Guidance and Instructions for Safe Operations

Beginning Tuesday June 15, 2021, the California Blueprint has ended

This page is being maintained as a best practices resource to business sectors in California responding to COVID-19.

State of California - COVID-19 Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening 

Agriculture and Livestock 
Auto Dealerships
Body Art

This includes tattoo, body piercing and permanent cosmetic facilities.  
Campgrounds and RV Parks
Car Washes
Cardrooms and Racetracks 
Casinos 
Childcare 

Churches 
Communications Industry
Construction
Day Camps
Delivery Services
Energy and Utilities
Family Entertainment Centers
Farmers Markets Guidance
Food Industry
First Amendment Rights - Religious Services, Cultural ceremonies, & Protests 

The State has made allowances for constitutionally protected gatherings to include in-person religious services, cultural ceremonies (which now includes wedding ceremonies but NOT receptions/celebrations), protests, and other constitutionally protected gatherings if they follow the State's COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Places of Worship and Providers of Religious Services and Cultural Ceremonies. 

Activities conducted at Places of Worship other than services are not allowed at this time, including group gatherings, potlucks, childrens activities, etc. 

Online services and activities are still encouraged to protect individuals who are most at risk for more severe COVID-19, including older adults and people with specific medical conditions.

Gatherings and Private Events 

Indoors: Max 25% capacity in settings where capacity limits exists or 25 people or whichever is fewer. Indoor private events are not permitted unless all guests are tested or show proof of vaccination (150 people). 

Outdoors: Outdoor gatherings are permitted with a maximum capacity of 50 people. Outdoor private events are allowed for groups of up to 100 people, unless tested or show proof of vaccination (300 people)

Outdoor Seated Live Performances are also permitted under certain circumstances.

Gyms and Fitness Centers 

NOTE: This guidance pertains to gyms, fitness centers and studios (gymnastics, dance, pilates, yoga, etc.)
Hair Salons / Barbershops
Higher Education
Hotels, Lodging and Short Term Rentals
Individual Outdoor Recreation, such as outdoor playgrounds, charter fishing, equine facilities and archery

Life Sciences
Mining and Logging
Movie Theatres 

Note: 50 percent indoor capacity. 
Music, Film and TV Production

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Office-Based Businesses 

Telework is still encouraged to protect individuals who are most at risk for more severe COVID-19, including older adults and people with specific medical conditions.
Museums
Performances

Live Theatre 

 

Live theatre is currently allowed for drive-in performances or for recordings of performances with no live, in-person audience. 

 

Live music

Indoor performances are now allowed with modifications and capacity limits pursuant to the State’s live events and performances guidance. Audience seating locations must be fixed or marked, with readily identifiable signs to indicate section, row, and seat (assigned seating) and tickets must be purchased in advance. See a summary of required modifications here under ‘Indoor Seated Live Events and Performances’. 

 

The guidance for indoor and outdoor live events and performances does not apply to convention-style events, general admission venues, and events where the central activity allows patrons to move around shared space. 

 

Performances that take place in non-performance venues (like restaurants, bars, or places of worship) must also follow that type of venue’s industry guidance. 

 

See SLO County’s Indoor Seated Live Performance Checklist (English, Spanish) or Private Venue Events Checklist (English, Spanish) for an overview of the guidance. 
Personal Care Services

This includes esthetician, skin care, and cosmetology services; nail salons and massage.  
Professional Sports with Live Audiences

Professional sports can now open outdoors with modifications and capacity limits pursuant to the State’s live events and performances guidance.  
Public Swimming Pools 
Public Transit
Real Estate
Restaurants 

NOTE: 50 percent capacity indoors. 
Retail 

This category includes in-store retail, shopping malls and swap meets

Skilled Nursing and Residential Care
Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Logistics
Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Manufacturing

 
Theme Parks / Amusement Parks 

Theme or amusement parks may open indoors with modifications and capacity limits pursuant to the State’s guidance.  

See a summary of required modifications here under ‘Amusement Parks/ Fairs’. 
Water Parks
Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries and Bars

NOTE: Live music / entertainment is now allowed under strict parameters.  Live music is limited to a "background music" style performance during regular business hours.  Event style music indoors must follow indoor performance guidance with assigned seating. Event style music outdoors must follow outdoor performance guidance. 

NOTE: Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries can have an indoor 50% capacity or 200 people maximum. Bars can have an indoor 25% capacity or 100 people maximum. 
Youth and Adult Sports 

Zoos