[NorthernPhoenix]

After retiring from the government last year and taking quite a while to return to Vermont from overseas due to the corona virus pandemic, here I am! I’m now working in the private sector for the first time in decades.

I’m overwhelmed attempting to learn what’s going on in Vermont with the virus threat and etiquette when dealing with the public. If the “social distancing” advised by the Governor is six feet, what is the business distance or however it would be phrased? In other words, when conducting business and not random friendly social banter, what distance is one expected to maintain? My profession requires communication roughly within two feet of the client. It would become impossible beyond three feet or so. It seems that nobody at my workplace respects the potential concerns of clients and remains within inches of them, however that’s not how I operate. I want to be considerate and provide the proper distance that would be expected in case I’m an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. It seems that some people have augmented their concerns with protective face masks as well, and that’s perhaps another way I can show respect to clients’ concerns. What are you folks doing?

[dubthang]

Not sure what your profession is, but if it is essential work, take all precautions necessary to protect yourself and your client. This would include masks, and possibly gloves. If your work is not essential, should you even be working if ensuring the safety of yourself and your clients is not possible? Six feet is six feet. There is no business distance.

I live in Portland, ME and work in public transit. All of my bus operators are required to wear masks, and gloves when needed. They are required to maintain six feet or greater distance from passengers unless it is an ADA situation. To take things even further, we require all passengers to wear masks, use the rear door of the bus only, blocked off seats to force separation, and have eliminated fares to keep people away from the drivers. So far, we have only two Covid cases, and only one of those may be from a passenger.