Governor Newsom Releases Blueprint for A Safer Economy – Mono County To Open Additional Sectors August 31

August 29, 2020 – On August 28, Governor Newsom released “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” a stringent, careful statewide plan for living with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) that replaces the “County Data Monitoring List.” The Blueprint establishes four Tiers (link for more information) which determine what business sectors can and cannot operate according to a County’s current infection rate, beginning August 31.

Based on recent local data, each county falls into one of four colored tiers – Purple (Widespread), Red (Substantial), Orange (Moderate) and Yellow (Minimal) – based on how prevalent COVID-19 is in each county and the extent of community spread. That color will indicate how sectors can operate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Given the decline in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, Mono County will enter the Blueprint for a Safer Economy in Tier 3 (Orange), one of only 11 counties in the state placed in the top two tiers. This will allow businesses and places of worship that had to cease indoor activities in July to resume activities, with safety modifications and limitations.

The Orange or ‘moderate’ third tier (1-3.9 daily new cases per 100,000 and 2–4.9% positive tests) allows Mono County to reopen several business sectors following both State and County guidelines in time for Labor Day Weekend. To view tier level descriptions, statewide county rankings, and what activities will be allowable in Mono County beginning Monday August 31, visit covid19.ca.gov or view the sector summary status below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Mono County Health Department)
It should be noted that Mono County Health Officer orders intended to reduce COVID-19 spread remain in effect and will supersede state guidance if the state guidance is less strict. For example, while restaurants may open to indoor dining at 50% capacity on Monday August 31, requirements for staff to wear higher level face masks and for employers to document screening of each employee for illness each time they come to work remain in place. Similarly, local restrictions on lodging and short-term rentals in the Town of Mammoth Lakes are unaffected by the state changes.

The local COVID-19 containment strategy led by the County/Town Unified Command and implemented by our residents and businesses has achieved our current status as a “moderately” affected county where more activities are permitted than most jurisdictions in California. According to Mono County Health Officer Dr. Tom Boo, “It is definitely encouraging that the number of people affected by COVID-19 has decreased and I am gratified that more economic activity is now possible. The challenge now is to keep infections low by doubling down on our efforts to Stay Safe to Stay Open. We are definitely not out of the pandemic woods so please let us continue to distance, cover, wash and avoid gatherings.”

“This Blueprint is statewide, stringent and slow,” said Governor Newsom. “We have made notable progress over recent weeks, but the disease is still too widespread across the state. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and we all need to adapt. We need to live differently. And we need to minimize exposure for our health, for our families and for our communities.”The Blueprint builds on lessons learned and scientific knowledge gained during the first six months of the pandemic to create a new system for regulating movement and COVID-19 transmissions. It includes:

• A uniform state framework, with four categories instead of 58 different sets of rules;
• A more nuanced way of allowing activity: Instead of open vs. closed, sectors can be partially opened and progressively add to their operations as disease transmission decreases; and
• Mandatory metrics – case rates and test positivity – to measure how  widespread COVID-19 is in each county and guide what is allowed;
• At least 21 days within a tier with stable infection rates before a county may further advance to the next tier;
• A new process for tightening back up again quickly when conditions worsen.

The plan also emphasizes that no matter what restrictions the State puts in place, COVID-19 will get the upper hand if Californians don’t adapt their behaviors for the duration of the pandemic. Summary Status of Mono County Business Sector Operations* effective August 31, 2020 Open Indoors with Modifications (based on Industry Guidance found at https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/):

• Critical Infrastructure
• All Retail Stores
• Hair Salons and Barbershops
• Personal Care Services
• Restaurants
o Max 50% Capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
• Museums
o Max 50% Capacity Indoors
• Places of Worship
o Max 50% Capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
• Movie Theaters
o Max 50% Capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
• Hotels and Lodging
o Can Open Fitness Centers with 25% maximum capacity
o Can Open Indoor Pools
o Still subject to County-level restrictions
• Gyms and Fitness Centers
o Max 25% Capacity
o Can Open Indoor Pools
• Family Entertainment Centers (including Bowling Alleys & Climbing Walls)
o Max 25% Capacity

*County Health Order supersedes State guidelines. Business operators are required to adhere to current County Health Officer Orders and Interim Business Guidelines published under ‘Directives’ online at: MonoHealth.com/Coronavirus.

For additional information, please visit covid19.ca.gov or  MonoHealth.com/Coronavirus.

We encourage everyone to #STAY SAFE TO STAY OPEN!