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Tools and resources to help businesses reopen responsibly.

4 stages of reopeningPage last updated: August 10, 2020 8:28 a.m.

In support of our business community, Placer County is providing the following information from the State of California.

California’s Four-Stage Plan


Stage 1 – Safety and Preparedness


Continue to build out testing, contact tracing, PPE, and hospital surge capacity.

Continue to make essential workplaces as safe as possible:

  • Physical and work flow adaptation
  • Essential workforce safety net
  • Make PPE more widely available
  • Individual behavior changes

Stay at home except for essential and permitted activities

Prepare sector-by-sector safety guidelines for expanded workforce.

Stage 2 – Lower-Risk Workplaces


Gradually opening some lower-risk workplaces with adaptations at a pace designed to protect public health and safety, starting with:

  • Retail
  • Manufacturing
  • Offices (when telework not possible)
  • Outdoor Museums
  • Limited Personal Services

Limit time outside the home and travel only for permissible activities, such as healthcare, food, outdoor exercise and recreation (individuals and households only). Stage 1 and 2 work, and local shopping or other activities related to open sectors.

Some counties may move more quickly through stage 2, following guidelines laid out on the county variance page.

Other counties may maintain more restrictive public health measures.

Monitor critical indicators and alter scope of reopening if necessary to protect public health and safety.

Stage 3 – Higher-risk Workplaces 


Phase in higher-risk workplaces at a pace designed to protect public health and safety, beginning with limited personal care and recreational venues (with workplace modifications).

Travel for permissible activities, such as healthcare, food, stages 1-3 work, and local or activities shopping related to open sectors.

Monitor critical indicators and alter scope of reopening if necessary to protect public health and safety.

Stage 4 – End of Stay Home Order 


Gradually open larger gathering venues at a pace consistent with public health and safety, such as nightclubs, concert venues, and live audience sports.

Gradually resume remaining activities and travel.

Monitor critical indicators and alter scope of reopening if necessary to protect public health and safety.



Current Stage


State of California Order

Updated July 23, 2020:

The July 13, 2020 State Public Health Officer order identifies additional closures for indoor operations for certain sectors applicable to counties such as Placer that are on the Monitoring List for three or more consecutive days. The California Department of Public Health has confirmed that once a county is placed on the state’s COVID-19 Monitoring List, indoor business operation closures that are ordered for Monitoring List counties will remain in effect in that county until the order is amended by the State Public Health Officer – not just until case metrics fall below the Monitoring List thresholds. The State Public Health Officer will continue to monitor the epidemiological data and will modify the sectors that may be open both statewide and in counties on the Monitoring List as required by the evolving public health conditions. Details can be accessed at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-of-Closure-of-Sectors-in-Response-to-COVID-19.aspx

Businesses that are not yet allowed to reopen 

Statewide, the following are closed:

  • Bars, brewpubs, breweries, and pubs, both indoors and outdoors, unless they are offering sit-down, outdoor dine-in meals. Alcohol can only be sold in the same transaction as a meal.
  • Public events and gatherings, like live audience sports 
  • Convention centers
  • Theme parks and festivals
  • Higher education (in person), except where supporting essential workforce activities, including but not limited to providing housing solutions, COVID-19 response, and training and instruction for the essential workforce.
  • Indoor playgrounds, like bounce centers, ball pits and laser tag
  • Saunas and steam rooms
  • Recreational team sports

Guidance 

As California reopens, every business will need to create a safer, low-risk environment. If you own or manage a business, follow the guidance below to protect your workers and customers.

On July 20, guidance was released for services that can be provided outdoors, like hair, nail, and massage services, in counties that have been on the Monitoring List for 3 consecutive days. Guidance for outdoor dining released on July 9, 2020 is also available. Find this guidance in the list below.

On July 17, 2020, updated guidance was released for childcare, day camps, and schools. Find this guidance and more in the list below.

On June 18, 2020, CDPH issued Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings (PDF), which broadly requires the use of face coverings in California when in public or common spaces. Complete details, including all requirements and exceptions to these rules, can be found in the guidance.

The industry-specific guidance below applies to businesses statewide. Review the guidance that is relevant to your workplace, make a plan, and put it into action. Post your completed checklist so everyone can know the steps you’ve taken. Feel free to add more safety measures to the ones listed here.

All industries

The Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening provides guidance for employers to help them plan and prepare for reopening their business and to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. The guidance and links in each section are provided to give employers the tools they need to open safely and mitigate risks associated with COVID-19.  

Before reopening, all facilities must:

  1. Perform a detailed risk assessment and create a site-specific protection plan
  2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. This includes how to screen themselves for symptoms and when to stay home.
  3. Set up individual control measures and screenings
  4. Put disinfection protocols in place
  5. Establish physical distancing guidelines

It’s important that employees with COVID-19 know they should stay home. Your sick leave policies will need to support that. See information on:

The guidance for the agriculture and livestock industry provides guidelines 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.


The guidance for the automobile dealerships and rental operators industry provides guidelines 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.


Follow this guidance for campgrounds to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.


In working with California’s sovereign tribal nations, California has released guidance on how to reopen casinos with reduced risk of transmission. Tribal governments should coordinate with local public health officials in the surrounding or neighboring jurisdictions to determine the readiness for reopening.


Follow this guidance for cardrooms, race tracks, and satellite wagering to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.


All childcare facilities can open with necessary modifications. The updated guidance for the childcare industry provides guidelines to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of children, providers, and families. As programs begin to reopen and other programs transition from emergency childcare for essential workers to enhanced regular operations, all providers must apply new and updated policies and requirements and must update their emergency preparedness plan.

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.


