Order to Shelter at Home FAQ's

This Order replaces the June 8 Shelter in Place Order as of 8 a.m. on June 19, 2020. This updated Order requires that most people continue sheltering in their place of residence. It allows additional businesses to open that could not operate under the June 5 Order and some low-to-moderate risk activities to resume.

 You are still allowed to participate in “essential activities,” “outdoor activities,” and “additional activities”; and/or to work for an “essential business,” “outdoor business,” “additional business,” or perform “minimum basic operations” if it is not possible for you to work from home.

The June 19 Order allows the following additional businesses and activities:

• Indoor and outdoor retail
• Indoor and outdoor religious services and cultural ceremonies
• First Amendment events
• Outdoor dining
• Outdoor non-contact fitness classes
• Outdoor museums, outdoor historical sites, and publicly assessable gardens
• Dog parks
• College sports non-contact training activities

 Please read the Order for more information and the requirements to reopening.

As of 8 a.m. on June 19, 2020, everyone in the County must strictly follow this new Order. This new Order will continue to be in effect until it is rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer based on (1) COVID-19 Indicators progress; (2) developments in epidemiological and diagnostic methods for tracing, diagnosing, treating, or prevention for COVID-19; and (3) scientific understanding of the transmission dynamics and clinical impact of COVID-19.

The order issued by the Governor is a statewide order, and local orders may be more restrictive. The State order and new stay-at-home order will remain in effect in Alameda County. Where a conflict exists between this Order and any state public health order related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most restrictive provision controls.

Yes, it is mandatory. These Orders are a legal Order issued under the authority of California law.  You are required to comply, and it is a crime (a misdemeanor with up to $1,000 in fines or six months imprisonment) not to follow the Orders (although the intent is not for anyone to get into trouble).

 It is critical for everyone to follow the Orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect themselves, their loved ones, friends, neighbors, and the whole community. All persons, businesses, and other entities are required to comply if they do not fall within the exemptions that are specified in the Orders.

This Order is issued based on evidence of continued significant community transmission of COVID-19 within the County and throughout the Bay Area; continued uncertainty regarding the degree of undetected asymptomatic transmission; scientific evidence and best practices regarding the most effective approaches to slow the transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically; evidence that the age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the County places it at risk for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19; and further evidence that others, including younger and otherwise healthy people, are also at risk for serious outcomes.

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the general public, which is now a pandemic according to the World Health Organization, there is a public health emergency throughout the County. Making the problem worse, some individuals who contract the virus causing the COVID-19 disease have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, which means they may not be aware they carry the virus and are transmitting it to others. Further, evidence shows that the virus can survive for hours to days on surfaces and be indirectly transmitted between individuals. Because even people without symptoms can transmit the infection, and because evidence shows the infection is easily spread, gatherings and other direct or indirect interpersonal interactions can result in preventable transmission of the virus.

The intent of these Orders is to ensure that people remain in their residences and minimize social interactions outside of their immediate household unit.  However, you may leave your residence for reasons specified in the Alameda County Order.  These reasons include ensuring the health and safety of yourself and your family, engaging in outdoor activity that does not involve close contact with other people, obtaining services and supplies for yourself and your family, and to perform employment functions that are permissible under the Alameda County Order.

Thanks to the collective effort and sacrifice of the 7 million residents across the Bay Area, we have made progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, ensuring our hospitals are not overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases and saving lives. This progress allows a limited number of additional businesses to reopen, so long as they strictly comply with social distancing requirements and other protections in the Order.

However, at this stage of the pandemic, we need to maintain most of the restrictions of shelter-in-place so that we do not lose the progress we have achieved. Lifting too many restrictions too soon could easily lead to a large surge in cases and result in avoidable hospitalizations and deaths, and it may also lead to longer-term economic harms.

