California Churches, In-Store Retail Can Reopen With Counties' OK

CALIFORNIA — Churches, mosques, synagogues and other houses of worship can resume holding in-person services, and retailers across California can open up for indoor shopping — but only if county health departments approve, the state Department of Public Health announced Monday.

The eased rules, which come following protests from local religious leaders and even President Donald Trump, were rolled out Monday as part of a new set of guidelines for religious services and cultural ceremonies. Under the new rules, places of worship can reopen at no more than 25% of building capacity or for no more than 100 attendees, whichever is lower.

But religious services won't resume yet in some parts of California, where county orders still prohibit gatherings. In the Bay Area, gatherings of any size are banned through June 1 under the region's shelter-in-place order, and one county health spokesperson said that policy remained in place Monday.

"We are reviewing the guidance for places of worship issued today by the State of California" a Santa Clara County spokesperson told Patch. "The County’s current Health Officer Order prohibits gatherings of any size—whether secular or religious—unless specifically exempted in the Order. There is no exemption for in-person religious services or ceremonies, or for similar secular gatherings."

Likewise, in Los Angeles County, religious services of more than 10 people remain banned. The county public health department did not immediately say Monday whether it would ease restrictions in line with the state.

In addition to allowing fewer guests inside, houses of worship that reopen must create written COVID-19 prevention plans, disinfect surfaces and provide face coverings, among other requirements.

Twenty-one days after religious services resume, the state will review the changes, officials said Monday. That interval gives seven days for religious communities to prepare and reopen, plus the 14-day incubation period of COVID-19.

In-store shopping resumes, if counties approve

Meanwhile, in-store retail shopping, previously allowed only in counties that had moved further into Stage 2 of the reopening plan, is now permitted statewide, officials said Monday.

Like religious services, the eased rules for retail must be approved by counties before they can take effect. Some regions, including the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, have allowed only curbside retail to resume.

A San Francisco County Health spokesperson told Patch Monday afternoon that in-store retail would remain prohibited. There was no sign Monday that retail rules were set to change in the Bay Area or Los Angeles County.

Personal services like barbershops, hair salons and nail salons are still not allowed to reopen. These "higher-risk" businesses, which include more person-to-person contact, may not open until the state enters Stage 3 of its four-part reopening plan, Newsom has said.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know