COVID-19: New England States Reopening In Phases

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Final up to date October 13, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its menace to public well being from in-person contact, each state in New England issued orders closing or in any other case limiting enterprise operations. As extra is understood in regards to the unfold of the virus, states have developed phased plans to reopen their economies. A abstract of the present key orders and varied reopening plans is printed under. Our alert concerning journey restrictions and quarantine necessities all through New England is out there right here.

Please notice that orders are sometimes prolonged solely shortly earlier than they’re set to run out.

Connecticut

Section Three of Connecticut’s reopening plan started on October 8. Governor Lamont introduced the next capability restrictions for Section 3:

Eating places, private companies, hair salons, barber outlets, and libraries: enhance from 50% to 75% capability indoors, topic to COVID-19 security necessities linked under
Outside occasion venues (e.g. amphitheaters, race tracks, and so on.): enhance from 25% to 50% capability for, with masks and social distancing necessities
Indoor performing arts venues: open at 50% capability with masks and social distancing necessities, solely seated audiences allowed, and no service of meals or drinks
Personal social and leisure actions: indoor at industrial / enterprise institutions can function at 50% capability, capped at 100 folks (outside capped at 150 folks); non-public residence capped at 25 folks indoor, 150 folks outside. Steering for indoor occasions excludes back-of-house employees from the 100 particular person indoor occasion restrict
Graduations: indoors at 50% capability, capped at 200 folks, with masks and social distancing; outside 50% capability with no cap, masks and social distancing required
Spiritual gatherings: indoors at 50% capability, capped at 200 folks, with masks and social distancing; outside restricted to the variety of folks that may be accommodated safely by the venue, masks and social distancing required
Bars and nightclubs will proceed to stay closed.

Observe that gathering dimension restrictions for non secular, non secular, and worship gatherings and the extension of drive-in worship companies and graduations for Section Three have been up to date pursuant to Order 9F, in impact via November 9. Steering can be obtainable for the next companies, up to date for Section 3:

Order 9B, efficient September 15, authorizes native officers, together with state and municipal law enforcement officials and public security departments of excessive schooling establishments to concern fines for sure violations of COVID-related orders and laws, together with (a) a $100 advantageous for violations of the masks necessities pursuant to Order 7NNN and different sector guidelines; (b) a $500 advantageous for violations by individuals or companies who set up, host, or sponsor a gathering in violation of dimension restrictions pursuant to Order 7ZZ, 7NNN, and sector steerage for venues and occasions, and (c) a $250 advantageous for individuals who attend such gatherings.

Social golf equipment should comply with all guidelines relevant to the particular operation, comparable to eating places and swimming pools. Section 2 additionally consists of revised steerage for museums, zoos, and aquariums. Efficient July 24, gala’s, festivals, and carnivals might function at 25% capability of final 12 months’s attendance.

Except in any other case modified by sector-specific steerage, important enterprise guidelines from Order 7PP are prolonged at some stage in the emergency except in any other case modified. Steering for different companies open from Section 1, together with workplaces and retail & malls, has additionally been up to date.

The “protected workplaces” steerage (Order 7V) for important companies stays in impact except a enterprise is in any other case topic to sector-specific guidelines. Steering on guidelines for important companies is out there right here, and right here for important retailers. Normal enterprise guidelines relevant to school analysis and outside recreation actions, can be found right here. All companies topic to Section 1 and Section 2 reopening guidelines that didn’t already certify throughout Section 1 should self-certify compliance with security pointers previous to opening.

Trails and state parks are additionally open (Order 7R), and state campgrounds started a phased opening on July 1. Seashores are partially open, topic to steerage from particular person cities. Summer season camps have been permitted to open efficient June 22, with youth camps restricted to a gaggle dimension of no more than 14 (Order 7Q). For childcare, the restrict on group dimension is now additionally 14, and well being screening procedures have been up to date to not require temperature screenings for youngsters and employees. Order 7AAA requires COVID-19 testing for workers of personal and municipal nursing house amenities, managed residential communities, and assisted residing companies companies. Steering for senior facilities can be obtainable.

Observe that each one orders issued pursuant to the Governor’s preliminary state of emergency that had not but expired have been deemed reissued beneath Order 9A. Please consult with our alert on up to date journey necessities for quarantine and journey steerage. Connecticut’s state of emergency and worth controls for designated items are presently in impact via February 9, 2021.

