County Begins Reopening Accelerated Stage 2 Businesses, Plus Hair Salons and Barbershops!
This Memorial Day weekend saw the first significant reemergence of San Bernardino County businesses, as dine-in restaurants, stores and malls began reopening following a state-ordered shutdown lasting more than two months.
The County also announced the reopening of places of worship. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions are now able to resume to resume in-person services (including funerals) if attendance is limited to 100 attendees or 25 percent of a building’s capacity, whichever is less. State-issued guidance for religious services and cultural ceremonies can be found
here.
And today Gov. Gavin Newsom shared welcome news for struggling stylists and salons: counties can begin reopening hair salons and barber shops immediately, following critical safety guidelines such as mandatory face coverings for barbers, stylists and their clients. Specifically, state guidelines can be found
here
, and include strict adherence to face coverings for both employees and patrons, as well as thorough cleaning protocols. At this time, nail salons and gyms are not allowed to reopen.
“San Bernardino County businesses and residents worked very hard and made tremendous sacrifices to make this moment possible,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “Your efforts to keep our community safe and healthy have paid off. We are now proceeding toward gradually resuming our normal lives.”
The California Department of Public Health on Saturday approved the County’s request to reopen more businesses as part of the governor’s accelerated phase two. Two letters — one signed by the Board of Supervisors and the mayors of the county’s 24 cities and towns, the other by leaders of San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego counties — asked the governor for flexibility in charting a course for recovery.
“Our combined efforts clearly made a difference,” Hagman said. “Our goal now, besides achieving additional openings, is to keep our businesses open by continuing to keep our curve flat by taking precautions and avoiding unnecessary risk.”
Gyms, nail salons, movie theaters, sports and entertainment venues, libraries, bars and wineries, hotels and motels, and public swimming facilities won’t be authorized to reopen until Stages 3 and 4.
The County is helping small businesses operate safely and stay open through the COVID-Compliant Business Partnership Program. By agreeing to enforce physical distancing, require customers and employees to wear face coverings, and practicing prudent hygiene, small businesses can receive up to $2,500 to implement those measures. Businesses can apply through the county’s COVID-19 website,
http://sbcovid19.com/
.
“The COVID-19 virus is still very present throughout our county. With places of worship, dine-in restaurants, stores, and malls now suddenly open, it is more important than ever that we practice physical distancing, wear face coverings in public, and frequently wash our hands to protect ourselves and those around us,” said Hagman.
