Dear Business Representatives,
Last week, we informed you that the Santa Clara County Public Health Department issued a
Revised Risk Reduction Order on October 5, 2020, in order to be better aligned with the State’s
Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Effective today, October 14, 2020, all businesses in Santa Clara County will be allowed to operate under the state’s reopening blueprint, subject to specific conditions and limitations.
Having moved from the Blueprint’s Tier 2 (Red) into Tier 3 (Orange) now enables indoor gyms, retail, shopping malls, hotels, museums, and other activities to open at higher capacity than what was currently allowed. New activities are also allowed to resume, including indoor cardrooms, bowling alleys, climbing facilities, wineries, and outdoor bars (seated only service). The October 5 Order also allows indoor dining and indoor gatherings to resume, but with the Red Tier’s limitations of 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. The Order also allows outdoor gatherings with up to 200 people.
Now better aligning with the State’s Blueprint, the October 5 Order will no longer continue with density restrictions and instead utilize capacity requirements (also known as
Mandatory Capacity Limitations). The following facilities are currently subject to the Mandatory Capacity Limitations: Indoor museums, zoos, and aquariums; indoor gyms and fitness facilities; indoor dining facilities; indoor family entertainment centers; indoor cardrooms; and any facility hosting an indoor gathering (including places of worship, movie theaters, and private residences). If your facility does not fall into one of the above categories, it is not subject to a specific capacity limitation, and you do not need to follow the five steps for Mandatory Capacity Limitations.
Mandatory Capacity Limitations Instructions
• Step One: Determine whether your facility is subject to a specific Health Officer capacity limitation.
• Step Two: Calculate your capacity limit.
• Step Three: Create reduced maximum capacity signage for your facility.
• Step Four: Post reduced maximum capacity signage at the entrance to each capacity-limited room/area.
• Step Five: Make sure you reduced maximum capacity signage stays up to date.
Please review the new directives for
Gatherings and
Dining for additional details. Existing directives for
Personal Care Services and
Outdoor Dining now reflect important changes for specific business sectors and activities entering Tier 3. Personal Care Services that require removal of a face covering (such as facial treatments) is now allowed when personnel staff wear proper personal protective equipment, and Outdoor Dining was updated to broaden the definition of “outdoor facility,” prohibiting smoking lounges and allowing some limited forms of live entertainment.
All businesses must complete a New Social Distancing Protocol using the
revised webform. Businesses must complete their revised Social Distancing Protocols by October 28, 2020. In addition to the new Social Distancing Protocol, all businesses are required to allow teleworking (if possible) and if an employee is confirmed to be positive for COVID-19, they must report the information to the Public Health Department within four (4) hours.
The Santa Clara County Health Officer urges Milpitas residents and businesses to continue to take precaution by staying home when possible, minimize interaction with people outside of your respective household, practice social distancing, wear a face cover, and attempt to move activities outdoors, if possible.
More information on the October 5 Order is available in the
Executive Summary or by visiting the Santa Clara County Public Health
website. If you have any questions or need business assistance during COVID-19, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Economic Development team by sending a message anytime to
[email protected].
In community spirit,
Alex
Alex Andrade
Economic Development Director
Phone: (408) 586-3046
455 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas CA 95035
