CHICO, Calif. - Officials are engaging with businesses to ensure safety and health for employees and the community.

Caution tape covers the benches outside, and tape lines the ground reminding people to stay 6-feet apart at Shuberts Inc. in downtown Chico. 

Owner Kasey Reynolds says her shop is now a takeaway eatery, so people can come in take their ice cream to-go or curbside pick up.

Reynolds says she feels the new program will give businesses a guideline on how to operate in a safe manner.

"We were already adhering by all those things but I did re-go back through the letter and make sure we are adhering to everything that’s on there and just make sure I do a double to check to make sure we’ve been practicing for quite a while we reduced our hours we’re not here as much we reduced our staff so we are not as confined and we are limiting how many people can come into the store at one time," Reynolds said.

Reynolds says the program will give businesses looking to re-open now a checklist of recommended safety measures to follow.

Some elements of the program include increasing sanitation at the businesses, protecting employee health like allowing people to work from home when sick, and separating workspaces.

Also having signs posted outside of businesses reminding people to practice social distancing.

City officials say Chico is seeing positive results from businesses following the CDC guidelines so far.