This is a legally enforceable order issued under California law. It is a crime to violate these Orders, and you may be punished by a fine or imprisonment for doing so. County Sheriff and all chiefs of police in the County have the authority to ensure compliance with and enforce this Order. (See Question #8 in the General Questions section)

Alameda County has developed a reopening plan, please visit http://www.acphd.org/media/584319/alameda-county-covid-19-reopening-plan-english.pdf. This is the current plan but subject to adjustments. 

Alameda County has not been approved by the State to move through all of Stage 2 of the State's Resilience Roadmpa. This means that Alameda County cannot reopen all businesses and allowed activities listed on this webpage at this time: https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/.  

Alameda County
Alameda County Public Health Department website:

http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx

Alameda County New Shelter in Place Order effective June 19, 2020: 

http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/health-officer-orders.aspx

Alameda County Face Covering Order: 

http://www.acphd.org/media/584316/alameda-county-health-officer-order-20-13-english.pdf

Alameda County List of Businesses and Activities Allowed or Not Allowed to Reopen:

http://www.acphd.org/media/587214/alameda-county-health-officer-20-14-a-businesses-english.pdf

Alameda County Reopening Plan:

http://www.acphd.org/media/584319/alameda-county-covid-19-reopening-plan-english.pdf

California
California COVID-19 Response website:

https://covid19.ca.gov/

California Department of Public Health COVID-19 website:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx

California Shelter in Place Order issued on March 19:

https://covid19.ca.gov/img/N-33-20.pdf

California Order to Begin Gradual Movement to Stage 2 issued on May 7:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/SHO%20Order%205-7-2020.pdf

California Resilience Roadmap:

https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/

California Industry Guidance:

https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/

Federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

You can still get your health needs addressed.  You should contact your healthcare provider to see if they are providing regular services. If you are feeling sick, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center.  Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you are having an actual emergency. 

Under the Order, all medical services, including routine and preventive care, are considered essential. This includes, but is not limited to, mental health services, immunizations, well-woman exams, allergy shots, eye exams, physical therapy, and surgeries. Preventive and non-urgent care should generally not be deferred. If possible, health care visits should be done remotely.

Contact your health care provider to see what services they are providing. For health care providers, please read this advisory for guidance.

Non-urgent health care services including dental can resume. Please see this guidance for the resumption of non-urgent health care services in Alameda County.

Yes. Drug stores, licensed cannabis retailers, and other medical supply stores are allowed and encouraged to operate. When possible, you should have prescription medicines and healthcare supplies delivered to your home.

You may continue to use these services if your healthcare provider has determined that they are medically necessary for you.

Yes, blood banks, blood donation centers, and blood drives are exempt healthcare operations.  If you are healthy and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, you are encouraged to donate.  The need for adequate blood donations from healthy people is critical.

No. The Order exempts any business that is performing work related to the delivery of health care, including companies working on vaccines and testing for COVID-19.

Yes. The Order allows licensed cannabis businesses to deliver products to people’s residences as long as your local jurisdiction allows it.

Yes. Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other food retail establishments selling foods items and non-alcoholic drinks are encouraged to stay open to provide food items and pet supplies to the public. Section 6 of the Order requires all businesses allowed to operate under the Order to follow any industry-specific requirements issued by the Health Officer related to COVID-19.  The Health Officer’s requirements for essential retail and grocery stores, essential workers, and food facilities can be found here. 

When visiting these places, you must help the retailer maintain Social Distancing Requirements, including while you are shopping and standing in line.

This Shelter in Place Order allows all retailers to sell goods indoors, whether or not they are considered “essential.”  We strongly encourage retail stores to continue providing curbside or other outdoor pickup in lieu of or in addition to indoor retail. The Order also permits travel to retail businesses.

