On March 16, 2020, I declared a state of emergency within the City of West Fargo as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum previously declared a statewide state of emergency on March 13, 2020, and since that time, Governor Burgum has issued a number of executive orders that include:

• Closure of restaurants, bars, breweries, cafes, and similar on-site dining establishments to on-sale/on-site patrons;
• Closure of recreational facilities, health clubs, athletic facilities and theaters, including movie theater and music, or entertainment venues;
• Closure of all licensed cosmetologists, including estheticians and manicurists, and all salons operated by licensed cosmetologists, including esthetician and manicurist salons or services, and licensed barbers;
• Closure of all elective personal care services provided in: a) tattoo and body art facilities, to include individuals providing tattoo and body art services; b) tanning facilities; and c) massage facilities and individual massage therapists; and

The City of West Fargo acknowledges and appreciates the sacrifice these businesses, employees, and other workers are making in order to stem the tide of COVID-19 cases, as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in the world, the nation and the state, including the City of West Fargo. Each resident, each adult, each child, each family, each business, and each store—must do more. As a community, we must do our part to reduce the spread of this deadly COVID-19 disease and, therefore, I am issuing this directive.

NOW, THEREFORE, I DO HEREBY DECLARE:

1.  All West Fargo residents, families, businesses, and property owners are reminded of Governor Burgum’s urgent request to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy and Stay Connected.”  

2.  All West Fargo residents are directed to use appropriate social distancing practices endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including the following:

• No more than ten (10) individuals in any room at any one time.
• Maintain a minimum of a six (6) foot distance between each and every person.
• Any close contact between persons should not exceed fifteen (15) minutes.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are regularly touched.
• West Fargo residents are strongly advised to incorporate the CDC guidance of wearing protective face masks whenever leaving their homes to protect themselves and others from community spread of the virus.

3.   Businesses.  Whenever practical, encourage remote working (tele-work) from home.  As a business, adopt practices for social distancing and other healthy practices such as regular cleaning of surfaces that are touched by business patrons, employees, or customers.

4.  Retail businesses.  Retail stores and other businesses that accept customer traffic into their buildings, structures, or other enclosed areas are urgently encouraged and directed to incorporate the following practices:

• Limit Occupants.  Each retail business should strongly consider establishing a limit on the number of customers to be allowed inside the store any one time and then to establish methods for monitoring entrances and exits to maintain control over those numbers so that once the revised/reduced maximum occupancy is reached, then to allow one customer in for every customer that leaves (adopt a “one out/one in” rule).  
• Social distancing for customers and clerks. Each business should implement measures that promote good COVID-19 hygiene and appropriate social distancing of all persons within the retail store or business, including:
• Cleaning/disinfecting surfaces including hard surfaces commonly used by employees and customers (i.e. door handles, conveyors at checkouts, scanners, checkout areas) and installing other devices to reduce exposure, such as installation of plexi-glass screens at checkouts.
• Encourage/instruct customers and employees to maintain social distancing (6 feet distance and short durations (15 minutes)
• Establish six (6) feet distances between customers for checkout lines (single file, use lines/marks on floors, theatre ropes, etc.)
• Create limits (or, at a minimum, encourage limits) so that only one family member comes into the store and discourage “family visits” (or other group visits) to the store in order to reduce likelihood of “community spread” of the virus.
• People who come into contact with other members of the public while working (those in grocery stores, retail) are especially encouraged to wear face masks at all times while working.

5.         The City of West Fargo will be working in close collaboration with the West Fargo Park District to encourage impactful and innovative approaches to discourage social congregation on its equipment and premises.

6.   This directive shall remain in effect until the underlying state of emergency has ended.

THIS DIRECTIVE is issued this 7 day of April, 2020.