Maine

On October 13, Maine entered Section Four of its Restarting Plan through Order 14. Section Four will increase limits on indoor seating to 50% capability of permitted occupancy, or 100 folks, whichever is much less, and maintains all public well being measures outlined within the sector-specific checklists. This enhance in seated capability applies to companies that serve folks via seated actions, together with eating places, non secular gatherings, and film theaters. Capability for non-seated actions will stay at 50 individuals indoor and 100 outside. Retailers will stay topic to the occupancy restrict of 5 folks per 1,000 sq. toes of buying area. This order amends and replaces earlier steerage on indoor gathering dimension from Order 55. Indoor service for bars and tasting rooms might start November 2.

The Order additionally clarifies and extends Order 49 (and the next strengthening order) concerning face coverings, broadening its software to your entire state, quite than simply to extra populous cities. The Order additionally requires locations comparable to non-public colleges and native authorities buildings to have their staff and purchasers put on face coverings, much like the necessities for eating places, lodging, and retail institutions. Please see our alert for extra data on Maine’s Section Four plans, and our alert on Maine’s latest extension of its state of emergency.

Except modified for Section 4, steerage continues to be in place from prior phases for the next companies (up to date for Section Four as relevant):

In any other case nonetheless in place is the steerage from Section 2, which started on June 1 through Order 55. All important companies and companies that opened in Section 1 might stay open in Section 2, and Section 2 permitted staff in authorized {and professional} fields to return to workplaces, together with State staff. Order 55 additionally clarified that locations of enterprise accessible to the general public should publish indicators notifying prospects of the requirement to put on material face coverings the place bodily distancing will not be attainable and likewise permits companies to disclaim entry or service to an individual not sporting a masks.

Our alert about modifications to restaurant and retail steerage is out there right here and right here for city conferences.

Section 1, which began on Might 1, required building corporations to deploy further PPE, cut back the scale of labor crews, and stagger shifts to reduce interplay between groups. Up to date steerage for in-home companies, together with electricians, plumbers, cleaners, and installers, is out there right here. With applicable security precautions, together with upkeep of 6 toes of bodily distance and the sporting of masks the place such distance can’t be maintained, the next companies have been additionally allowed to open (with hyperlinks to sector-specific steerage up to date all through Phases 2 and three):

Well being care companies from Maine-licensed suppliers
Private companies, comparable to barber outlets and hair salons, and pet grooming
Restricted drive-in, stay-in-your automobile, non secular companies
Drive-in film theaters
Actual property, auto dealerships and automobile washes
Outside recreation, comparable to guided outside actions, golf and disc golf programs, and marinas
State parks, state-owned public land trails, and historic websites

Please consult with our alert on journey necessities for quarantine and journey steerage. Maine’s state of emergency and worth controls are presently in impact via October 29, 2020. Our alert on Maine’s latest extension of its state of emergency is out there right here.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is now in Section Three of its four-phase plan for reopening. Governor Baker has confused that choices and timing will likely be influenced by public well being metrics, and that if metrics fall under thresholds, the state might transfer again to a previous part.

Efficient October 5, lower-risk communities at the moment are permitted to enter Step 2 of Section Three of the reopening pursuant to Order 51. The next sectors are eligible to reopen, with restrictions, in these communities:

Additionally in impact as of October 5 is Order 52, the revised gathering order. The Order makes clear that each one indoor and outside occasions are required to adjust to the restrictions of the order and sector-specific steerage, except in any other case exempt. Pursuant to Order 52, these changes embrace the next:

Indoor gatherings in any respect venues and areas restricted to 25 folks
Outside gatherings at non-public residences restricted to 50 folks
Outside gatherings at occasion venues and in public settings
Decrease Threat Communities: as much as 100 folks
Communities that don’t qualify as decrease threat: as much as 50 folks

Our write up of the 2 orders, together with further particulars and exemptions, is out there right here. Step 2 steerage for eating places nonetheless requires face coverings to be worn by prospects except seated, with tables positioned to keep up at the least 6 toes of dance from different tables, with social gathering dimension at tables restricted to 10 folks. Bar seating is permitted with correct distance or boundaries in place. Step 2 steerage for shut contact private companies nonetheless usually requires face coverings on all prospects and employees, separation of 6 toes between all individuals the place attainable and between workspaces, with a partition required if spacing can not in any other case be maintained. Golf amenities are additionally permitted to function at 50% of constructing capability, with not more than 10 individuals per 1,000 sq ft in any enclosed area.