 Retail stores, including shopping centers and malls, must comply with specific conditions identified in Appendix C-1: http://www.acphd.org/media/587211/health-officer-order-20-14-a-appendix-c-1-additional-businesses-permitted-to-operate-english.pdf

Retail stores must implement the applicable measures in Appendix A of the Order and the State’s retail guidance: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-retail.pdf and the Alameda County retail guidance: http://www.acphd.org/media/587166/health-officer-order-20-14-a-retail-and-shopping-center-re-opening-guidance-english.pdf

 Shopping centers and swap meets must implement the applicable measures in Appendix A of the Order and the State’s shopping center guidance: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-shopping-centers.pdf and the Alameda County retail guidance: http://www.acphd.org/media/587166/health-officer-order-20-14-a-retail-and-shopping-center-re-opening-guidance-english.pdf

Yes. If you are holding a yard sale and/or garage sale, please review and implement the applicable measures in Appendix A of the Order and the State’s retail guidance: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-retail.pdf.

Yes, you can go to the bank and other financial institutions such as check cashers, money lenders, and pawn shops; but you should minimize unnecessary trips.

Yes. For safe reopening guidance for laundromats and dry cleaning, please visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-limited-services.pdf

Yes. You can now dine outdoors at these businesses. Patrons will not be permitted to dine inside. We strongly encourage you to order carry out or delivery.

 Restaurants offering outdoor dining must implement the applicable measures in Appendix A of the Order, Environmental Health’s restaurant operating procedures, and the State’s dine-in restaurant guidance.

 If a restaurant previously only had indoor seating and is planning for outdoor seating should contact your planning department for guidance and/or approval. Major changes to food service operations, such as addition of dining areas, food preparation areas, cleaning stations, or food storage areas may require advance approval by the Department of Environmental Health. Contact your inspector to discuss proposed changes.

Restaurants with existing outdoor, unenclosed bars may use the bar seating for outdoor dining, but may not keep or serve alcohol from the bar.

Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food to the public are encouraged to stay open to provide delivery, carry out, and/or outdoor dining. Patrons will not be permitted to dine inside restaurants and similar establishments.

If these businesses have an on-site restaurant they may provide outdoor dining. The alcohol must be sold to patrons in conjunction with a meal. We encourage these businesses to continue to provide carry out or delivery.

These businesses must comply with the conditions of Appendix C-1, implement the applicable measures in Appendix A of the Order and the State’s dine-in restaurant guidance, and implement Environmental Health’s restaurant operating procedures.

Brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, craft distilleries, and wineries that do not have on-site restaurants can contract with another vendor to provide food service for outdoor dining. The alcohol must be sold in the same transaction as a meal.

 These businesses must comply with the conditions of Appendix C-1, implement the applicable measures in Appendix A of the Order and the State’s dine-in restaurant guidance, and implement Environmental Health’s restaurant operating procedures.

No. You must purchase a meal in the same transaction as the alcohol in order to dine outdoors at their property. 

Restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and similar establishments may remain open to supply meals to the public via delivery, carryout, and/or outdoor dining. You can also purchase prepared foods at grocery stores, supermarkets, certified farmers’ markets, convenience stores, and other such food retailers.

Yes, you can use shared bikes and scooters for essential travel, such as commuting to work as an essential employee. But keep in mind that shared bikes and scooters are not routinely sanitized. Take precautions, including bringing sanitization wipes, not touching your face while on the bike or scooter, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds immediately after.

Yes. Bike repair and supply shops are treated as an essential business (the same as auto repair shops) because they are necessary to facilitate essential travel.

No. You do not need to carry official documentation (and the County does not issue any) demonstrating that you are exempt under the new Order. But be prepared to explain if requested by law enforcement why your travel is allowable under the Order.

Yes, but only to perform essential activities, outdoor activities or limited additional activities, to maintain essential government functions, to operate an essential business, outdoor business or limited additional business, or to perform minimum basic operations at a non-essential business, as those terms are defined in the Order. You can also leave to go back home or engage in other essential travel. Otherwise, the answer is no because that puts you and others in the community at risk. Keep in mind that Health Officers in neighboring counties have issued the same or similar shelter in place orders, which you will be subject to while in that jurisdiction. That means that the neighboring county can enforce violations against you.

Yes, you can leave the County to return home.

