Alright...not gonna lie, but a little confused here...are things allowed to reopen or what? If so...some folks are going to be THRILLED, others still worried about reopening's leading to another surge, but clearly one would expect local businesses to be elated as California health officials announced that the regional stay-at-home order has been lifted effective IMMEDIATELY. The order, which went into effect Dec. 7, banned nearly all private and public gatherings, it also banned restaurant dining, both indoor and outdoor amongst other restrictions until today. So what happens now? It depends on which 'tier' your county falls into. Monday afternoon, Gov. Newsom said ALL 11 counties in the Southern California region will REMAIN in the 'purple tier', which is the most restrictive...Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Mono, Imperial, and Inyo Counties are all included...so what does that mean? It remains unclear, as county officials will probably regroup and reevaluate. The removal of the stay-at-home order could technically allow a resumption of outdoor dining at restaurants and reopening of indoor personal care businesses such as barbershops and nail salons etc. But counties could also impose TOUGHER restrictions than the state like Los Angeles County has done, many times thus far. County health officials have scheduled an afternoon news conference to give an update.
*As a reminder, here's what businesses COULD be affected, but again...awaiting MORE info from local officials...
- Hair salons: open indoors with modifications
- Retail: open indoors at 25% capacity
- Malls: open indoors at 25% capacity and food courts closed
- Nail salons: open indoors with modifications
- Electrolysis: open indoors with modifications
- Personal care services (body waxing, etc.): open indoor with modifications
- Tattooing and piercing: open indoors with modifications
- Museums, zoos and aquariums: outdoor only
- Places of worship: outdoor only
- Movie theaters: outdoor only
- Hotels: open with modifications
- Gyms: outdoor only
- Restaurants: outdoor only
- Wineries: outdoor only
- Bars and breweries: closed
- Family entertainment centers: outdoor only, like mini golf, batting cages and go-kart racing
- Cardrooms: outdoor only
- Non-essential offices: remote work only
- Professional sports: no live audiences
- Schools: must stay closed
- Theme parks: must stay closed