Reopening DC: Phase Two

June 30, 2020 / Mb Staffing

On Friday June 19, Mayor Bowser announced that the District of Columbia will enter Phase Two in its recovery from Covid-19.

This decision has been made in response to positive trends in the data: community spread and the transmission rate have been steadily decreasing, testing capacity has gone up, and hospitals and public health organizations are managing the intake of new patients well.

While as twenty-three states across the country are experiencing new spikes and record numbers of new cases, the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland are among the states and regions that are seeing positive signs, paving the way for businesses to continue their gradual return to work.

The changes coming to Washington, DC in Phase Two include:

  • Permission of large gatherings of up to 50 people, up from 10 in Phase One.
  • Partial reopening of “tanning, tattoo, waxing, threading, electrolysis, cryotherapy, facial and other skin services, and nail salons…” in addition to barbershops and hair salons.
  • Seating at indoor restaurants with restrictions, including maximum 50% capacity.
  • 50% capacity in retail businesses.
  • Partial reopening of gyms, playgrounds and other indoor recreational facilities at no more than 50% capacity.

Non-essential, non-retail businesses are still expected to work remotely, as well as religious services. In addition, all personal safety guidelines, including social distancing, the wearing of masks and other PPE, and maintaining 6 feet of distance from others in public, remain in effect.

The reopening process will continue to be implemented gradually and in response to positive developments in the data. This also means that should we see any setbacks, Phase Two may be either modified or rolled back.

Mb Staffing Services’ corporate employees will continue to work from home until after Phase Three is announced. We are monitoring the ongoing situation closely, and we are developing permanent company policies to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, associates, and clients.

We thank you for your attention and continued cooperation. We ask that you please continue to be safe.