Per Order 45, employers ought to take measures to make sure staff adjust to all state-issued journey guidelines for out of state journey, and employers are discouraged from requiring or permitting out of state journey to or from non-low threat states. Step 2 Section 3 steerage for lodging operators continues the requirement to tell company of the present journey steerage. Our alert on the journey order, efficient August 1, is out there right here.

Order 50, efficient September 10 extends the flexibility of cities and cities to approve requests for expanded outside desk service previous November 1, 2020 in addition to approvals beforehand granted pursuant to earlier orders. The order additionally permits the opening of indoor and outside gaming arcades efficient September 17, and consists of an amended Schedule A to Order 43 to replicate the change. The Division of Public Well being has additionally issued up to date steerage for farmers markets and farm stands.

Nonetheless in impact, except impacted by Step 2 Section Three steerage, is the Step 1 steerage from Order 43, which first moved Massachusetts into Section Three of the Reopening Plan. Steering for workplaces in nonetheless in place, with capability elevated to 50% of constructing’s most occupancy, with no enclosed area to exceed 10 folks per 1,000 sq ft, and staff persevering with to telework the place possible, significantly in additional densely populated areas like Boston.

Section 2 started on June Eight through Order 35 and Order 37. Step 2 of Section 2 started on June 22 with the issuance of Order 40. The previously-developed necessary security requirements are nonetheless relevant to all sectors and industries, and embrace steerage on social distancing, hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleansing and disinfecting. Governor Baker has additionally issued an Order authorizing re-opening preparations for youngster care applications, and Order 49 authorizing enlargement of some child-care applications to oversee kids engaged in engaged studying. The Important Companies record, up to date on April 28, stays present and in impact.

Since Might 25, the next companies have been capable of function (with hyperlinks to sector-specific steerage): laboratories and extra well being care suppliers, hair salons, pet grooming, and carwashes, seashores, swimming pools, and drive-in theaters, campgrounds, and parks and outside area, together with athletic fields and courts, neighborhood gardens, outside schooling and artwork installations, leisure and for-hire and constitution boating, and zoos.

Order 33 launched Section 1 of the Reopening. Locations of worship have been permitted to reopen and should proceed to function in accordance with constantly up to date security steerage, together with occupancy limits. Important enterprise already working have been required certify compliance with security requirements by Might 25, and new steerage continues to be issued for manufacturing and building operations. Additional, hospitals and neighborhood well being facilities might, upon attestation, resume providing a few of their companies.

In any other case nonetheless in impact is Governor Baker’s preliminary Order concerning continued operation of important companies, which orders all companies with “brick and mortar” premises to function solely by distant means except they’re designated as important or permitted to open via the orders described above.

Please consult with our alert on the present journey necessities for quarantine and journey steerage in New England and our alert on the Commonwealth’s journey order, efficient August 1. Massachusetts’s state of emergency and worth controls are in impact till rescinded by the Governor.

New Hampshire

On March 27, New Hampshire turned the final state in New England to concern a closure order with Emergency Order 17, which required all companies not recognized as offering “important companies” to shut their bodily workspaces to amenities, employees, prospects, and the general public, and stop all in-person operations.

On June 15, Governor Chris Sununu introduced, through Order 52, modifications to the state’s revised keep at house order. Order 52 requires all companies working within the state to adjust to common pointers, which have been up to date August 12, along with any relevant industry-specific pointers. Our write-up of the revised common pointers is out there right here. Companies in want of disposable masks might submit a kind to request masks for free of charge from state. Order 52 is in impact till October 1, per Order 66. Companies in want of disposable masks might submit a kind to request masks for free of charge from state. Order 52 and all different orders issued pursuant to the state of emergency are in impact till November 15, per Order 70. Companies not deemed important or not in any other case supplied with particular steerage stay closed.

