Governor Paves Way for Restaurant, Office, Mall Reopenings to Begin

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In a long-awaited annoucement, California Governor Gavin Newsom told California’s 40 million residents that dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, offices and a variety other businesses can begin to reopen.

But, that reopening would only be possible in counties that have met certain conditions of disease containment, and would be accompanied by strict health rules governing social distancing, hygiene, safety protocols and training.

The announcement came as the governor said the state has now conducted more than 1 million coronavirus tests, and would be allowing pharmacists across the state to open up testing in drug stores.

Under the revised stay-at-home order, restaurants could reopen if they follow restrictions like offering disposable or electronic menus, disposable condiments, no tableside food prep, no inside bars, alcohol served only with meals, and special rules for cleaning, use of takeout containers and other restrictions.

Offices can also reopen in a limited way that requires daily screening of workers for symptoms and health concerns, social distancing, special hygiene rules, closure of common areas, and frequent cleaning of high touch areas.

For shopping malls, outdoor museums, public gardens, carwashes and other low risk businesses similar rules have been put in place to insure hygiene, social distancing, and closure of spaces in which people would congregate.

Under the governor’s new order, counties have the freedom to move at their own pace on relaxing restrictions. Several Bay Area counties have already indicated that they will be taking certain aspects of reopening more slowly than state guidelines allow.