You may visit a hospital or other healthcare facility for the purpose of obtaining health care services and supplies. On June 16, the California Department of Public Health provided visitor limitation guidance allowing for certain visitation. Visitation at a nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or residential care facility is currently not allowed, unless patients are at end of life. We are waiting for the State to issue visitation guidance for licensed facilities.

 If you need to know more, please contact the facility you want to visit by phone before you visit to inquire about the status of visits. This is difficult, but it is necessary in order to protect hospital staff, your loved ones, and other patients.

Yes, so long as they are part of your Social Bubble.  

Schools are subject to special requirements and restrictions, please visit the California Department of Education website for more information at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/coronavirus.asp

Schools may allow their employees to come to work to support any continuing free and/or reduced price-meals and other essential services.  Please check with your local school districts about the availability of such programs.

Childcare establishments, summer camps, and other educational or recreational institutions or programs may provide care or supervision for children of all ages.  In the Order this is called a “Childcare or Youth Extracurricular Activity Unit”. These operations must comply with the following conditions:

1. They must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer children (“stable” means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day).
2. A child cannot be a member of more than one Childcare or Youth Extracurricular Activity Unit at the same time during any three-week period.
3. Children shall not change from one group to
4. If more than one group of children is at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room or area. Groups shall not mix with each
5. Providers or educators shall remain solely with one group of

For additional guidance around childcare facilities and camps such as infection control, visit http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/resources/childcare-schools-colleges.aspx

Yes. Home-based tutoring and tutoring at a center is allowed. If it’s home-based tutoring, the student and tutor should distance at least six feet from each other. The tutor must wear a face covering while in the home. If any member of the household/living unit feel sick, you must not provide tutoring lessons in their home. Additionally, if you feel sick, you must not provide any lessons.

If you are providing tutoring at a center, please review and implement Appendix A of the Alameda County Shelter in Place Order, follow the State’s Schools Guidance for safe reopening https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf, and comply with the Alameda County Face Covering Order http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/health-officer-orders.aspx.

If you work for an Essential Business or provide Essential Governmental Functions, as described in the Order, you can and should continue to work. Certain employers, schools, and community organizations will be providing childcare/daycare for employees of essential businesses.

Essential workers searching for childcare can connect with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to find care. Visit First 5 Alameda County for more information.

The Order allows nannies and childcare providers caring for a child in the child’s own home to continue working.

Service providers like plumbers, electricians, and exterminators can keep working and providing services to the public that are necessary to maintain a livable, sanitary, and functional household. You can call your building manager or one of these service providers, or you can also visit your hardware store to assist with making your own repairs.

Yes. If the dog walker or pet owner has any COVID-19 symptoms, has been sick, or has been exposed to someone who has, dog walking services must be cancelled. Dog walkers and pet owners should keep their interactions limited, maintain 6 feet distance, and wear face covering.

 For safe reopening guidance for dog walking services, visit:
  https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-limited-services.pdf

Yes. Arborists, landscapers, gardeners, and similar service professionals can operate as outdoor businesses, as that term is defined in the Order, but they must strictly comply with social distancing requirements.

For safe reopening guidance for landscapers/arborists/gardeners, visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-limited-services.pdf

Visit http://www.acphd.org/media/587217/health-officer-order-20-14-a-places-of-worship-re-opening-guidance-english.pdf for requirements and best practices.

• The instructor and all participants must wear face coverings at all times, except when engaged in high-intensity aerobic activity.
• The instructor and all participants must arrange themselves to provide adequate social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times. Greater distance is recommended for high-intensity aerobic activity.
• No member of the class may share equipment, and equipment should be sanitized between uses.
• The instructor of or organizer for the classes must obtain any required use authorizations from the owner or manager of the outdoor space, including permits for using parks required by any city, county, or district before undertaking the fitness classes.
• It is recommended that the instructor of or organizer for fitness classes consider maintaining contact information of attendees and that this information be kept by the event’s organizer for at least 21 days after the event. The purpose of this recommendation is to assist us with effective contact tracing in case of an outbreak that may have affected people attending the class(es).