On October 6, Addendum A of the common pointers was once more revised with steerage for the next industries up to date as indicated under:

Neighborhood Arts & Music Training: class dimension restricted to allow social distancing of 6 toes (extra for singing or wind devices), with performances and exhibitions following performing arts pointers
Drive-In Film Theatres: might function at full capability with 10ft between autos, complement restrooms with transportable bathrooms
Driver’s Training: in-person courses restricted to allow social distancing; masks required for behind the wheel coaching, in-car time restricted to most of 60 minutes
Equestrian Amenities: lesson and spectator dimension restricted to allow social distancing
Funeral Properties: capability restricted to allow social distancing; Sept. 29 replace clarifies that family relations might sit collectively however have to be 6 toes from different teams
Golf Programs: every space should comply with steerage that aligns with its actions (ex: professional store to comply with retail steerage), no rental or sharing of golf equipment is permitted
Libraries: capability restricted to allow social distancing
Museums & Artwork Galleries: admission restricted to allow social distancing, guided excursions capped at 10 folks
Seacoast Seashores (new as of September 29): open, with social distance required; cities and NH state parks permitted to develop and implement extra restrictive pointers
Outside Points of interest (actions of < 10 folks, not amusement parks)
State Parks: no water bubblers or fountains

In early Might, the next openings have been permitted (with further steerage since changed by Addendum A of the common pointers): manufacturing, sure healthcare companies, retail shops, barbers and hair salons, and dentists.

Steering for locations of worship requires social distance of 6 toes between events, with constructing capability restricted to 50% or decrease to keep up correct distancing, and lodging operations require social distance and adherence to quarantine and journey necessities for out of state guests. Further steerage for brand new or relaxed operations (some up to date as just lately as September 24) consists of:

Up to date steerage can be obtainable for the next: grownup day companies, amusement parks, arts and music schooling, gala’s and festivals, film theaters, and performing arts venues.

Additionally presently open, with up to date steerage as of August 14, are youngster care and newbie and youth sports activities (together with athletic leagues and crew coaching). Steering can be obtainable for seashores and extra private companies, together with acupuncture, physique artwork, cosmetology, and therapeutic massage. Observe that the steerage for seashores consists of state and town-specific steerage and descriptions enforcement coordination. All sector-specific steerage can be along with CDC steerage for enterprise and employers, and CDC steerage for cleansing and disinfection. Numerical limits on gatherings have additionally expired, besides as contained within the sector-specific steerage. Order 65 particulars enforcement mechanisms of all COVID-related orders and laws, together with a civil penalty of as much as $1,000 for every violation or day {that a} violation continues.

Please consult with our alert on journey necessities for quarantine and journey steerage. New Hampshire’s state of emergency is presently in impact via October 30, 2020.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island entered Section 3 of its Reopen RI Plan on June 30 through Order 20-50, continued most just lately via October 28 through Order 20-79. The Order makes no substantive modifications to the restrictions already in place throughout Section 3. Order 20-81 once more prolonged the requirement for sporting material face coverings in public (Order 20-60) via November 2.

Rhode Island just lately issued steerage particularly for autumn-related leisure actions, efficient September 25. This steerage clarifies the next gathering limits from Order 20-67 for social and public occasions and different public interplay throughout Section 3:

Social gatherings (comparable to weddings, events, networking occasions):
Indoor: restrict of 15 folks; occasions with a licensed caterer can have as much as 50 folks
Outside: restrict of 15 folks; occasions with a licensed caterer can have as much as 100 folks

Public occasions and venues of meeting (comparable to performances, festivals):
Indoor: restrict of 125 folks, or as much as 66% capability with six-foot spacing between folks
Outside: restrict of 250 folks, or as much as 66% capability with six-foot spacing between folks
Organizations are required to submit a plan to the Division of Enterprise Regulation (DBR) for any occasion at which there will likely be greater than 250 in attendance

Different locations of public interplay (comparable to retail, eating places, gyms, museums, close-contact enterprise, office-based companies, parks, seashores):
Indoor venues working at a p.c capability in a earlier part can enhance as much as 66% capability whereas retaining six-foot spacing between folks
Indoor venues working at a sq. footage capability in a earlier part can enhance to as much as one particular person per 100 sq. toes whereas retaining six-foot spacing between folks.

