As condominiums, master planned communities and other homeowner associations plot the unfamiliar course of reopening public areas in the midst of COVID-19, the Community Associations Institute has released a guide to help them navigate the process.

“Status Check: A Reopening Guide for Community Associations” provides resources for community associations to evaluate plans to safely reopen pools, gyms, playgrounds, and other communal areas.

The guide includes a sample letter to residents, a sign for common areas, information on liability releases and detailed instructions for conducting safe business operations, including meetings.

“Status Check,” which was developed to complement the Center for Disease Control’s “Healthy Communities” guide, breaks down potential common areas into specific areas, such as pools and gyms, and provides safety guidelines for each.

“This is the best, most comprehensive guide for community associations today,” said CAI Chief Executive Office Thomas M. Skiba, of “Status Check” in a press release. “As the leading authority in community association education, governance, and management, we believe it’s essential to develop solutions that directly help our members and community association stakeholders challenged by COVID-19. CAI has a long-standing reputation for offering world-class education, tools, and resources, and we know our communities need answers to the difficult questions that will likely continue as the pandemic surges in communities throughout the U.S.”