Industry guidance to reduce risk

Last updated January 14, 2021 at 1:08 PM

New Regional Stay Home Order

COVID-19 continues to surge at alarming rates in California. The Regional Stay Home Order, announced December 3, 2020, will prohibit gatherings of any size, close operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and require 100% masking and physical distancing. Read more about the Regional Stay Home Order.

California has a Blueprint for a Safer Economy in the state with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.

Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its rate of new cases and positivity. Check your county’s tier status to see how businesses and activities can open.

Reopen your business or facility safely

Use the Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening to help plan and prepare for reopening your business.

Review how to respond to COVID-19 cases in your workplace and prevent further spread.

Wearing a mask or face covering is required statewide in public or common spaces. Employers must provide face coverings to workers, or must reimburse workers for the reasonable cost of obtaining them. Find all requirements and exceptions to these rules in the guidance on this page below.

All businesses and facilities must follow the items listed here before reopening:

Scroll down this page to find the guidance for your industry, business, event, or activity.
Review it completely.
Perform a detailed risk assessment and create a worksite-specific protection plan.
Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. This includes how to screen themselves for symptoms and when to stay home.
Set up individual control measures and screenings.
Put disinfection protocols in place.
Establish physical distancing guidelines.
Establish universal face covering requirements (with allowed exceptions). See CDPH guidelines (PDF).
Post your completed checklist so everyone can know the steps you’ve taken. Feel free to add more safety measures to the ones included in your industry’s guidance.

As it starts to get colder, restaurants and other businesses required to operate outdoors may wish to enclose outdoor temporary structures like tents and canopies to contain heat and avoid rain. Find out what qualifies as outdoor operations in the CDPH guidance for temporary structures.

Employer policies and resources

It’s important that employees with COVID-19 know they should stay home. Your sick leave policies need to support that. Workers also need safe and reliable childcare options during the COVID-19 response. See information on:

Industry guidance

See guidance in other languages

Agriculture and livestock

Follow this guidance for the agriculture and livestock industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the agriculture and livestock industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Shared transportation in agriculture

Shared transportation is common in agriculture. Employers may provide shared transportation for workers. Workers may arrange a carpool to and from the worksite. Check the additional considerations for shared transportation in agriculture to support a safe, clean environment for passengers and drivers.

Amusement parks and theme parks – New

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Closed

Substantial (red):

Closed

Moderate (orange):

Smaller parks can open with modifications
Capacity must be limited to 25% or 500 people, whichever is less
Outdoor attractions only can open
Reservations or advanced ticket sales required
Local attendees only (from the same county as the park’s location)

Minimal (yellow):

Larger parks can open with modifications
Park capacity must be limited to 25%
Reservations or advanced ticket sales required

Follow this guidance for amusement parks and theme parks. Review the guidance and prepare a plan to support a safe, clean environment for workers and visitors.

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

Admission, entry, and security
All rides and attractions
Dining and concessions
Performances, interactive exhibits, and events
Uniform, costume, and wardrobe protocols

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for amusement parks and theme parks in your workplace to show visitors and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Auto dealerships

Follow this guidance for the automobile dealerships and rental operators industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the automobile dealerships and rental operators industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Cardrooms and racetracks – updated September 10

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Outdoor only with modifications
Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Substantial (red):

Outdoor only with modifications
Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Moderate (orange)

Indoor with modifications
Capacity must be limited to 25%
Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Minimal (yellow)

Indoor with modifications
Capacity must be limited to 50%
Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Outdoor operations of cardrooms and satellite wagering facilities

Follow this guidance for outdoor operations of cardrooms and satellite wagering facilities to support a safer environment for workers and patrons.
Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for outdoor cardrooms and satellite wagering in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Cardrooms, satellite wagering facilities, and racetracks with onsite wagering

Follow this guidance for cardrooms, racetracks, and satellite wagering to support a safer environment for workers and patrons.
Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for cardrooms, racetracks, and satellite wagering in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Childcare

Follow the guidance for the childcare industry to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for childcare in your facility to show employees and families that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for operation.

