Downtown Bend Business Community Responds to Coronavirus Concerns

Downtown Bend merchants are responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns in a multitude of ways to prioritize safety for residents and visitors alike.
 
"For the most part, Downtown Bend is a community of family-owned and operated businesses," says Mindy Aisling, Executive Director of the Downtown Bend Business Association, "We all have deep ties to this community, and making sure that people feel safe shopping and eating in Downtown Bend is our number one priority right now."

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The Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA) is encouraging every business to follow the full list of recommendations from the CDC for businesses and employees.  Including but not limited to:

• Posting reminders/talking with employees about hand washing
• Providing no-wash sanitizer for employees to use after handling cash/throughout the day
• Keeping bleach wipes handy for employees to use on counters, cash register, etc. 
• Encouraging sick employees to stay home

Some businesses are going a step further by providing sanitizer stations in their stores for customers to use.  Here are photos of the recent addition of a no-touch hand sanitizing station at The Bend Store on Wall Street in Downtown Bend.

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​Some restaurants, like Noi Thai on Bond Street, are posting memo's on their doors to help customers understand the steps they are taking to keep the community safe.  

Measures taken include, but are not limited to, increasing sanitation procedures, requiring employees who have traveled to infected areas to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to work, and instituting a new sick employee policy.  

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​Other merchants, like Dudley's Bookshop Cafe on Minnesota Ave, are communicating the safety measures they are taking via social media.  

In the Facebook post to the right, Dudley's offers online shopping at their store (your money still stays local!), free delivery (for books and coffee!), and a public hand sanitizer by the front door.

If you have questions or concerns about the Coronavirus, please use these links to access additional information:
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• Coronavirus Symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
• Coronavirus Communication Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/index.html
• Reginal Safety Information and Updates: http://coemergencyinfo.blogspot.com/
• A letter from St. Charles: https://www.stcharleshealthcare.org/news/preparations-place
• A message from Deschutes Co. Health Dept: https://www.deschutes.org/health/page/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
• Sign up for email updates form the Oregon Health Authority: 
  • https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/emerging-respiratory-infections.aspx