Yes, if physical distancing is maintained when on your walks and in parks to avoid spread of the virus. If non-compliance is noted in some trails or parks, they may be closed down or closed to vehicle access.

Each governmental entity can make a determination regarding the restrictions on public access to parks, beaches, and open spaces necessary to maintain social distancing.

No.  Entertainment venues like these are not permitted to be open in Alameda County during this Order. However, drive-in theaters, concerts, and other events are allowed if they meet the conditions identified in the highly regulated Vehicle-Based Gatherings Order.

Individuals may participate in-person, outdoor political gathering or protests as long as physical distancing of six feet between persons or groups of persons from different households or Social Bubbles is maintained at all times. All persons participating in permitted constitutionally protected activities should comply with Health Officer Order No. 20-13 (the “Face Covering Order”).

No. Gyms, fitness studios, and health clubs are not permitted to operate under this Order. This Order does allow for outdoor non-contact fitness classes and must comply with the conditions listed in Appendix C-1.

You can take your kids to the park or other areas to run around in open spaces or bring your own sports equipment to an open space as long as it is used only by members of your own household and not shared with other people. Recreational areas with equipment that lots of people touch or areas where people gather close together, like playgrounds, picnic areas, and barbecue areas, must be closed and you cannot use them while the Order is in effect.

No. All recreational areas with high-touch equipment and surfaces, or that encourage gathering must be closed, including but not limited to playgrounds, outdoor gym equipment, picnic areas, barbecue areas, swimming pools, and spas.

Sports with shared equipment or physical contact, like kicking a soccer (not in groups), throwing a football, throwing a baseball/softball, volleyball (singles), and badminton (singles) may only be played with members of your same household or living unit or within a childcare or camp setting.

We will carefully monitor any changes to the State Shelter at Home Order. In the event the State relaxes restrictions on additional outdoor recreation, the Health Officer will consider whether to similarly relax the restrictions imposed by this Order.

Yes. The Order allows you to go online, purchase items, and have them delivered to your home.

Yes.  You can go to the vet or pet hospital if your pet is sick. Remember to distance yourself at least six feet from other pets and owners and wear a face covering.

 Please call first to determine if the vet has any restrictions in place. 

Yes.

Yes with conditions. Under the County’s Order, short-term rentals can likely still operate to a limited extent, but renters should only use short-term rentals when necessary to essential activities. For example, if a person had to travel to the County to help build a hospital, the person could stay in a short-term rental. Another example of an allowed rental would be if a person needed to leave their home for their safety, e.g., domestic violence. Hosts should make clear to potential guests that vacations and leisure travel are not allowed under the County’s Order. Hosts should take all reasonable measures to avoid renting to individuals displaying signs of illness and should also deep-clean/disinfect between rentals.

No. Essential government functions will continue, including first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, and law enforcement. Other government functions or offices may be subject to reduced schedules or may be closed as part of the effort to fight the spread of COVID-19. Each government agency identifies the services that qualify as essential governmental functions, and designates the personnel who will continue providing those functions.

As a government employee, you can continue to go to work if your employer designates you as an essential employee. Each government agency is responsible for determining which of its workers are essential workers.

An “outdoor business” is any business that normally operated primarily outdoors before March 16, 2020.  Such businesses may reopen so long as they can provide for full social distancing between persons. Outdoor businesses must comply with the Order’s social distancing requirements and post a Site-Specific Protection Plan (Appendix A).

• Indoor retail
• Places of worship
• First amendment activities
• Outdoor dining
• Outdoor non-contact fitness classes
• Outdoor museums, outdoor historical sites, and publicly accessible gardens
• College sports non-contact training and practices

No. “Essential businesses,” “outdoor businesses, “and “additional businesses” may keep their facilities open and continue providing their services and products to the public. Employees may leave home to go to these jobs. But all businesses, including essential, outdoor, and additional ones, are required to maximize the number of employees working from home and bring in only those employees who cannot carry out their job duties from home. Businesses that are not “essential businesses,” “outdoor businesses,” and “additional businesses” as those terms are defined in the Order, must cease all activities at their facilities within the County, except to provide minimum basic operations, such as maintaining the value of a business’s inventory, keeping the business site safe and secure, ensuring that employees are able to work remotely, or providing for the delivery of existing inventory to residences or businesses.

