Safe & Open Campaign Empowers Businesses, Organizations, and Individuals
Businesses, organizations, and individuals can now take an online pledge to promote safety in the community by following recommended health safety practices. Anyone who takes the pledge will receive a verification badge and other marketing materials that they can display to signal their participation. Businesses and organizations that pledge will be added to a list on the www.mhksafeandopen.org website in Manhattan and www.flinthillssafeandopen.org in the Flint Hills Region.
Safe & Open represents a promise that businesses, organizations, and individuals can make to show their commitment to fighting the spread of COVID-19 in Manhattan and the Flint Hills Region. It can also be used as a tool to guide residents and visitors to businesses that are following best practices.
When people see the Safe & Open logo, they will know those businesses and organizations have made a commitment to help protect the community.
“The goal is to promote safety and keep Manhattan Safe and Open by doing everything we can to slow the spread of the virus,” said City of Manhattan Assistant City Manager Dennis Marstall. “By sharing information about safety practices, the campaign also empowers consumers to make informed choices about where to do business.”
The pledge for businesses and organizations includes a commitment to do the following:
- Encourage physical distancing
- Limit the number of people allowed inside to make it possible to maintain 6-ft of distance
- Arrange workspaces so employees can stay at least 6-ft apart
- Limit staff contact with customers
- Adopt and implement enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures specifically designed to combat the transmission of COVID-19
Taking the individual pledge means that you promise to:
- Stay home if sick
- Maintain at least 6-ft of distance in public
- Cover nose and mouth with a cloth mask in public situations, both indoors and outdoors, if it is difficult to maintain 6-ft of distance
- Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available
The campaign officially launches today ( Thursday ), and eight organizations have already signed up: Arrow Coffee, In Motion Dance Company, Loving Arms Child Care and Preschool, Manhattan Fit Body Boot Camp, New Boston Creative Group, Pool House Kitchen & Bar, Sunflower Pet Supplies, and The Well. Business categories on the website to make it easy for people to search for safe places.
“We are happy to share the campaign with any local communities,” said Marstall. “The more participants, the better.”