California COVID-19 Reopening Blueprint Revamped

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

On Friday, August 28, 2020, Governor Newsom unveiled the state’s new tiered system for figuring out and lowering COVID-19 an infection dangers in every county. This new “blueprint” is geared toward lowering cases of COVID-19 by imposing revised standards for each easing and tightening restrictions on the actions of California residents and companies.

Underneath the brand new system, which fits into impact on Monday, August 31st and replaces the “County Monitoring Checklist” strategy, every county is assigned to certainly one of 4 tiers – Minimal, Average, Substantial, or Widespread. These tiers are assigned primarily based on the proportion of latest every day circumstances and the odds of optimistic assessments.

Minimal (Tier 4)
Average (Tier 3)
Substantial (Tier 2)
Widespread (Tier 1)

Preliminary tier assignments had been established on Friday, August 28th. Every county should clear the next hurdles to maneuver to maneuver to the following (much less restrictive) tier:

First, and with restricted exceptions for sure counties initially designated as “Widespread,” every county should stay at every tier stage for no less than three weeks.
Second, new case and check positivity charges should decline (to the degrees on the subsequent decrease tier) for no less than two consecutive weeks.
Third, every county should meet the state’s established well being fairness measures on sure actions (e.g., information assortment, testing entry, contact tracing, supportive isolation, and outreach) that are geared toward demonstrating their capability as a county to handle probably the most impacted communities.

For instance, Alameda County has been initially designated as “Widespread” primarily based on its new case and positivity charges and can stay there for no less than three weeks. If, throughout that point, and for no less than two consecutive weeks, the proportion of latest circumstances and optimistic assessments goes all the way down to “Substantial” ranges, Alameda County’s standing will change to “Substantial” on the finish of the three-week (21 day) interval, supplied it satisfies the well being fairness measures.

So what does it truly imply to be at a given tier? Principally, actions and companies which have a decrease threat of spreading COVID-19 are topic to much less restriction; people who entail a better threat of spreading COVID-19 stay topic to restriction till the county reaches tiers 3-4 (“Average” and “Minimal,” respectively). The later and fewer restrictive tiers are additionally going to be much less restrictive so far as the capability at which institutions will likely be permitted to function.

For instance, some indoor companies similar to hair salons and indoor buying malls could also be cleared to re-open (with modifications) state-wide as of Monday, August 31st, however the permitted capability at these institutions will rely on the county’s assigned tier. As one other instance, Los Angeles County, which is designated as “Widespread,” can not but open indoor gyms, whereas gyms in Calaveras County might re-open with modifications and at lowered capability.

Extra info on this new system is accessible on California’s COVID-19 web site. We anticipate that counties and cities all through California will replace their public well being orders within the coming days to mirror this new system. For instance, Sacramento County up to date its Public Well being Order on August 31st.

Employers ought to familiarize themselves with this new system and test for up to date public well being orders for the jurisdictions by which they function.