The guidance for the communications infrastructure industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the communications infrastructure industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


This guidance for the construction industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the construction industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


The updated guidance for day camps provides guidelines to create a plan for safe re-opening. Implementation of these guidelines should be tailored for each setting. Implementation requires training and support for staff and adequate consideration of camper and family needs. All decisions about following these recommendations should be made in collaboration with local health officials and other authorities, and should depend on the levels of COVID-19 community transmission and the capacities of the local public health and healthcare systems, among other relevant factors.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for day camps in your facility to show employees, campers, and families that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for operation.

Recreational team sports are not permitted and will be subject to separate guidance.


The guidance for the delivery services industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the delivery services industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


This guidance for dine-in restaurants provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for dine-in restaurants in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


The guidance for the energy and utilities industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the energy and utilities industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


The guidance for family-friendly practices for employers provides guidelines for family-friendly practices 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.


The guidance for facilities that process or pack meat, dairy, or produce provides guidelines 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.


Follow this guidance for gyms and fitness centers to create a safer environment for workers and patrons. Guidance last updated July 1, 2020.

Recreational team sports are not permitted and will be subject to separate guidance.

*Other permitted public pools such as apartment complex, HOA, and small community pools may open as well. Please review the requirements for reopening swimming pools on page 13 of the Fitness Center Guidelines.


This guidance for hair salons and barbershops provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers.


This interim guidance for institutions of higher education provides guidelines to help institutions and their communities plan and prepare to resume in-person instruction.

Indoor operations must be closed.

Review the guidance and prepare a plan to reduce the risk and support a safer environment for students, faculty, workers, and families.


This guidance for the hotels and lodging provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Under the current statewide Stay-at-Home order, hotels should only open for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, treatment measures, providing accommodation for essential workers, or providing housing solutions, including measures to protect homeless populations. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for hotels and lodging in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


Follow this guidance for hotels for tourism and individual travel to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.


The guidance for the life sciences industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the life sciences industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


This guidance for limited services provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers.

Faith-based counseling can reopen within the following parameters:

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

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


The guidance for businesses operating in the logistics/warehousing industry provides guidelines 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.


The guidance for the manufacturing industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the manufacturing industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


The guidance for the mining and logging industries provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Under the current statewide Stay-at-Home order, office workspaces should only open for Stage One sectors, identified in the essential workforce list. Counties that are approved to move more quickly through stage 2, offices workspaces will be able to open. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the mining and logging industries in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business. 


Follow this guidance for movie theaters and family entertainment centers to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.


Music, TV and film production may resume in California, recommended no sooner than June 12, 2020 and subject to approval by county public health officers within the jurisdictions of operations following their review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 population, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, contact tracing and testing. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.


This guidance for office workspaces provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. 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.

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.


Follow this guidance for restaurants providing outdoor dining, take-out, drive-through, and delivery to create a safer environment for workers and patrons. Review the guidance and prepare a plan in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


This guidance for outdoor museums provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for outdoor museums in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


Follow this guidance for hair salons and barbershops providing outdoor services to support an outdoor safe, clean environment for workers and patrons. Review the guidance and prepare a plan in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


Follow this guidance for outdoor personal care services to support an outdoor safe, clean environment for workers and patrons. This guidance applies to services that require touching a client’s face, like facials and waxing. This guidance also applies to esthetic services, skin care, cosmetology, nail services, and massage therapy. Review the guidance and prepare a plan in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


Follow this guidance for personal care services like nail salons, tattoo parlors, and body waxing to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.


This guidance for places of worship and cultural ceremonies, like weddings and funerals, provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers and visitors. Guidance last updated July 6, 2020. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for places of worship and cultural ceremonies in your workplace to show workers and visitors that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


Professional sports in California may resume training and competition without live audiences, recommended no sooner than June 12, 2020 and subject to approval by county public health officers within the jurisdiction of operations following their review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 population, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, contact tracing and testing.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, athletes, coaching staff, medical staff, broadcasting staff and others at sporting facilities or events should abide by COVID-19 protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Retail staff should adhere to Retail guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.


This guidance for public transit agencies provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. 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.


This guidance for businesses operating in the real estate industry provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the real estate industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


Follow this guidance for restaurants, wineries, and bars to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.


Follow this guidance for retailers to create a safer environment for workers and customers.

Retailers and libraries can re-open, along with the manufacturing and logistics sectors that support retail. Drive-in and movie theaters can re-open with additional considerations.

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

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. 


Follow this updated guidance for schools and school-based programs to create a safer environment for your students, families, and staff. This guidance applies to in-person learning and distance learning. Guidelines for sports and extracurricular activities consistent with the California Interscholastic Federation statement are also included. Check the answers to frequently asked questions related to schools. Find all details in the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools (PDF). Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for schools in your facility to show students, families, and staff that you’ve taken steps to mitigate COVID-19 spread.

Elementary education waiver:
- See the Waiver Process Overview for details.
- Local health officers will need to submit the Waiver Notice Form to CDPH.
- Schools seeking a waiver can use the template Waiver Letter and Cover Form.


This guidance for shopping centers provides guidelines to create a safer environment for workers. 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.guidance for hair salons and barbershops


The support for working families 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.


Follow this guidance for restaurants providing take-out, drive-through, and delivery to create a safer environment for workers and patrons. Review the guidance and prepare a plan in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.


The guidance for youth sports provides guidelines for all youth sports programs, including school-based, club, and recreational programs. Check the questions and answers about youth sports.

Review the guidance and prepare a plan to support a safe environment for players, coaches and trainers, families, spectators, event/program/facility managers, workers, and volunteers.