Shopping in your favorite retail store may look a little different for the time being.

Even though grocery and hard­ware stores have remained open during the COVID-19 shutdown, most retail stores have been closed. That began to change this week as Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey allowed retail stores to open on Monday, May 4, but for delivery, walk-up or drive-thru service only.

On Friday, May 8, businesses can resume partial openings that incorporate social distancing and sanitation measures established by the U.S. Department of Labor or the Arizona Department of Health Services.

In addition to retail, on Friday, May 8, cosmetologists and barber shops can resume appoint­ment-based services while on Monday, May 11, restaurants and coffee shops can resume dine-in services, with safety measures. See the Friday, May 8, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News regarding restaurant openings.

That’s good news for those businesses that were deemed non-essential, forcing them to close their doors nearly two months ago.

“Arizona continues to focus on protecting public health, supporting those in need and ensuring we’re taking the neces­sary steps to return stronger,” Ducey said in a May 4 news conference. “Our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 are working — and Arizonans are still encouraged to limit time away from home. Arizona will continue to take a steady approach and work with the Arizona Department of Health Services as we breathe life back into our businesses and provide guidance on reopening.”

Sedona Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff said this is a step in the right direction.

“The focus now is to continue working together as a community so everyone can rebuild confi­dence in their interactions,” she said. “We will be offering a list of recommended safety practices very soon for every business. We’re also encouraging everyone to continue to practice safe personal conduct while using their individual judg­ment about what is best for them in terms of going to retail or food service establishments. Businesses will be enacting safety procedures and it is impor­tant customers and visitors respect those procedures.”

The ADHS recommends the following steps be taken by retail establishments:
—Maintaining physical distancing.
—Operating with reduced occupancy and capacity based on the size of the business loca­tion with special attention to limiting areas where customers and employees can congregate.
—Implementing comprehensive sanitation protocols.
—Continuing to provide options for delivery or curbside service even if a location allows customers inside the store.
—Closing fitting rooms at clothing stores, meeting rooms or other enclosed spaces accessible to customers that do not allow for appropriate physical distancing.
—Implementing symptom screening for employees prior to the start of their shift.
Considering offering cloth face coverings to employees and visitors to wear.

Wendy Lippman, resi­dent partner and general manager of Tlaquepaque, said she anticipates at least half of the shops in the complex will open May 8.

“No tenant is being forced to open — everyone needs to feel comfortable and safe first,” she said. “My guidelines are to do what feels right and safe for the employees and of course, the visitor.”

Lippman went on to add, “Of course there is a sense of relief that we might be able to get back to business. I expect it will be slow and cautious — which is fine. I want folks to ease into this with comfort and safety, feeling good about what they are doing.”

“I support the governor’s approach to a gradual reopening,” Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty said. “I believe everyone wants to see businesses begin to emerge from a very challenging time. Unfortunately, the Small Business Association loans and grants have had a very slow rollout, so many people are hurting.

“We can only wait to see how the latest steps to reopen will go. The governor has pledged to monitor conditions and to plan for a surge. Physical distancing, increased hand washing, wearing masks in public and far more testing will be with us for some time to come. The one thing we can be certain about is uncertainty, and public health must remain our top priority. Our behavior will determine the success of re-opening safely.”