Follow the guidance related to cohorts of children and youth.
See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohorts and waivers for childcare providers.
Follow the case and contact management guidance related to cohorts for childcare facilities.

Cohorts for children and youth in supervised settings – updated September 4

A cohort is a stable group of no more than 14 children or youth and no more than two supervising adults in a supervised environment. The group stays together for all activities, including meals and recreation. And this group avoids contact with anyone not in their group.

Kids and adults in supervised care environments must be in groups as small as possible. Kids and supervising adults in one group must not physically interact with:

Kids and supervising adults in other groups
Other facility staff
Parents of kids in other groups

Practicing a cohort structure:

Decreases opportunities for exposure to or transmission of the virus
Facilitates more efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive case
Allows for targeted testing, quarantine, and isolation of a single group instead of an entire population of kids and supervising adults

The guidance related to cohorts of children and youth sets minimum guidelines for providing specialized, targeted support services, necessary in-person child supervision and limited instruction, and facilitation of distance learning in small group environments in ways that maintain the focus on health and safety to minimize transmission. This guidance enables schools to provide specialized services for students with disabilities and English learners, and in-person support for at-risk and high-need students.

See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohort guidance in K-12 school settings.
See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohorts and waivers for childcare providers.
Follow the case and contact management guidance related to cohorts for childcare facilities.

Local educational agencies, nonprofits, or other authorized providers must follow the guidance for cohorts of children and youth in controlled, supervised and indoor environments. These environments include, but are not limited to, the following:

Public and private schools
Licensed and license-exempt childcare settings
Organized and supervised care environments, like “distance learning hubs”
Recreation programs
Before and after school programs
Youth groups
Day camps

Guidance and directives related to schools, childcare, day camps, and youth sports are not superseded by this guidance for cohorts of children and youth and still apply to those specified settings.

Communications infrastructure

Construction

Day camps

Delivery services

Energy and utilities

Family friendly practices for employers

Follow this guidance for family friendly practices for employers to keep employees safe and be responsive to their needs in order to ensure continued productivity. As workplaces reopen, employees will require both child care supports and workplace flexibility. Work-life balance policies will become even more important and continued investment in family-friendly workplace policies by employers is critical.

Food packing

Follow this guidance for facilities that process or pack meat, dairy, or produce to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for facilities that process or pack meat, dairy or produce in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Gyms and fitness centers – updated December 3

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Outdoor only with modifications
Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
- Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential

Substantial (red):

Indoor with modifications
Capacity must be limited to 10%
Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
- Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential
Climbing walls can open

Moderate (orange)

Indoor with modifications
Capacity must be limited to 25%
Indoor pools can open
Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
Climbing walls can open

Minimal (yellow)

Indoor with modifications
Capacity must be limited to 50%
Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms can open
Climbing walls can open

Follow this guidance for gyms and fitness centers, including yoga and dance studios, to support a safe, clean environment for workers, customers, and the public.

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

Communal restrooms and shower facilities
Swimming pools and aquatic venues

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for gyms and fitness centers in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Hair salons and barbershops – updated October 20

Higher education – updated October 1

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Closed for indoor lectures and student gatherings
Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open

Substantial (red):

Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity
Conduct student activities virtually when possible

Moderate (orange):

Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less
Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity
Conduct student activities virtually when possible

Minimal (yellow):

Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 50%
Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity
Conduct student activities virtually when possible

This interim guidance for institutions of higher education provides guidelines to help institutions and their communities plan and prepare to resume in-person instruction. It includes interim guidance for collegiate athletics to help plan for and prepare to resume training and competition. Review the guidance and prepare a plan to reduce the risk and support a safer environment for students, faculty, workers, and families.