No. Your business is not required to submit your plan to Alameda County for approval. You should, however, prepare, post, implement, and distribute to Personnel a written Site-Specific Protection Plan. Please read the Shelter in Place Order and appendices to determine which appendix you must implement and any required State industry guidance.

 We can provide guidance and technical assistance if needed. Please email COVIDRecovery@acgov.org or visit http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/covid-recovery.aspx for more information.

Essential businesses and outdoor businesses in Alameda County are required to create a tailored “Social Distancing Protocol” explaining how the business will comply with social distancing requirements, post it at the public entrance in plain sight, and produce it when requested by a governmental agency, including law enforcement.

The Social Distancing Protocol must be updated from prior versions to address new requirements listed in this Order or in related guidance or directives from the Health Officer. The form is attached to the Order as Appendix A. View the Order for more details about this requirement.

Social distancing requirements for businesses include:

• Limiting the number of people who can enter into the store (for Essential Businesses) as necessary to ensure that customers can easily maintain six-foot distance from one another; Outdoor or Additional Businesses may not permit customer entry and must ensure that customers on-site can be limited to a number that allows easy maintenance of the required six-foot distancing.
• Providing stations with hand sanitizer or similar disinfectant to the public at entrance and throughout the facility.
• Marking six-foot increments in all queuing areas.
• Placing signs at entrance advising customers to maintain six-foot distance from one another and to wear face coverings.

No employee who can perform their customary employment duties remotely shall be required to report to the facility.

Visit The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for additional social distancing measures for businesses.

“Additional Businesses” must complete and implement both Appendix A and
Appendix C-1, and any applicable guidance and procedures (for restaurants, places of worship, and retail).

Yes.

Yes, but only to the extent they support or supply those essential businesses. Warehouses and distribution centers should minimize the number of employees onsite and strictly comply with all social distancing requirements in the Order. See Appendix C-1. 

Yes. Moving companies are considered an essential business and are encouraged to stay open to help people move into their new residence and/or help move essential businesses that are necessary to maintain health, safety, and sanitation.

Yes.  Deliveries can continue to be sent to people’s homes, and you may adjust your business model accordingly while this Order is in place.

Non-urgent health care services including dental can resume. Please see this guidance for the resumption of non-urgent health care services in Alameda County.

Yes. According to California’s cannabis regulatory agencies, cannabis is an essential medicine for many residents, and licensees may continue to operate at this time, as long as their operations comply with local rules and regulations. Suppliers to and licensed growers can operate as well. Any licensee that continues to operate must adopt social distancing and anti-congregating measures and must follow the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease at all times.

Yes.  Arborists, landscapers, gardeners, and similar service professionals can operate as outdoor businesses, as that term is defined in the Order, but they must strictly comply with social distancing requirements.

For safe reopening guidance for landscapers/arborists/gardeners, visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-limited-services.pdf

Only businesses supplying materials or transportation for “essential infrastructure,” “essential government,” “essential businesses,” “additional businesses,” and “healthcare operations” are permitted to operate.

Yes, janitorial/custodial and security services are allowed because they are necessary for health, safety, and sanitation.

For safe reopening guidance for janitorial/custodial services, visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-limited-services.pdf

Yes, gun shops can reopen for indoor retail and/or curbside/storefront pickup.

Yes, so long as the service is necessary to maintain safety and sanitation. Allowable operations include routine maintenance work like cleaning, chemical balancing and adjustments, and filtration (necessary to, for instance, prevent pool algae from blooming) and safety-oriented repairs.

