Napa County Adopts State Order, Requires Face Masks In Businesses

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Napa County modified its shelter-at-home order Thursday to reflect the state of California's "Roadmap to Modify the Stay at Home Order," which permits businesses to gradually reopen through a state-guided process.

During this gradual reopening period, Napa County said it is adding a layer of protection against transmission of COVID-19 among residents and workers by requiring cloth face coverings at all times while inside businesses, and in workplaces when six feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained between people.

"Today's modified order is effective immediately, and is issued with no end date," Napa County Spokeswoman Elizabeth Scott said Thursday afternoon in a news release.

The order remains in effect until it is modified, amended or rescinded by Napa County’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Karen Relucio.

The requirement for cloth face coverings — masks — goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and is to prevent asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 from the wearer to others. As of late April, face coverings were strongly recommeded in Napa County but not required. According to the order:

"It does not apply to people who are in their cars alone or with members of their own household; (b) It does not apply to people who are engaged in outdoor recreation or sports allowed for by the State Public Health Order and in Section 10.c. of this Order, including but not limited to walking, hiking, bicycling, running, golfing, tennis, etc., when the Social Distancing Requirements set forth in Section 15 are met; and (c) It does not apply when people are eating or drinking.
"Children aged two years or less must not wear face coverings because of the risk of suffocation. Face coverings are not recommended for children six years or under, and may not be appropriate for individuals who would have difficulty removing the covering without assistance. Additionally, face coverings are not recommended for people with respiratory conditions as the covering may interfere with their ability to breathe."

"The intent of today’s order is to ensure that our residents continue to shelter in their places of residence and continue to slow the spread of COVID-19," Relucio said. "Although businesses will be slowly opening through the State’s process, I cannot stress enough the importance that our residents continue to protect themselves and their community by leaving home only for the limited activities allowed."

Under the order, residents may leave home to: work or volunteer in an essential role or business or health care facility; to obtain essential supplies or services; to care for a family member or pet; to attend a funeral with no nore than 10 people; to move to a different residence but only if the move cannot be deferred; or to take part in outdoor recreation while adhering to social distancing requirements.

Playgrounds are still closed and person-to-person contact sports are still prohibited. Fitness centers, gyms, recreational centers, fitness equipment at parks, climbing walls, basketball courts and other shared sports facilities are closed.

Drive-in activities, such as religious services, are allowed as long as they adhere to social distance requirements.

The coronavirus still exists throughout the county, Scott said, and it is imperative that residents and business owners continue to collaborate with the county and abide by the terms of the county order.

The county says this collaboration will ensure critical healthcare services will not be overburdened and require a return to a countywide shutdown.

Through the state's process, nonessential businesses in Napa County are permitted to reopen for curbside pick-up or delivery, beginning with businesses that pose the least risk to customers and employees of contracting the virus.

The county anticipates that lower risk nonessential businesses may be able to open as early as Friday, when the State moves into Stage 2 of a 4-stage plan to gradually reopen California.

According to the state, early Stage 2 businesses that can open for curbside retail pickup and delivery include bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, home and furnishing stores, sporting goods stores, antique stores, music stores, florists. Supply chains supporting the above businesses, in manufacturing and logistics sectors, can also open.

Higher-risk, nonessential businesses will be allowed to open for business, with restrictions, after meeting the state Public Health Officer’s guidelines to be issued Tuesday.

Late Stage 2 businesses and workplaces, according to the state, are: Destination retail, including shopping malls and swap meets; Personal services, limited to: car washes, pet grooming, tanning facilities, and landscape gardening; Office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged); Dine-in restaurants (other facility amenities, like bars or gaming areas, are not permitted); Schools and childcare facilities; Outdoor museums and open gallery spaces.

Businesses and workplaces considered to pose the highest risk of virus transmission to customers and employees may not open until the state announces a move into Stages 3 and 4.

According to the state, these highest risk workplaces include: Personal services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, gyms and fitness studios; Hospitality services, such as bars and lounges; Entertainment venues, such as movie theaters, gaming facilities, and pro sports; Indoor museums, kids museums and gallery spaces, zoos, and libraries; Community centers, including public pools, playgrounds, and picnic areas; Religious services and cultural ceremonies; Nightclubs; Concert venues; Festivals; Theme parks; Hotels/lodging for leisure and tourism.

Six Bay Area counties and the city of Berkeley, however, will not follow the state's reopening schedule.

Napa County's complete order and a list of frequently asked questions are posted here.

Read about California's Resiliency Roadmap here.