Hotels, lodging, and short-term lodging rentals – updated December 16

Hotels and lodging entities in a county under the Regional Stay at Home Order:

Cannot accept or honor in-state reservations for non-essential travel
Cannot accept or honor out-of-state reservations for non-essential travel, unless the reservation is for at least 10 days (the minimum time period required for quarantine) and the people identified in the reservation will quarantine in the hotel or lodging entity until at least 10 days have passed. This applies to people arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents.
May offer lodging for essential functions and travel, including:
- COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures
- COVID-19 treatment measures
- Accommodation for essential workers or those displaced by fire or other emergencies
- Housing, including measures to protect homeless populations

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Open with modifications
Fitness centers can be open outdoors only with modifications
Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms must close
- Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential

Substantial (red):

Open with modifications
Fitness centers can open to 10% capacity
Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
- Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential

Moderate (orange)

Open with modifications
Fitness centers can open to 25% capacity
Indoor pools can open
Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close

Minimal (yellow)

Open with modifications
Fitness centers can open to 50% capacity
Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms can open

Follow this guidance for hotels and short-term lodging rentals support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers.

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

Short-term rental units
Swimming pools and aquatic venues

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for hotels, lodging, and short-term lodging rentals in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Life sciences

Limited services – updated October 20

Follow this guidance for limited services to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. A limited service is one that generally does not require close contact. Examples include:

Laundromats
Dry cleaners
Auto repair shops
Car washes
Landscapers
Door-to-door services and sales
Pet grooming
Dog walking

This guidance also applies to:

Residential and janitorial cleaning services
HVAC services
Appliance repair
Electricians
Plumbers
Mechanical tradespersons
Handypersons
General contractors

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for limited services in your workplace to show clients and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

This guidance is not intended for:

In-home healthcare, other in-home care, or assisted living
Services that require close customer contact, including:
- Hair salons
- Barbershops
- Nail salons
- Massage parlors
- Estheticians
- Ear piercing
- Tattoo parlors

See guidance for hair salons and barbershops and guidance for personal care services.

Faith-based counseling can reopen within the following parameters:

Counseling services are permissible in-person where the service cannot reasonably be practiced remotely;
Counseling services should adopt state guidance on Limited Services, where applicable;
This designation does not permit gatherings beyond counseling to members of a single household.

Logistics and warehousing facilities

Follow this guidance for businesses operating in the logistics/warehousing industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the logistics/warehousing industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Manufacturing

Mining and logging

Movie theaters and family entertainment centers – updated October 20

Tier status:

Widespread (purple)

Movie theaters: Outdoor only with modifications
Family entertainment centers: Outdoor only with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini golf, batting cages
Playgrounds: Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red)

Movie theaters:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
Family entertainment centers: Outdoor only with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini golf, batting cages
Playgrounds: Outdoor only with modifications

Moderate (orange)

Movie theaters:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less
Family entertainment centers:
- Outdoor with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini golf, batting cages
- Indoor with modifications for naturally distanced activities, like bowling alleys, and escape rooms
- Capacity must be limited to 25%
Playgrounds: Outdoor only with modifications

Minimal (yellow)

Movie theaters:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50%
Family entertainment centers:
- Outdoor with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini golf, batting cages
- Indoor with modifications for naturally distanced activities, like bowling alleys, and escape rooms
- Indoor with modifications for activities with increased risk of proximity and mixing, like arcade games, ice and roller skating, and indoor playgrounds
- Capacity must be limited to 50%
Playgrounds: Outdoor only with modifications

Movie theaters

Follow this guidance for movie theaters to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance includes additional considerations for indoor movie theaters and drive-in movie theaters. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for movie theaters in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Family entertainment centers

Follow this guidance for family entertainment centers, like bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, and arcades, to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for family entertainment centers in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Outdoor playgrounds

Outdoor playgrounds can open with modifications in all tiers. See requirements for outdoor playgrounds to keep them safe and fun for everyone.

Museums, zoos, and aquariums – updated October 20

Tier status:

Widespread (purple): Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red)

Indoor with modifications
Indoor activities must be limited to 25% of capacity

Moderate (orange)

Indoor with modifications
Indoor activities must be limited to 50% of capacity

Minimal (yellow): Indoor with modifications

Follow this guidance for zoos, museums, galleries, botanical gardens, aquariums, and other similar spaces to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for zoos, museums, galleries, and aquariums in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Music, film, and TV production

This industry can open with modifications. Music, TV, and film production may resume, subject to approval by county public health officers. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers must abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management must follow the guidance for office workspaces.

