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News & Analysis
Latest legal news and recent law changes.

California Enacts “Regional” Stay-At-Home Order For Areas That Drop Below 15% ICU Capacity

Following a surge up 225% increase in cases, on December 3, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom announced that a Regional Stay Home Order would be in effect for 3 weeks after a trigger-event, where their regional ICU drops under 15% capacity, which will instruct Californians to stay at home as much as possible to limit the mixing with other households that can lead to COVID-19 spread.

The order will be much less inhibiting than earlier as it allows access to (and travel for) critical services and allows outdoor activities with the goal to preserve Californians’ physical and mental health.

In any region that triggers a Regional Stay Home Order because it drops below 15% ICU capacity, the following sectors must close: 

  • Indoor and outdoor playgrounds
  • Indoor recreational facilities
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Personal care services
  • Museums, zoos, and aquariums
  • Movie theaters
  • Wineries
  • Bars, breweries, and distilleries
  • Family entertainment centers
  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering
  • Limited services
  • Live audience sports
  • Amusement parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

  • Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.
  • Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems. 
  • Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
  • Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.
  • Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery.
  • Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible. 
  • Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.
  • Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

The following sectors are allowed to remain open when a remote option is not possible with appropriate infectious disease preventative measures including 100% masking and physical distancing:

  • Critical infrastructure 
  • Schools that are already open for in-person learning
  • Non-urgent medical and dental care
  • Child care and pre-K

For more information, visit here, or https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/us/los-angeles-hospital-beds-christmas-covid/index.html.