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Retail to Go: DSHS Offers Guidance on How to Re-Open Safely for Both Employees and Customers

Apr 22, 2020
Posted by: Brian Hernandez

On April 17, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott signed an Executive Order authorizing the re-opening of retail businesses effective April 24. 

Review the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) guidance on how to re-open safely for both employees and customers:

I am an Employee of a retail business re-opening. What should I do to keep myself and our customers safe?

• All employees must be trained on environmental cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
• All employees must be screened before coming into the business for new or worsening cough; shortness of breath; sore throat; loss of taste or smell; feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit; or known close contact who meets any of these criteria should be sent home.
• Upon entering the business, employees must wash or sanitize hands.
• All employees must wear face coverings.
• Employees must maintain at least 6 feet separation from one another.

I am a Customer. How do I purchase and obtain goods from a retail store that has just re-opened?

• Customers may purchase items from a retail location for pickup, delivery by mail, or delivery to the customer’s doorstep, but may not enter the premises.
• Retail to-go:

-All payments should be done over the phone or internet if possible, and contact should be minimized if remote payment is not available.

-Purchased items should be delivered by the employee to the backseat or trunk of the customer’s vehicle whenever possible to minimize physical contact with the customer.

-Employees must wash or sanitize their hands after each interaction with a customer, and whenever possible, must disinfect any item that came into contact with the customer.

• Retail delivery to customer’s doorstep:

-All payments should be done over the phone or internet if possible, and contact should be minimized if remote payment is not available.

-Purchased items should be delivered by an employee or thirdparty carrier and delivered to the customer’s doorstep. The employee or third-party carrier may not enter the customer’s house or business.

• Retail delivery by mail:

-All payments must be done over the phone or internet.

-Purchased items should be delivered by mail without customer contact.

• The customer should wash or sanitize their hands after the transaction.

Click to review a printable version.