Dane County Public Health Requirements Starting April 7, 2021

Public Health Madison & Dane County has released Emergency Order #15, which includes changes for many sectors. An order overview is below, but please check the full order for details, as many requirements have changed.

Face Coverings

• Face coverings are required for people ages five and older when in any enclosed building with people you don’t live with, in line to enter any enclosed building, and while driving or riding in vehicle with people you don’t live with.
• Certain exceptions exist for fully vaccinated people. Details are below.
• Face coverings are strongly recommended but not required in all other settings, including outdoors when it’s not possible to maintain six feet of physical distancing.

Gatherings

• Indoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings are limited to 150 people or less, not including employees if food or drink is offered or provided. Indoor gatherings are limited to 350 people or less, not including employees if food or drink is not offered or provided. Indoor gatherings must also comply with the percentage capacity caps. In addition, gatherings must allow for 6 feet distancing between individuals not from the same household or living unit. Face coverings are required.
• Outdoor gatherings. Numbers must be limited to ensure people who don’t live together can maintain six feet physical distancing at all times.

School and Childcare

Public and private school and childcare entities must develop and implement a written hygiene, cleaning, and protective measures policies (see page 3 of order for details on what must be included in those policies). Entities must document staff receipt, acknowledgement, or training of these policies. Schools must implement Public Health Madison & Dane County’s action plan for COVID-19 cases at a school.

Sports

• Distancing is required at all times between people who don’t live together except when actively participating in the sport.
• Face coverings are required when sports are played indoors.
• Sports must follow gathering requirements.
• Sports must develop and implement written hygiene, cleaning, and protective measure policies and the organizing entity must document their receipt, acknowledgement, or training.
• Organizations must implement Public Health Madison & Dane County’s sports action plan for COVID-19 cases.

Businesses

• Businesses are limited to up to 50% of approved capacity levels indoors. Actual capacity level must still allow for 6 feet distancing between individuals not from the same household or living unit.
• Businesses must develop and implement written hygiene, cleaning, and protective measure policies and must document staff receipt, acknowledgement, or training on these policies.
• All businesses should, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate remote work and other measures that limit the number of individuals present at an office.

Restaurants & Taverns

• Restaurants are limited to up to 50% of approved seating capacity levels indoors, with at least six feet of distancing between customers who do not live together. Customers must be seated at all times when not in transit.
• Taverns are limited to up to 25% of approved seating capacity levels indoors, with at least six feet of distancing between customers who do not live together. Customers must be seated at all times when not in transit.
• See “Stores that Sell Food or Groceries” for additional changes that might apply to your business.

Stores that Sell Food or Groceries

• Customer may self-dispense unpackaged bulk food items.
• Customer may use self-service operations of unpackaged food, such as salad bars and buffets.
• Customers may sample foods.
• Dine-in capacity is limited to up to 50% of approved indoor capacity levels, with at least six feet of distancing between customers who do not live together. Customers must be seated at all times when not in transit.

Gyms and Fitness Centers

• Gyms and fitness centers are limited to up to 50% of approved capacity levels indoors.
• To the extent possible, gyms and fitness centers must space equipment at least six feet apart, especially for treadmills and other high-exertion aerobic fitness equipment.
• Use floor markings to indicate spacing of individuals.
• Group fitness classes may only be offered if six feet physical distancing can be maintained at all times. Group fitness classes are considered gatherings and must comply with those limits.
• Saunas and steam rooms may open if capacity is limited to people who live together at any given time period.

Places of Amusement and Activity

• These types of places include water parks, licensed public or private swimming pools, aquariums, zoos, museums, bowling alleys, amusement parks, outdoor miniature golf, movie theaters, theaters, concert and music halls, golf courses, and similar places.
• Places are limited to up to 50% of approved capacity levels indoors. Actual capacity level must still allow for six feet distancing between individuals not from the same household or living unit.

Fully Vaccinated People

Fully vaccinated means it is two weeks after someone’s second dose of a 2-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after someone’s first dose of a 1-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

People who are fully vaccinated do not need to maintain six feet distancing or wear a mask when in an enclosed space:

• Where all individuals are fully vaccinated;           
• Where fully vaccinated individuals are with individuals from a single household or living unit who:
  • are not fully vaccinated and are not at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease as defined by the CDC; and
  • do not reside anyone who is not fully vaccinated and at an increased risk increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease as defined by the CDC.

People who are fully vaccinated must follow all other aspects of the order, including wearing a face covering when in indoor public spaces.