“COVID Safe, Because We Care”
The COVID-19 Safe Business Pledge
Sponsored by: Okanogan County Public Health
Our local businesses are important leaders in Okanogan County’s work to slow the spread of COVID-19. Businesses who have signed the pledge below, have said “yes” to doing their part to help our strong economy return and keep our community members safe. Look below to find the businesses in your area who have signed the pledge, and look for the “COVID Safe, Because We Care” logo on display at local businesses.
If your business is ready to sign onto the “COVID Safe, Because We Care” pledge, click the link below to fill out the form.
The Pledge:
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Okanogan County, we pledge to…
- Make the message clear: Prominently display “Masks Required” sign(s) (Infographics to download: Please wear a face covering, Mask Up to Open Up, Please wear a face covering – Help stop the spread)
- Wear facial coverings correctly: Wear facial coverings that cover our mouth and nose at all times.
- Help customers be safe: Have a plan on how to engage people who don’t wear a facial covering in my business and encourage them to follow the facial covering requirements. Check out How to talk to Customers about Facial Coverings.
- Keep sick and COVID-exposed employees away from work: Ask employees who are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19 to not return to work until public health guidance permits.
- Support sick employees. Implement flexible sick leave or supportive policies for employees who contract COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 (I’m not in a position to provide paid sick leave to my employees, what should I do?).
- Make our space as safe as possible: Set up our business to allow for physical distancing of 6 feet between patrons.
- Keep our business clean: Provide adequate sanitation supplies, wash our hands frequently, and sanitize frequently touched surfaces at least daily.
- Share information with our employees: Teach our employees about practices that keep our business and our customers safe from COVID-19 (see: Our commitment to our employees), including self-screening practices.
- Care for each other: Treat everyone with kindness, respect, and care. We’re in this together.
How the Pledge is Monitored: Local businesses are working hard to operate safely, provide services to you, and keep their doors open. Many businesses have said that enforcing mask wearing is the hardest part about creating a COVID safe space. Because businesses are working hard for us, OCPH encourages all of us to do what we can to support them (keeping our community healthy is truly a community effort).
If you see someone inside of a business who is not wearing a mask or keeping with COVID-19 safe guidelines, we can do our part by reminding each other that businesses can be fined by L & I when their customers or employees don’t wear masks or follow guidelines. When we wear a mask and stay COVID-safe inside of a business, we play an important role in supporting our businesses’ health and sustainability.
If you frequently see a business violating the pledge, you can contact OCPH and we’ll follow up with them individually to see how we can best support them in being COVID safe. Thanks for your support of local businesses and our community!
Businesses who have Signed the Pledge:
A Cut Above, Hair, Flowers & More
Backcountry Dental Docs/Dr.LaVonne Hammelman
Brewster Pro Hardware
Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty
Downtown Abby
Esther Bricques Winery & Vineyard, LLC
Frontier Home Health and Hospice
Kind Grinds Espresso Bar & Cafe
Los Reyes
MacLennan & Peirson Psychological Services
Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation
Methow Valley Riding Unlimited
Mi Estilo
Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare
Okanogan County Community Action Council
Okanogan County Community Coalition/North Central WA DUI Victim Impact Panel
Panaderia Rio
Pateros-Brewster Community Resource Center
Terry’s Appliance
The Cove – Methow Valley Food Bank
Tienda el Campesino
Twisp Daily Art and Business Supply