Office workspaces

Tier status:

Widespread (purple): Remote work

Substantial (red): Remote work

Moderate (orange): Indoor with modifications, encourage telework

Minimal (yellow): Indoor with modifications, encourage telework

Follow this guidance for office workspaces to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for office workspaces in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Faith-based office workspaces can reopen within the following parameters:

Faith-based facilities are considered “offices” only for those employed by the organization and where the facility is their regular place of work.
The employer should implement state guidance relating to offices before reopening the facility for employees.
This designation does not permit gatherings of non-employees, such as the organization’s congregation.

Outdoor recreation, including campgrounds, playgrounds, and ski resorts – updated December 3

Follow this guidance for campgrounds, RV parks, ski operations, and other outdoor recreation to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.

Review the guidance and prepare a plan for your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Outdoor playgrounds can open with modifications in all tiers. See requirements for outdoor playgrounds to keep them safe and fun for everyone.

Outdoor skateparks can open with modifications in all tiers. Attendees must adhere to physical distancing requirements and mask wearing as outlined in the outdoor playground guidance.

Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential.

Personal care services – updated October 20

Personal care services can open indoors with modifications in all tiers. Follow this guidance for personal care services like nail salons, tattoo parlors, and body waxing to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance applies to services that require touching a client’s face, like facials, electrolysis, and waxing. It also applies to esthetic services, skin care, and massage therapy. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for personal care services in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

This guidance and checklist include additional considerations for:

Esthetic and skin care services
Electrology services
Nail services
Body art professionals, tattoo parlors, and piercing shops
Massage services (in non-healthcare settings)

Places of worship and cultural ceremonies

Tier status:

Widespread (purple): Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red)

Indoor with modifications
Indoor activities must be limited to 25% of capacity or 100 people, whichever is less

Moderate (orange)

Indoor with modifications
Indoor activities must be limited to 50% of capacity or 200 people, whichever is less

Minimal (yellow)

Indoor with modifications
Indoor activities must be limited to 50% of capacity

Follow this guidance for places of worship and providers of religious services to support a safe, clean environment for congregants, visitors, workers, and volunteers. Places of worship include:

Churches
Mosques
Synagogues
Temples

This guidance also applies to cultural ceremonies like weddings and funerals.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for places of worship and cultural ceremonies to show everyone that you’ve reduced the risk.

Ports

Professional sports – updated October 20

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Open with modifications
No live audiences

Substantial (red):

Open with modifications
No live audiences

Moderate (orange):

Open with modifications
Permanent venues with live audiences outdoors only
Capacity must be limited to 20%
Reservations required
Assigned seating only
In-seat concessions only (no concourse sales)
Regional attendees only (within 120 miles)

Minimal (yellow):

Open with modifications
Permanent venues with live audiences outdoors only
Capacity must be limited to 25%
Reservations required
Assigned seating only
In-seat concessions only (no concourse sales)
Regional attendees only (within 120 miles)

Follow this guidance for professional sports outdoors with live audiences to support a safe, clean environment for workers and guests. This guidance applies to outdoor operations of sporting event venues like stadiums and racetracks.

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

Entry and security
Venue support operations, like sound and lighting

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for professional sports in your workplace to show players, coaches, spectators, and workers that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Athletes, coaching staff, medical staff, broadcasting staff and others at sporting facilities or events should refer to COVID-19 protocols agreed to by labor and management. Local health departments may further enhance these protocols. Back office staff and management should follow the guidance for office workspaces.

Professional sports may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers. This guidance does not apply to semi-professional, amateur, or recreational sports.

