On Monday, March 15th, the County of Los Angeles moved from the purple tier into the red tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework. The red tier signifies that COVID-19 risk level is still “substantial” in the County but no longer “widespread.” In alignment with California’s COVID-19 re-opening framework, the County of Los Angeles revised its COVID-19 Public Health Order and loosened its restrictions. While the COVID-19 transmission rate in Los Angeles is certainly improving, the Public Health Order warns that new variants remain a substantial threat to public health and urges businesses and residents to continue exercising caution even as restrictions are lifted. As such, the masking and social distancing mandates remain largely unchanged even as Los Angeles enters the less-restrictive red tier.
Effective as of Monday, March 15th, the following businesses and activities are permitted:
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Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums can open indoors at 25% capacity.
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Gyms, Fitness Centers, Yoga, and Dance Studios can open indoors at 10% capacity with masking requirements for all indoor activities.
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Movie Theaters can open indoors at 25% capacity with reserved seating only where each group is seated with at least 6 feet of distance in all directions between other groups.
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Restaurants can open indoors at 25% max capacity under the following conditions: (1) eight feet of distancing between table; (2) one household per indoor table with a limit of six people; (3) the HVAC system is in good working order and has been evaluated, and to the maximum extent possible, ventilation has been increased; (4) it is strongly recommended that restaurant employees interacting with customers indoors are provided with additional masking protection such as fit-tested N95 masks, KN95 masks, or double masks, in addition to the required face shield; (5) it is strongly recommended that all employees working indoors are informed about and offered opportunities to be vaccinated against COVID-19; and (6) outdoor dining can accommodate up to six people per table from three different households.
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Indoor Shopping Malls can increase capacity to 50% with common areas remaining closed and food courts can open at 25% capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor dining.
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Institutes of Higher Education can re-open all permitted activities with required safety modifications except for residential housing which remains under current restrictions for the Spring semester.
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Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction for students in grades 7-12 adhering to all state and county directives.
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Private gatherings can occur indoors with up to three separate households, with masking and distancing required at all times. People who are fully vaccinated (i.e., two weeks have passed since their final shot) can gather indoors with other people who are fully vaccinated or with unvaccinated people from a single household that does not have any individuals who are at risk for severe illness from COVID-19, without masking and distancing. All private gatherings are still limited to a maximum of 15 people, regardless of whether the attendees are vaccinated.
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Personal Care Establishments can increase indoor capacity from 25% to 50%.
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Youth and Adult Recreational Sports can reopen subject to the restrictions of the applicable Reopening Protocol.
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Limited Services can open at 50% indoor capacity.
Employers should check the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (“LACDPH”) Reopening Protocol applicable to their business, as many of the protocols have been revised to comply with the new Public Health Order. Businesses are required to comply with the provisions of the applicable Reopening Protocol.
We will continue to monitor major COVID-19 related developments that impact the workplace. If you have any questions about the matters discussed in this issue of Compliance Matters, please call your firm contact at 818-508-3700 or visit us online at www.brgslaw.com.
Sincerely,
Richard S. Rosenberg
Katherine A. Hren
Charles H.W. Foster
Ballard Rosenberg Golper & Savitt, LLP
