Cape Region businesses ready for Phase 2

Businesses are looking forward to more customers Monday, June 15, when capacities increase in stores and restaurants under Delaware's second phase of reopening.

“Everyone is ecstatic that we're going to go to 60 percent,” said Carol Everhart, president and chief executive officer of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, which represents about 1,200 retail, real estate and service-based businesses.

“They are more than ready. The business community knows how to make things safe. They know how to do it, and they know how to adapt.”

Coming two weeks after the first phase of reopening, Phase 2 allows businesses to expand from 30 percent of fire code capacity to 60 percent. Only children's play areas and sporting events and venues remain closed under Phase 2. This includes bowling alleys, martial arts, dance studios and other indoor facilities. Public playgrounds are recommended to stay closed, but local government are charged with making the final decision.

“What I've seen on the ground, by and large, has been very positive,” said Gov. John Carney during a press conference announcing the Phase 2 opening.

Personal care services, such as nail salons, tattoo parlors and spas, which reopened for business June 8 after being closed since March, will still be allowed to operate at only 30 percent occupancy. Services are by appointment only, and customers must wait in their cars or outside the business before entering for their appointment. Inside, six-foot social distancing is required, and face coverings must be used by staff and customers.

Exercise facilities and gyms also remain at 30 percent capacity. Classes may resume with a maximum of 10 participants who socially distance.

Establishments allowed to open

The following are establishments allowed to open Monday, June 15, with 60 percent capacity of their fire code occupancy. Customers from different households are required to stay six feet away from one another, and face coverings are required.

• Restaurants, and food and drink establishments

• Arts and culture, and movie theaters

• Retail

• Malls

• Barber shops, hair salons and tanning salons

• Churches

• Casinos (machines must be 8 feet apart; opening depends on plan submitted to state lottery and DPH)

• Convention centers and meeting facilities

• Commercial lodging

• Community pools

Open with restrictions

• Parks and recreation (outdoor gatherings of up to 250 allowed with social distancing)

• Miniature golf, zoos, golf courses (open with social distancing)

• Child care (open to everyone with classroom size restrictions)

• Youth sports (baseball and softball allowed with social distancing; swim teams allowed to practice with social distancing; guidance on more sports to be released Friday, June 12)

• Racetracks (horse racing allowed with no fans until a reopening plan is submitted, staff social distanced)

• Summer camps (must develop plan and recommends limiting groups to 15)

• Realty (open houses allowed with social distancing, indoor gathering limits)

• Private instruction (desks six feet apart, face coverings required)

• Summer school (15-child limit recommended; written plan required)

Still closed

• School-based instruction

• Water parks

• Bowling alleys, indoor skating rinks, martial arts studios, dance studios, indoor tennis, and similar sporting facilities and venues unless plan to reopen is submitted

• Children's play areas and children's museums