Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
Thursday, December 3rd, the California state government informed that regional orders would be issued as hospital occupancy fell to less than 15 percent in intensive care units.
After the San Mateo Emergency Operations Center made it known that starting tomorrow, Thursday, December 17, at 11:59 p.m., the county will be subject to a mandatory regional "stay-at-home" order, questions are being raised about what to do and what not to do, where to go and where not to go.
According to a statement, the regional stay-at-home order urges Californians to stay indoors as much as possible and to stop mingling between households that may cause the spread of COVID-19.
However, it also allows access to critical services and outdoor activities to preserve the physical and mental health of residents.
According to the order, the following sectors may remain open with safety precautions:
- Critical infrastructure (when remote option is not possible)
- Schools
- Non-urgent medical and dental care
- Child and Maternal Care
Certain areas may remain open, as long as 100 percent of the population that attends must wear masks and keep their physical distance.
But which ones?
Outdoor recreational facilities: Outdoor operation shall be permitted only for the purpose of facilitating physically distanced personal health and well-being through outdoor exercise, with no sale of food, beverages or alcohol. In addition, no overnight camping will be permitted.
Retailers: Indoor operation will be allowed at 20 percent of capacity and 35 percent in those independent grocery establishments, with entrance metering and no eating and drinking in the stores.
In addition, special schedules should be established for the elderly and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
Shopping centers: Access will be allowed as long as the capacity does not exceed 20 percent, there will be entrance meters and no food or beverages may be consumed; and special schedules will be established for the elderly and other people with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
Hotels and housing: COVID-19 containment and mitigation measures, treatment measures, and housing for essential workers will be allowed and housing solutions, including measures to protect homeless populations, will be provided.
Restaurants: Only take-out food purchases or home delivery will be allowed.
Offices: Remote ?virtual? procedures will be allowed, except for critical infrastructure sectors where Internet work is not possible.
Places of worship and political expression: Gatherings are permitted, provided they are outdoors and at an appropriate distance.
Entertainment production: industries, studios and other related establishments, such as those providing professional broadcast content, can operate without live audiences.
What should be closed?
Under the regional stay-at-home order, all operations in the following sectors are to be shut down - except to the extent that their tasks are within the critical infrastructure:
- Hairdressers and barbers
- Personal Care Services
- Museums, zoos and aquariums
- Cinemas - except drive-in movie theaters
- Wineries, bars, breweries and distilleries - with the exception of production, manufacturing, distribution and retail for off-site consumption.
- Family Entertainment Centers
- Card rooms and satellite betting
- Live Audience Sports
- Amusement parks
