Enhanced Regional Public Health Partnership, Better Business Bureau team up to help businesses reopen

Staff Report May 27, 2020

The COVID-19 Enhanced Regional Public Health Partnership and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of El Paso are working in collaboration to develop and distribute resources to assist business owners as they begin the reopening process.

These resources are available at the Business Resource Center located on the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s EP COVID 19 Information Hub.

“One of the goals of the Partnership is to provide the community with the information, resources, and guidance needed to fight the spread COVID-19, and to create a safe environment for businesses to open to the public,” said Emma Schwartz, President of the Medical Center of the Americas.

“We are pleased that the Better Business Bureau is helping us get the word out to the business community and remind them that they are not alone during this process.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced last week that Phase II of the Open Texas Plan will begin in most parts of the state this week, with El Paso County businesses scheduled to open beginning on May 29th.

With this announcement, business owners in the region are now developing plans to reopen their doors while maintaining health and safety practices to protect their employees and customers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our businesses are eager to open their doors, but still seek information to help protect themselves, their employees, and their customers when they reopen their operations,” said Marybeth Stevens, President of BBB of El Paso. “I thank the COVID-19 Enhanced Regional Public Health Partnership for their work in providing businesses with the resources they need to safely reopen.”

The Business Resource Center is continuously updated with the latest information and health guidance for businesses as they resume operations, including:

Health and safety guidelines by industry sector (including training videos on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and health and safety considerations)
Downloadable posters and social media content in English/Spanish to help you communicate health and safety messages to your employees and customers
Sources of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Information about COVID-19 Testing

In addition, Partnership member Dr. Kristina Mena, Dean of the UTHealth El Paso Campus, will participate in a webinar series hosted by UTHealth and the Houston Area Safety Council that aims to inform employers from various industries on how to implement best practices to ensure the safety of their employees and patrons as they reopen their doors in the coming weeks.

Each webinar will feature a panel of specialists in occupational safety, occupational medicine, risk assessment, and guest panelists who are industry representatives experienced in return to work practices.

The free webinars are open for all Texas businesses and will be held every Wednesday at 10:30 am MDT until July 1.