Malibu: County Announces Hair Salons, Barbershops & In-Person Dining May Reopen Immediately With Safeguards

Press release from the City of Malibu:

May 27, 2020

MAY 29, 2020 - COUNTY ANNOUNCES THAT HAIR SALONS, BARBERSHOPS AND IN-PERSON DINING MAY REOPEN IMMEDIATELY WITH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE

L.A. County Road to Recovery Moves Forward With State Approval

LA County announced on May 29 that hair salons and barbershops can reopen and in-person dining in restaurants can resume immediately with safeguards as Los Angeles County moves forward on the Roadmap to Recovery.The State of California on May 29 approved the County’s request for a variance to state guidelines because the County has met the necessary public health thresholds to safely allow critical sectors of the economy and community to begin serving residents. The County has demonstrated that it has controlled the spread of the virus, and is protecting residents and essential workers. Hospital testing and contact tracing capacity are appropriate in response to the outbreak. Los Angeles County is now in the advanced stages of Phase 2 of the State’s Resilience Roadmap.This new phase of Los Angeles County’s reopening better aligns the County with neighboring counties, moving Southern California towards a regional recovery and supporting our service-oriented businesses, many of which are small and locally owned It’s a testament to the efforts of residents who adhered to the Safer At Home order, practiced physical distancing and wore cloth face coverings.However, this step forward doesn’t mean the threat of COVID-19 is gone. Residents must continue to practice physical distancing, wear cloth face coverings and follow public health guidelines in place.If at any time, the County’s rate of infection and other key metrics return to unsafe numbers, the Department of Public Health can limit or close reopened sectors.Dining in restaurants and getting a haircut will be a different experience than we’re used to. Just as is required for all out-of-home activities, clients and staff will have to practice physical distancing and wear cloth face coverings. There will be limited capacity and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures.Key, specific guidelines for customers at hair salons, barbershops and in-person restaurant dining are below:Barbershops and hair salons• Physical distancing measures will be in place.• Employees and customers will be screened for symptoms, including cough and fever. Clients feeling unwell should reschedule their appointment.• Everyone, including clients, must wear cloth face coverings while in the salon or barber shop and clients are encouraged to wear face coverings with earloops to ensure the face covering does not interfere with the hair service.• Magazines, coffee and other amenities will not be available.• Clients are encouraged to use credit cards and contactless payment systems. If electronic or card payment is not possible, customers should come with exact cash payment or check, if available.• Stylists may only serve one client at a time.The detailed protocol will be posted soon on the LA County Department of Public Health website. Personal grooming that is still closed, or prohibited, at this time:• Nail salons• Spa services, including massage, facials and waxingIn-person dining in restaurants• Physical distancing measures will be in place.• Employees and customers will be screened for symptoms, including cough and fever. Patrons feeling unwell should not eat at a restaurant.• Outdoor seating and curbside pickup are prioritized.• Reservations will be encouraged.• Customers will be asked to wait for their table in their cars or outside the restaurant to prevent crowds from gathering.• Diners must wear cloth face coverings when not eating.• Bar areas will be closed.• Occupancy capacity will be limited to 60% for the next three weeks.The detailed protocol will be posted soon on the LA County Department of Public Health website. Los Angeles County is under a Safer At Work And In The Community order and public and private gatherings of people outside of a single household unit are not permitted except for public protests and faith-based services, which are permitted to operate with limits on the number of participants.Everyone must continue to follow physical distancing and infection control protocols and wear a cloth face covering when in contact with others not in your household.Still closed are:• Gyms and fitness centers• Beach piers• Indoor entertainment venues including arcades, bowling alleys, movie theaters, live performance theaters, concert halls, stadiums, arenas, theme parks, gaming facilities and festivals• Indoor museums, galleries and zoos• See the detailed list of what’s open and closed in L.A. County.The new openings are part of a phased progression guiding the safe resumption of public life in Los Angeles County, including the resumption and reopenings that include: in-person faith-based services, in-store shopping at retail stores, bike paths, drive-in movies and other recreational pursuits. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will amend its Health Officer Order accordingly.

may 27, 2020 - Revision of LA County COVID-19 Safer at Home Order to Allow More Activities

The new Order, which supersedes the Health Officer’s prior Orders, continues to encourage all County residents to remain in their residences whenever practicable.

The Revised Order now permits the following businesses or activities to reopen in addition to those essential businesses and activities opened under previous Health Officer Orders:

• In-person faith-based services with the number of congregants limited to 25% of the building’s capacity or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is lower
• All retail, including those located in indoor and outdoor retail shopping centers, limited to 50% capacity
• Flea markets, swap meets and drive-in movie theaters
• Pools, hot tubs and saunas in multi-unit residences or part of a homeowners association
• In-person public protests, provided that attendance is limited to 25% of the area’s maximum occupancy, or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower

The updated Order allows people to take part in all permitted activities while continuing to practice physical distancing of at least 6 ft. at all times and wear a cloth face covering when in contact with others.

Additionally, people 65 years old or older and anyone with underlying health conditions should continue to remain in their residences as much as possible, leaving their residences only when necessary to seek medical care, exercise, or obtain food or other necessities. Workers who can telework should continue to do so as much as possible.

Read the full Health Officer Order on the County Departrment of Public Health web page.

This press release was produced by the City of Malibu. The views expressed here are the author’s own.