The state has approved San Diego County to move further into Stage 2, allowing dine-in customers at restaurants and in-person shopping for retail businesses, with modifications to protect the spread of coronavirus. Businesses need to follow the guidelines, complete and post safe reopening plans.   Businesses and restaurants must demonstrate compliance with requirements for social distancing, disinfection, sanitation, and safe operations. To meet the requirements of the public health measures issued by the governor, San Diego County will implement the measures outlined below. EMPLOYEE HEALTH MEASURES
– All employees have been told not to come to work if ill. – Employees receive a thermal or temperature scan prior to the beginning of each shift. – A health survey is conducted with each employee prior to the beginning of each shift to verify staff has not experienced symptoms consistent with Covid-19 in the past seven days or exposed to someone who has experienced symptoms in the past 14 days. – Employees with Covid-19 like symptoms are not allowed to work and encouraged to contact their medical provider or 2-1-1. – Face coverings are worn by all staff that interacts with the public and when unable to social distance with other employees. – Clean and disinfect employee restrooms and breakrooms frequently. – All employees have read and understood the Covid-19 fact sheet (available in multiple languages).
– Employees shall not share food, beverages, and food-ware. – Employees do not shake hands, high-five, or do similar greetings that break physical distance.
– Employees must frequently wash their hands with soap and warm water. – A copy of this protocol must be shared with each employee to ensure they understand and will implement the procedures. OTHER MEASURES BEING TAKEN
– All tables are six feet apart or if un-movable, a barrier or partition has been installed to separate the tables.
– Tape or markings of at least six feet separation are used in any area where members of the public may form a line.
– Staggered seating times are used to space traffic flow.
– Limit the number of patrons at a single table to a household unit or patrons who have asked to be seated together.
– People in the same party seated at the same table do not have to be six feet apart.
– All members of the party must be present before seating and the host must bring the entire party to the table at one time.
– Tables are spaced six feet away from all food preparation areas, including beverage and server stations.
– Other measures used to ensure social distancing is adhered to while customers are waiting to be seated, during the ordering or during pick-up of food: FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED
Health officials want people to know that face coverings and physical distancing will be required when entering these businesses. In restaurants, the coverings will be needed until the customers are seated.
“As San Diegans prepare to eat out and go shopping, it’s important for people to remember they must wear a face covering when in public and close to other people,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “The County is enormously grateful for the public’s effort to date.”
When you wear a face covering, you protect those around you. When others use a face covering, they protect you. When you couple face coverings with physical distancing and good hand hygiene, the risk of getting Covid-19 diminishes.
Face coverings “disrupt the trajectory of a cough, sneeze or breath” preventing droplets carrying the virus from traveling between people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two recent studies have estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 local lives were saved because of the preventive measures.
“Had we not practiced physical distancing and respected the stay-at-home order, many thousands more individuals, including our elderly, would have died from Covid-19,” Wooten said. “The County has made great progress in the fight against Covid-19 and it is now safe for certain businesses to resume operations if they can implement safety measures outlined by the County and state.” STAGE 3 PILOT PROPOSAL
The board also approved proposing a pilot program that would allow a select number of businesses from Stage 3 to gradually reopen ahead of the schedule outlined by the state.
The pilot program includes outdoor religious services, research labs, hair and nail salons, fitness facilities, youth sports and clubs, and pools at apartment complexes. The pilot program would also allow therapeutic and peer support groups to offer sessions, but with group size limited to 12 people or fewer.
The California Department of Public Health and the Governor’s Office also will have to approve the County’s pilot program proposals before businesses from these sectors can begin to reopen. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND
Mental Health Month was established to raise awareness, educate communities and reduce stigma surrounding people experiencing mental illness. The County Administration Center, located at 1600 Pacific Highway, will be lit lime green from May 11-15 to celebrate people in recovery and those who support them.
The County and its partners have created virtual events to commemorate the month, due to the restrictions on public gatherings. People can still come together to break the stigma and support mental health. It’s important for residents to know that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health resources and support are still readily available through County Behavioral Health Services and its many service providers.
If you or someone you know need help or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can talk to a trained counselor by calling the County’s 24-hour, multi-lingual Access and Crisis Line at 888-724-7240. Other resources are available on Behavioral Health Services’ Covid-19 Resources for Families, Parents & Caregivers webpage or the It’s Up to Us website. TESTING IS EXPANDING The region’s Covid-19 testing expanded this week, with new sites added in central and southeastern San Diego, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced.
The County opened an appointment-only drive-up testing site at San Diego County Credit Union Stadium in Mission Valley on May 18. That site can test up to 180 individuals a day and will operate Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To make an appointment for the site at SDCCU Stadium, county residents can call 2-1-1. In addition to the County’s site at SDCCU Stadium, state-run walk-up test sites will open at the Tubman-Chavez Center at 415 Euclid Ave. and at the San Diego County Assessor Office at 200 S. Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon.
The state-run sites opened on May 19, and are in addition to state sites already operating in Escondido and Chula Vista. To make an appointment at any of the state-run locations, visit www.lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123.
Additionally, the County’s Live Well on Wheels Mobile Office will once again offer Covid-19 testing at Euclid Health Center, located at 292 Euclid Ave. An appointment is required and can be set up by calling 2-1-1. The mobile test site will continue to operate at Euclid Health Center each Saturday for the foreseeable future. Covid-19 testing options include calling your doctor or medical provider to schedule an appointment, signing up on the state website, or calling 2-1-1. FLATTENING THE CURVE
More than 4,000 Covid-19 tests were reported May 14, the highest daily total since testing started in the region. At the same time, the percentage of positive Covid-19 cases continues to trend down. This metric continues a downward trend of positive cases and is a sign that the region is moving in the right direction in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“We will continue to monitor these data to support further opening of local businesses and activities,” said Wooten. “As life slowly starts to move toward the new normal, I commend the efforts of our community and strongly encourage each of you to keep up the good work by practicing physical distancing, wearing a face covering, washing your hands regularly and conducting routine sanitation.” COVID-19 TESTING, CASES AND DEATHS TESTING • 2,609 tests were reported to the County May 18 and 80, or 3%, were positive. • 3.9% was yesterday’s 14-day, rolling average percentage of positive tests. Cases: • 80 new cases were reported for a San Diego County total of 6,026. • 1,136 or 18.9% of the total cases have required hospitalization. • 346 or 5.7% of all cases had to be placed in intensive care. Deaths: • Eleven additional Covid-19 deaths were reported today, bringing the region’s total to 222. • Ten had underlying medical conditions and there is no data about underlying medical conditions for the eleventh person.
The number of active outbreaks, deaths and cases at nursing homes and other congregate living facilities are:
– 72 active outbreaks, 49 at congregate living facilities and 23 in community settings.
– 1,327 cases, including 108 deaths in congregate living facilities.
– 310 cases, including five deaths in community settings.