The city of Columbus is forming a committee this week to discuss plans to adjust to a “new normal” under the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mayor Robert Smith in a Sunday letter to The Dispatch.
The beginning of the city’s plan for a gradual return to normal came days after Gov. Tate Reeves’ announcement last week to soften the “shelter in place” order and loosen restrictions on businesses and social gatherings, despite upticks in daily new cases and a climbing death toll statewide.
The city’s committee, dubbed “Restart Columbus Committee,” will include city officials as well as leaders from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi University for Women and local businesses.
“We want to involve the community, get their input as to what they think,” said the city’s Chief Administrative Officer David Armstrong, who said he was appointed to the committee to assist Smith. “We don’t want to just jump out and do something ourselves.”
With a goal to design a “roadmap” for Columbus residents to follow safely amid the pandemic, the committee will work on a long-term, three-step plan to restart. There will be six subcommittees that specialize in different industries, including: hospitality industry, such as restaurants and hotels; grooming businesses such as barber shops, nail and tattoo salons; churches and funeral homes; retail stores; child care facilities; and parks and recreational facilities.
“Health, safety, and welfare are the most important responsibility of the government,” Smith’s letter reads. “This work will help prepare Columbus for getting life back to normal while practicing safety.”
Smith told The Dispatch this morning the first step is to ease restrictions on affected businesses themselves. The second step will be to expand public access to those businesses while implementing precautionary measures, and the third step is to return to full capacity “but retain high caution.”
He said the steering committee will include Armstrong, himself and several council members. Each subcommittee will include five to 10 members, he said.
City spokesperson Joe Dillon is largely tasked with suggesting committee candidates, Armstrong said, and Smith will have the final say. Dillon said the city is still finalizing the committee members, but did not provide the list of committee members by press time following several inquiries from The Dispatch.
Apart from Smith and Armstrong, Carla Lowery, chief information officer for MUW, is also on the committee, said university spokeswoman Anika Perkins. Lowery could not be reached for comment by press time.
The members will likely meet via Zoom, Armstrong said, but no decision has been made on the details.
The committee is still working on its plans, and will design them according to Reeves’ Monday announcement to further open the state, Dillon said.
During a Facebook live press conference Monday afternoon, Reeves eased several of the state’s previous restrictions to allow outdoor social gatherings of up to 20 people. New state guidelines will also allow outdoor and in-room dining at restaurants, he said, but restaurant employees have to wear masks and the businesses must operate at no more than 50 percent of the allowed capacity.
“We’re not yet back to normal,” Reeves said. “But we are climbing out of the ditches.”
Barbershops and salons will remain closed, Reeves said, but the state is working to distribute funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help “stabilize” the businesses.
Columbus still has a curfew in place from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. daily with the exception of essential travel by adults. Violating the curfew can result in a fine of up to $1,000.
State eases restrictions as deaths continue to rise
Reeves’ Monday announcement on further measures to reopen Mississippi came as the state continues to report upticks in daily new cases of COVID-19 and a rising number of deaths.
The state witnessed 327 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, according to data from the state Department of Health. On Thursday, the department saw 397 new cases, which represented the state’s largest single-day increase of cases since the first case in March.
Meanwhile, deaths continue to rise in the state. More than 300 Mississippians have died from the COVID-19, and the number of confirmed cases is approaching 8,000, the most recent data shows.
Nationally, states such as Texas and Florida have witnessed a large influx of cases and deaths as their governors eased statewide restrictions, according to multiple media outlets. As states reopen, the Trump administration privately predicted a daily death toll of 3,000 by June, almost doubling the current figure of 1,750, The New York Times reported Monday.
Conflict disclosure: Managing Editor Zack Plair took part in editing this article. He is currently involved in legal proceedings with the city of Columbus.
Yue Stella Yu was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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