Dane County Public Health Requirements for May 5, 2021

Public Health Madison & Dane County has released Emergency Order #16. An order overview is below, but please check the full order for details.

Face Coverings

Requirements for face coverings are mostly unchanged from Order #15, except one bullet point was added to the exceptions:

• 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 vehicles with people you don’t live with.
• Certain exceptions exist for fully vaccinated people. Details are below.
• Face coverings are recommended but not required in all other settings, including outdoors when it’s not possible to maintain six feet of physical distancing.
• Face coverings are not required indoors when actively playing an instrument that has a bell cover or, similar cover, that acts as a face covering over the instrument, as long as individuals are spaced at least six feet apart at all times.

Gatherings

Indoor gathering limits increased but requirements for outdoor gatherings are unchanged from Order #15.

• Indoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings are limited to 350 people or less, not including employees if food or drink is offered or provided. Indoor gatherings are limited to 500 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, except when in transit. 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, except when in transit.

Schools, Childcare, and Youth Activities

Requirements for schools and childcare are unchanged from Order #15.  Youth activities have been added to this section.

Public and private schools, childcare, and youth activities  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

Requirements related to sports unchanged from Order #15.

• 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 limit 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

Capacity limits increased for businesses, but all other requirements are the same from Order #15.

• Businesses are limited to up to 75% 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

Capacity limits increased for restaurants and taverns, but all other requirements are the same from Order #15.

• Restaurants are limited to up to 75% 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 75% 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.

Gyms and Fitness Centers

Capacity limits for gyms and fitness centers increased, but all other requirements are the same from Order #15.

• Gyms and fitness centers are limited to up to 75% 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

Capacity limits indoors increased for places of amusement and activity, but all other requirements are the same from Order #15.

• 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 75% 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

Exceptions for fully vaccinated people remains unchanged from Order #15, except including the word “outdoors”.

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 wear face coverings or maintain six feet distancing outdoors or 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 with 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.