Generally, no. Real estate agents, escrow agents, and other service providers that facilitate real estate transactions like home sales, apartment rentals, and sale of commercial properties are essential workers, but all appointments and viewings must happen virtually (via video or livestream). If a virtual viewing is not possible, then a single photographer or videographer is permitted to visit the property once to take photographs and/or video.  This should be done at a time when the occupant is not present in the residence.  Only if these options are not possible, then in-person showings can occur by appointment with no more than two visitors at a time from the same household, and only one agent showing the property. In-person showings or walk-throughs are not allowed when the occupant is present in the residence. Commercial viewings should be limited to the minimum number of persons possible.

Yes as long as social distancing is maintained and people comply with the Face Covering Order.

Visit https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-real-estate.pdf for real estate industry safe reopening guidance.

Construction projects must comply with Appendix B-1 or Appendix B-2 of the Order Order.

Yes.

Yes.

Businesses that include an Essential Business component at their facilities alongside non-essential components must “scale down” their in-person operations to the Essential Business component only. For instance, if 20% of manufacturing capacity in your business is devoted to essential products, and 80% of capacity is devoted to non-essential products, you can only operate at 20% capacity. The exception to this rule is that retail storefronts that are allowed to stay open under the Order do not need to scale down and can keep their entire retail storefronts open.

It depends. Your lab may operate only if it performs work that is exempted in the Order. Otherwise, you and your employees are allowed to perform only minimum basic operations onsite at your workplace, and must strictly comply with the Order’s social distancing requirements, including maintaining a distance of six feet from one another, frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an effective hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a face covering, as required in the Health Officer’s , except if a face covering is not required for them (e.g., anyone who has trouble breathing or is unable to remove a face covering without assistance); and avoiding all social interaction outside the household when sick with COVID-19 symptoms (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) .

 You must also prepare, post, and implement a social distancing protocol (see section 15.h and Appendix A of the Order) for any facility where you are carrying out minimum basic operations, and you must provide a copy of that protocol to each employee. Other than that, employees cannot be onsite at your lab locations.

No. Businesses that supply food goods and prepared meals to grocery stores and other food retailers are essential and may continue operating.

Employees and contractors of any governmental entity may continue to provide the services and products if the governmental entity determines that they are necessary to carry out an essential governmental function.

Yes. If your business is primarily engaged in supply or repair of cell phones or other telecommunications devices, then it is essential and may continue to operate under the Order for that purpose.

Plant nurseries that qualify as outdoor businesses under the Order may open.  An outdoor business is a business that was primarily operating outdoors prior to March 16, 2020, and that has the ability to fully maintain social distancing of at least six feet between all persons.  

Yes. Visit https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance limited services.pdf for safe reopening
guidance.

No. The Order exempts any business that is performing work related to the delivery of health care, including hospitals, clinics, COVID-19 testing locations, dentists, pharmacies, blood banks and blood drives, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, and veterinary care and all healthcare services provided to animals.

Unless your work is exempted in the Order, you cannot go to work at a physical location in the County even if you want to. You can work from home for any business if your employer allows it and your work can be done from home.

No. But most employees of these companies need to work from home. The only employees of these companies who can go to work are: (i) employees who are needed to maintain the minimum basic operations described in the Order; or (ii) employees who are needed to work onsite to operate, maintain, or repair Essential Infrastructure (i.e., essential global, national, and local infrastructure for internet, computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services for the community) and who cannot perform their work duties from home.

Any employees who are onsite must strictly follow the Order’s social distancing requirements, including maintaining a distance of six feet from one another (unless incompatible with the job duty), frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an effective hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a face covering, as required in the Health Officer’s June 5, 2020 Order, except if a face covering is not required for them (e.g., anyone who has trouble breathing or is unable to remove a face covering without assistance); and avoiding all social interaction outside the household when sick with COVID-19 symptoms (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).  Any business that is carrying out minimum basic operations at a facility in the County must also prepare, post, and implement a social distancing protocol (see section 15.h and Appendix A of the Order) and must provide a copy of that protocol to each employee.

Yes. “Healthcare operations” includes hospitals, clinics, COVID-19 testing locations, dentists, pharmacies, blood banks and blood drives, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services.  “Healthcare Operations” also includes veterinary care and all healthcare services provided to animals, but does not include fitness, exercise gyms, and similar facilities.