Public transit and intercity passenger rail – updated October 20

Follow this guidance for public transit agencies to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance includes additional considerations for passenger carriers, like taxis, rideshare vehicles, shuttles, and limousines.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for public transit agencies in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Shared transportation in agriculture

Real estate transaction

Restaurants, wineries, and bars – updated December 1

Tier status:

Widespread (purple)

Restaurants: Outdoor only with modifications
Wineries and tasting rooms: Outdoor only with modifications
Bars, breweries, and distilleries: Closed

Substantial (red)

Restaurants:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
Wineries and tasting rooms: Outdoor only with modifications
Bars, breweries, and distilleries: Closed

Moderate (orange)

Restaurants:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less
Wineries and tasting rooms:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
Bars, breweries, and distilleries: Outdoor only with modifications

Minimal (yellow)

Restaurants:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50%
Wineries and tasting rooms:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less
Bars, breweries, and distilleries:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50%

Restaurants

Follow this guidance for restaurants to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for restaurants in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Wineries and tasting rooms

Follow this guidance for wineries and tasting rooms that do not serve meals to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for wineries in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business. Establishments that serve meals must follow the guidance and checklist for restaurants.

Bars, breweries, and distilleries

Follow this guidance for bars, breweries, and distilleries that do not serve meals to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for bars in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business. Establishments that serve meals must follow the guidance and checklist for restaurants.

Retail – updated October 20

Tier status:

Widespread (purple)

Open with modifications
Retail capacity must be limited to 25%
Grocery store capacity must be limited to 50%

Substantial (red)

Open with modifications
Retail capacity must be limited to 50%

Moderate (orange): Indoor with modifications

Minimal (yellow): Indoor with modifications

Follow this guidance for retailers to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for retail in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Retailers and libraries can re-open, along with the manufacturing and logistics sectors that support retail.

Libraries should follow the guidance for retailers. The State Library has also released guidance for the re-opening of libraries for in-person services. See the State Library’s COVID-19 website for more information. Find resources for public libraries by the California Library Association and the State Library.

Drive-in and movie theaters can re-open with additional considerations. Check the guidance for movie theaters and family entertainment centers for details.

Retail doesn’t include personal services such as beauty salons, but does include the sale of goods such as:

Bookstores
Jewelry stores
Toy stores
Clothing and shoe stores
Home and furnishing stores
Sporting goods stores
Florists

Retail stores identified in the essential workforce list can open for in-store shopping. They include:

Retail facilities specializing in medical goods and supplies
Grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retail that sells food or beverage products, and animal/pet food
Fuel centers such as gas stations and truck stops
Hardware and building materials stores, consumer electronics, technology and appliances retail

Schools – updated January 14

California has updated the guidance and framework for reopening K-12 schools for in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more in the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year (PDF).

Schools must also follow the guidance related to cohorts of children and youth. For school-sponsored youth sports, follow the guidance for youth sports.

Visit Safe Schools for All for the latest information and resources about COVID-19 and schools.

Shopping centers – updated October 20

Tier status:

Widespread (purple):

Open with modifications
Indoor capacity must be limited to 25% for shopping malls, destination shopping centers, and swap meets
Closed common areas
Closed food courts

Substantial (red):

Open with modifications
Indoor capacity must be limited to 50% for shopping malls, destination shopping centers, and swap meets
Closed common areas
Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)

Moderate (orange):

Open with modifications
Closed common areas
Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)

Minimal (yellow):

Open with modifications
Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)

Follow this guidance for shopping malls, destination shopping centers, and swap meets to support a safe, clean environment for workers, customers, and the public.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for shopping centers in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Support for working families

The support for working families guidance provides information to help you locate child care, find assistance to pay for child care, and connect you to additional supports for your family. As stay-at-home orders are lifted for additional industries to promote California’s economic recovery, the need for child care and other supports for working families increases.

Youth and adult recreational sports – updated December 15

Follow this guidance for youth and adult recreational sports, both indoor and outdoor.

This guidance applies to:

All organized youth sports, including school- and community-sponsored programs, and privately-owned clubs and leagues
Adult recreational sports

This guidance does not apply to collegiate or professional sports.

The California Department of Public Health has collected questions and answers about youth sports.

Children and youth participating in sports must follow the guidance related to cohorts.