It’s Official: Long-Awaited Opening of Salons, Indoor Shopping, Dining, and Faith Services.

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Saying the rate of coronavirus cases has remained stable, Sonoma County’s health officer late Friday issued the order the business community and public has long awaited, allowing the reopening of indoor dining and shopping, salons and barbershops, as well as churches and other religious facilities.

The order took effect at 12:01AM on Saturday the 6th, but it may take a few days for some businesses to get back up and running.

The reopening comes with conditions. All businesses are required to take mitigation steps to head off further virus spread, including reducing the number of customers inside a store to allow physical distancing, the requirement of face coverings at all times, and having employees check their temperature and use an online app to report their health and any possible symptoms.

The heath officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, says cases in the county have remained below 40 per 100 thousand residents and is currently at 38.6. This is a key metric used across the state in evaluating reopening. Also, the number of positive cases has hovered between 2 and 3 percent of the total tested, which is another key metric and positive indicator of reduced virus activity in Sonoma County.

Anyone who has frequented an essential business like hardware stores or grocery stores is familiar with the extra steps required all of stores that are reopening. This will mean lines at times outside stores, and a requirement to wear face coverings at all times indoors.

In issuing the order health officials say the danger of infection should still be a concern, and especially among vunerable populations such as those over the age of 65, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

The order follows by a few days another long-awaited reopening, that of the Sonoma Coast including all state and regional beaches and parks and parking lots. This weekend is expected to be wild at the coast as thousands flock to spectacular parks and beaches that have been off-limits for months.