Yes.  All employees of hospitals, clinics, and other organizations that provide healthcare, provide services to healthcare organizations, provide needed supplies to healthcare organizations, or otherwise maintain healthcare operations of all kinds may continue working.

The Health Order does not advise or encourage health care workers over 60 to stop reporting to work, and defers to each employer for policies on employee safety. 

For worker protection information, visit the California Department of Industrial Relations at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Essential and Non essential Workers.htm.

The Alameda County Department of Public Health developed a Worker Resources page at http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/resources-residents/worker-resources.aspx.

The Order allows all construction projects that are permitted under the March 19, 2020 Order of the California State Public Health Officer (the “State Shelter Order”), as long as the projects comply with the Construction Safety Protocols listed in Appendices B1 and B2 of the Order. Once they comply with the Construction Safety Protocols, construction sites do not also need to post a Social Distancing Protocol.

Yes, if the project you are working on is immediately necessary to the maintenance, operation, or repair of Essential Infrastructure. Essential Infrastructure means airports, utilities (including water, sewer, gas, and electrical), oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste facilities (including collection, removal, disposal, recycling, and processing facilities), cemeteries, mortuaries, crematoriums, and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for internet, computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services).

All recycling facilities may operate, including but not limited to those providing for recycling of beverage containers, scrap metal, used oil, construction and demolition debris, and any other materials that can be, or are required to be, recycled by the State of California.

Yes. Composting facilities may operate and composting activities may take place.

Yes.  All quarries must complete, post, and implement a Social Distancing Protocol and provide all employees with a copy of the Protocol. They must also strictly comply with Social Distancing Requirements set forth in the Order.

Yes, this is permissible construction activity and must comply with the Construction Project Safety Protocols in Appendix B of the Order.  Businesses may also operate to manufacture distributed energy resource components, like solar panels.

Yes.  This work must comply with the Construction Project Safety Protocols in Appendices B-1 and B-2 of the Order or the Social Distancing Protocols in Appendix A, as applicable.

Yes.  This work must comply with the Construction Project Safety Protocols in Appendices B-1 and B-2 of the Order or the Social Distancing Protocols in Appendix A, as applicable.

Yes. State-mandated tests and operator inspections of underground storage tanks are essential activities and should continue under the Order. Repairs necessary to maintain the safety of underground storage tank systems and activities to respond to alarms and address unauthorized releases are also essential and should continue. All such work must be conducted in accordance with the Order, including adhering to social distancing requirements.

A company must use an independent contractor as a JSAS. The JSAS cannot be an employee of any company that is engaged in construction activities at the jobsite.

No. The SCO and JSAS must be different people. There must be an SCO onsite at all times, and the SCO may be an employee of a company doing construction work at the jobsite. The JSAS must be an independent third-party contractor (not an employee of a company doing construction work at the jobsite), and does not need to be at the jobsite at all times.

No. The JSAS does not need to be on site for the project to start, but must be ready to make site visits shortly thereafter. Projects may continue, and must have a JSAS assigned to the site no later than May 11.

Yes. The projects must comply with the new protocols in order to proceed. However, for large construction projects, the third-party jobsite safety accountability supervisor (JSAS) does not have to be assigned to the site until May 11.

The JSAS does not need to be at the jobsite at all times. The JSAS must visit the jobsite with sufficient frequency to adequately ensure compliance. The frequency of visits will vary depending on the size and complexity of the jobsite. For large construction projects subject to the Large Construction Project Safety Protocol, the frequency of JSAS visits must be documented in the Site-Specific Health & Safety Plan.

At a minimum, screening should include questions about whether the individual has a cough, fever, or any other COVID-19 symptoms.

No. As long as the information specified in the Construction Project Safety Protocols is collected, the attendance log is compliant.

COVID-19 compliance will enforce the requirements. Please email compliance concerns to COVID19compliance@acgov.org.