California continued moving toward economic reopening this week, entering early Stage 2 of the COVID-19 Resilience Roadmap.
The state issued more detailed industry-specific guidance and nearly 20 counties attested they have met the state’s criteria for opening with modifications.
Industry-Specific Guidance
The industry-specific guidance is available at covid19.cagov/industry-guidance.
Businesses should review the guidance relevant to their workplace, prepare a plan based on that guidance, and put the plan into action.
Topics covered in the guidance include worksite-specific plans, topics for employee training, individual control measures and screening, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and physical distancing guidelines.
Guidance covers industries ranging from retailers to construction, delivery services, office workspaces and manufacturing.
When businesses complete items within the guidance, they can post an industry-specific checklist in their workplace to show customers and employees that the business has reduced risk and is ready to open.
Industry-specific checklists are available for construction, delivery services, office workspaces and real estate transactions, to name a few.
Before Reopening
At each stage of the reopening, the businesses and industries involved are being asked to make sure they meet the safety and preparedness milestones outlined in Stage 1 by visiting covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/.
Before reopening, all facilities must:
• Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan;
• Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them;
• Implement individual control measures and screenings;
• Implement disinfecting protocols; and
• Implement physical distancing guidelines.
Meeting Readiness Criteria
Counties that have attested they meet the readiness criteria for reopening with modifications as of May 14 are: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Benito, Shasta, Sierra, Sutter, Tehama, Tuolumne and Yuba.
Counties that have met the criteria may open some business activities—such as shopping malls and dine-in restaurants—more quickly.
Web Resources
Guidance continues to evolve and businesses would do well to check the state’s one-stop website at covid19.ca.gov. It includes links to the latest data on total cases in California, total deaths and number of persons tested, as well as hospital data, county maps, cases by county, and a section allowing visitors to search for a testing site by zip code.
The California Chamber of Commerce webpage at www.calchamber.com/coronavirus includes links to COVID-19-related federal, state and local resources, including California Counties Health and Stay-at-Home Order pages, plus CalChamber podcasts and other guidance.
