chamber has passed along this assessment to the County of Riverside in an effort to help with the reopening of our local economy. We will also continue to work with State and Federal officials on the topic. If you have additional suggestions or guidelines to the below, please feel free to send them along to us at [email protected].
The survey below was conducted from Monday, April 20th, through Wednesday, April 22nd, by phone.
Key
Number – Question Asked of Members
Bullets – Member responses
Response* – Percentage of business members that offered this response
“X” – Means the business is generally open to guidelines set forth by the County Health Department.
*Please note, if a business did not offer the response, it does not mean they are not wiling to comply to this condition. Because the answers below were not prompted, it simply means it was not part of their voluntary offering.
1. As a retail business, what health and safety measures could you reasonably take if your business were to reopen today to ensure social distancing and safe space for your employees and customers?
- Facemask required for everyone in business – Response (100%)
- 1 person per “X” SF (including staff) – Response (100%)
- Hand Sanitizer available at entrance/exit – Response (100%)
- A shield will be in place at the register – Response (80%)
- Encouraging customers to book online or call in advance for pickup or curbside – Response (50%)
- Allow customers in by appointment only – Response (30%)
2. As a restaurant, what health and safety measures could you reasonably take if your business were to reopen today to ensure social distancing and safe space for your employees and customers?
- Offer curbside and/or delivery – Response (100%)
- Facemask required for all employees – Response (100%)
- 1 person per “X” SF (including staff) – Response (100%)
- Complete cleaning of tables and chairs after every visit – Response (100%)
- A shield will be in place at the register – Response (80%)
- Manage customers by requiring reservations – Response (30%)
- Employees are assigned to specific stations to limit cross-interaction – Response (40%)
- All customers to pay digitally using web-based or automated (at table) billing system – Response (20%)
3. As a brick and mortar service-based business, what health and safety measures could you reasonably take if your business were to reopen today to ensure social distancing and safe space for your employees and customers?
- Masks, gloves required for all employees – Response (100%)
- Masks require for all customers – Response (100%)
- Sanitize station after every use – Response (100%)
- A shield will be in place at the register – Response (80%)
- 1 person per station, 6 feet distance between all stations – Response (80%) Additional note, this question may not have been applicable to all businesses queried.
- Appointments required for all customers – Response (60%)
- Disinfect any and all common areas once per “X” – Response (50%) Additional note, this question may not have been applicable to all businesses queried.
- Eliminate/close waiting areas – Response (40%) Additional note, this question may not have been applicable to all businesses .
Additional note – several businesses stated the need for affordable access to protective equipment to supply to staff.