The next up to date sector-specific steerage can be in place:

Highlights of Section Three steerage can be found right here. Additionally presently open, with up to date steerage are: state parks and seashores, open with capability limitations and social distancing restrictions (further steerage for parks, campgrounds, and RV parks), outside actions (together with swimming pools and lifeguards, marinas and constitution boats, youth and grownup sports activities, and farmer’s markets), casinos, recreation and cultural actions (together with golf, museums, arcades, and zoos, amongst others), and youngster care companies. Steering for cooling facilities is out there right here and right here for emergency shelters. Visitation continues to be restricted for nursing houses and assisted residing amenities. Steering can be obtainable for OHA neighborhood gathering, communal residing for seasonal employees, and youth congregate care settings, in addition to for healthcare and dental suppliers.

As a part of the state’s reopening, all companies, together with these which are presently working, are required to develop a written COVID-19 Management Plan outlining how their office will forestall the unfold of COVID-19. Rhode Island has additionally issued up to date school-aged steerage for Fall 2020, a Okay-12 Playbook, well being and security steerage for elementary and secondary colleges, steerage for schools, universities, and boarding colleges, and for grownup courses. The state just lately launched best-practice steerage for operation of college amenities and pointers for air flow.

Nonetheless in impact, except supplemented by Section 2 or Three steerage, are the restrictions from Section 1, which started on Might 9 pursuant to Order 20-32, as are the common enterprise pointers from Section 2. Within the first part, the keep at house order was lifted, however everybody who can earn a living from home is inspired to take action via Section 3. Elective medical procedures additionally resumed beneath relevant security pointers.

Please consult with our alert on journey necessities for quarantine and journey steerage, together with the brand new quarantine order, Order 20-71, efficient September 3. Rhode Island’s state of emergency and worth controls are presently in impact via November 2, 2020.

Vermont

Section 6 of the state’s Restart started on Might 18 and allowed for restricted resumption of retail operations not deemed vital beneath the preliminary Keep House/Keep Protected order. Addendum 16 relaxed restrictions on giant gatherings and close-contact companies as of June 1, together with gyms and health facilities, nail salons and spas, and tattoo parlors. Campgrounds and marinas might function at 100% capability following well being and security apply and in accordance with the state’s journey and quarantine necessities.

All open companies should adjust to the state’s well being and security necessities, together with observing social distancing on the job to the extent attainable, sporting face coverings, and screening employees originally of every shift. An August 14 Addendum to Order 01-20 clarifies that cities and cities might enact and implement limits on gathering dimension which are extra restrictive than these established be the state, so be sure you examine native restrictions as nicely.

Eating places should permit for six toes of distance between seated events, and prospects required to be seated whereas consuming meals or drinks. Bar seating is now permitted provided that a bodily barrier, comparable to a chunk of plexiglass, separates the patrons from bartenders and the drink preparation space Indoor eating has been permitted since June 8, though bar seating stays closed. Eating places are additionally required to keep up a log of consumers and their contact data for 30 days within the occasion contact tracing is required.

Eating places and indoor venues for arts, tradition and leisure can increase capability for occasions and eating to 50% of permitted occupancy dimension or one particular person per 100 sq. toes of customer-facing area, as much as a most of 75 folks indoors and 150 folks outside or the utmost licensed seating capability, whichever is much less.

The steerage for indoor venues consists of new guidelines particularly for big indoor companies (these with over 17,100 sq ft of area with no full partitions interrupting the area) might have as much as 150 folks, as long as 6 toes of social distance is maintained, capability stays under 50% of occupancy limits, and the group of 150 have to be damaged into separate models to not exceed 75 individuals every, with no mixing between groupings permitted. Notably, distributors don’t rely in the direction of the restrict on particular person dimension (indoor or outside) for any occasion venue, no matter dimension.

This gathering dimension applies to all sectors, together with low or no contact skilled companies and companies (though distant work continues to be required wherever attainable), lodging and tenting, social golf equipment, outside recreation, and social gatherings usually. Occasion venues, together with giant outside venues for sports activities or concert events, might be able to exceed the 150 most restrict by creating a number of distinct occasion areas that meet the occasion standards, supplied that the distinct areas are separated by a bodily barrier and have separate parking, concessions, restrooms, and entrances and exits. Banking and non-essential retail operations might function on the higher of 50% capability, 1 buyer per 200 sq. toes, or 10 whole buyer and employees mixed.

