California Reopens Partially on Friday: Stage 2
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the first stages of “Stage 2” of the state reopening was planned to begin on Friday, May 8th with a full roadmap of which business and can open
he Governor laid out the plans for May 8th stage 2 reopening for the state with curbside pickup, but stressed that local jurisdictions (i.e. the Bay Area) are not required to open when the rest of the state does.
What About the Bay Area? – 3 Counties Reopen, 6 Waiting
updated 5/8/20
Which Counties May Open Up Retail As Early as May 8
Solano, Sonoma and Napa – please note SFGate reports these counties are “preparing to reopen retail with curbside pickup as early as Friday.” The “as early as” implies that this might not be completely ready on Friday.Which Counties are Waiting to Reopen Stage 2
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara (plus Berkeley). While no specific date has been set for these jurisdictions that typically act in concert, San Francisco has issued a statement giving May 18th as a potential date.San Francisco issued a statement after Newsom’s press conference planning the “stage 2” reopening for May 18th as long as certain benchmarks are met.
Can open with modifications – on May 8th
- Curbside retail, including but not limited to: Bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, home and furnishing stores, sporting goods stores, antique stores, music stores, florists. Note: this will be phased in, starting first with curbside pickup and delivery only until further notice.
- Supply chains supporting the above businesses, in manufacturing and logistics sectors
Can open later in Stage 2: – NOT able to open yet on May 8
Guidance from the state will be provided next week under what conditions counties can allow these businesses to open
- Destination retail, including shopping malls and swap meets.
- Personal services, limited to: car washes, pet grooming, tanning facilities, and landscape gardening.
- Office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged)
- Dine-in restaurants (other facility amenities, like bars or gaming areas, are not permitted)
- Schools and childcare facilities
- Outdoor museums and open gallery spaces
NOT in Stage 1 or 2: Higher-risk workplaces
- Personal services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, gyms and fitness studios
- Hospitality services, such as bars and lounges
- Entertainment venues, such as movie theaters, gaming facilities, and pro sports
- Indoor museums, kids museums and gallery spaces, zoos, and libraries
- Community centers, including public pools, playgrounds, and picnic areas
- Religious services and cultural ceremonies
- Nightclubs
- Concert venues
- Festivals
- Theme parks
- Hotels/lodging for leisure and tourism
This would allow for the gradual reopening of lower-risk workplaces (as long as they adapt to social distancing rules like only allowing curbside pickup) like bookstores, clothing stores, florists, sporting good stores, etc… Specific guidelines are expected to be announced on Thursday, May 7th.
What to Expect on May 8th
- What May Open on Friday, May 8th
Certain lower-risk retail, manufacturing, and logistics businesses. Certain limitations might be put in place such as only initially allowing curbside pickup. Examples initially given were bookstores, clothing stores, florists, sporting good stores. Full details will be announced on May 7 – - What Is NOT Part of the May 8th Reopening
The announcement for Friday does not include offices, seated dining at restaurants, shopping malls or schools which will be part of a will be part of a later Stage 2 opening - What About the Bay Area?
Please note that the Bay Area may continue to have stricter guidelines and may (or may not) join phase 2 at the same time as much of the rest of the state. The governor allows for “regional variation.” Counties are allowed to have stricter rules in place even if the state mandate is more relaxed. Check the San Francisco Mayor’s website for updates.
What’s Next?
- Stage 1 – Where we are now – “essential” activities only
- Stage 2 – Lower risk workspaces – retail (curbside pickup), manufacturing, offices, more public spaces
- Stage 3 – Higher risk environments with adaptations and limits on size of gatherings – personal care (hair and nail salons, gyms), entertainment venues (movie theaters, sports without live audiences), in-person religious services (churches, weddings)
- Stage 4 – End of Stay-at-Home Order – Re-open highest risk venues – concerts, convention centers, live sports with audiences. Once therapeutics have been developed.
Governor Newsom Provides Update on California’s Progress Toward Stage 2 Reopening
These are the highlights of the full press release issued May 4, 2020
- Governor issues Report Card on state’s progress in fighting COVID-19
- Governor’s Report Card indicates California will be prepared to move into the early phase of Stage 2 of reopening this Friday, May 8
- Stage 2 allows gradual reopening of lower-risk workplaces with adaptations including bookstores, clothing stores, florists and sporting goods stores, with modifications
- Governor also announces new framework to allow counties to move more quickly through Stage 2 if they attest that they meet the state’s readiness criteria
- State announces accelerated action to secure contact tracing capacity
As the state continues implementation of the four-stage framework to allow Californians to gradually reopen some lower-risk businesses and public spaces while continuing to preserve public health, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that based on the state’s progress in meeting metrics tied to indicators, the state can begin to move into Stage 2 of modifying the stay at home order this Friday, May 8, with guidelines released Thursday, May 7.
What’s in Early Stage 2
Later this week the state will release public health guidance for certain Stage 2 sectors including some retail, manufacturing, and logistics businesses, which will outline modifications that lower the risk of transmission. Businesses and employers in those sectors will be able to reopen as soon as Friday – if they can meet the guidelines provided by the state. Not all Stage 2 businesses will be able to open Friday with modifications. Some examples of businesses that can open with modifications include bookstores, clothing stores, florists and sporting goods stores.
Other Stage 2 sectors, such as offices and dine-in restaurants, will be part of a later Stage 2 opening. The announcement for Friday does not include offices, seated dining at restaurants, shopping malls or schools. As the Governor noted last week, the state is working with school districts and the California education community to determine how best and safely to reopen. That continues to be the case – this May 8 announcement does not move up this timeline.
While the state will be moving from Stage 1 to Stage 2, counties can choose to continue more restrictive measures in place based on their local conditions, and the state expects some counties to keep their more robust stay at home orders in place beyond May 8.
Regional Variation
The Governor also announced today that while the state is moving into Stage 2 together, counties can move more quickly through Stage 2, if they attest that they meet the state’s readiness criteria. Counties must create and submit a readiness plan which the state will make publicly available.
The Governor signed an executive order today directing the State Public Health Officer to establish criteria to determine whether and how, in light of local conditions, local health officers may implement public health measures less restrictive than the statewide public health directives. Counties must meet criteria including demonstrating they have a low prevalence of COVID-19, that they meet testing and contact tracing criteria, that their health care system is prepared in case they see a sudden rise in cases, and that they have plans in place to protect vulnerable populations. The state will outline these criteria in the coming days.