Hair salons and barber outlets are topic to a capability restrict equal to the higher of 25% capability, 1 buyer per 200 sq. toes, or 10 whole buyer and employees mixed. The identical restrictions are in place for different shut contact private companies, in addition to gyms and health facilities, which even have a restrict of 25 folks in any single, distinct indoor area. Spiritual amenities and locations of worship are open, topic to bodily distancing both by limiting capability to 50% or 1 particular person per 100 sq. toes, and inside residential and industrial building might happen in occupied constructions.

Addendum 5 to Order 01-20, efficient September 11, clarifies that the state’s requirement concerning masks or material face coverings in public areas, indoor and outside, wherever shut contact of lower than 6 toes is unavoidable doesn’t apply throughout strenuous train or exercise when bodily distance of 6 toes could be maintained, or for anybody beneath the age of two. Companies should make prospects conscious of this requirement and will decline entry or service to prospects who don’t put on masks or facial coverings. This order is relevant to all companies except options are supplied for in particular circumstances by sector particular steerage.

Steering has additionally been issued for the next:

Childcare and school-aged summer time camps
Indoor arts and tradition, together with libraries, galleries, museums, and theaters
In a single day summer time camps
Organized sports activities: steerage varies based mostly on kind of sport, proximity of gamers, and frequency of contact; face coverings required for all gamers, coaches, officers, employees, and spectators the place 6 toes of distance can’t be maintained, efficient September 8, except masking inhibits a referee or official’s skill to officiate; giant indoor venues over 17,100 sq ft might accommodate as much as 150 folks indoors (per steerage for giant indoor venues)
Lodging: permits reserving of 100% of rooms, with operators requiring a signed or checked doc from company testifying they meet the quarantine necessities (similar for camps and RV parks)

Further updates to the state’s Be Good, Keep Protected order are posted right here. A fast-look of open companies is out there right here. On July 29, Governor Scott additionally signed a directive concerning college reopening. Steering for schools and universities is out there right here.

Additionally nonetheless in impact is Addendum 12, which allows crews of as much as 10 staff per job location to carry out outside and building work, permits manufacturing and distribution operations to renew with as much as 10 staff in any location in the event that they adhere to social distancing, and for beforehand closed manufacturing, building, and distribution operations to restart with as few staff as essential to allow full operations. An modification to Addendum 3 started the phased restart of elective medical and surgical procedures as of Might 15 in accordance with the requirements set out in Addendum 3. Steering can be obtainable for pet and animal care and veterinarians.

Outside recreation and health is allowed, as are the outside recreation companies that help or supply such actions with low or no direct bodily contact, together with state and municipal parks, recreation associations, path networks, golf programs, large sport examine stations, and guided expeditions. Seashores are solely permitted to open if they’ll adjust to common steerage for outside recreation.

Please consult with our alert on journey necessities for quarantine and journey steerage. Vermont’s state of emergency is presently in impact via October 15, 2020.

State of Emergency Declared

March 10

March 15

March 10

March 13

March 9

March 13

State of Emergency Length

Feb. 9, 2021

October 29

Till rescinded

October 30

November 2

October 15

Worth management order in impact

Sure

N/Aβ

Sure

Petroleum and heating gas onlyβ

Present part of reopening (begin date)

Section II (June 17)

Section IV (October 13)

Section III, Step 1 (July 6)

Section II (Might 1)

Section III (June 30)

Section VI
(Might 15)

In-state motion restriction

Expired, however advisable

Sure, however relaxed

Expired, however advisable

Sure, for weak populations

Sure, however relaxed

Cross-border journey restriction†

14-day quarantine or unfavourable check if from hotspot

14-day quarantine or testing (sure states exempt)

14-day quarantine or unfavourable check except from low threat state

None**

14-day quarantine or unfavourable check if from hotspot

14-day quarantine, or 7-day and unfavourable check (aside from counties in sure states)

Masks or coverings in public*

Required

Really helpful

Required

Required for public transportation¥

Important companies record

Sure

Essential retail

Sure

β aid obtainable beneath state’s client safety legal guidelines
† see our alert on journey restrictions for extra necessities and exemptions
**compliance with CDC steerage advisable
* the place different bodily distancing measures are tough to keep up
¥ municipalities might enact extra strict native necessities concerning masks use