This page is posted for historical reasons to get a perspective of how Covid-19 concerns were addressed as time went on.
If you are looking for current, up-to-date information, go to Coronavirus COVID-19 Updates for Milpitas.
Stay home Q&A
All individuals living in the State of California are currently ordered to stay home or at their place of residence, except for permitted work, local shopping or other permitted errands, or as otherwise authorized (including in the Questions & Answers below).
On March 19, 2020, an Executive Order (PDF) and Public Health Order (PDF) directed all Californians to stay home except to go to an essential job or to shop for essential needs.
On May 4, 2020, an Executive Order (PDF) informed local health jurisdictions and industry sectors that they may gradually reopen under new modifications and guidance provided by the state per the May 7, 2020 Public Health Order (PDF).
On August 28, 2020, the state released a Blueprint for a Safer Economy in the state with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.
Update: May 18, 2021
The County of Santa Clara has issued a number of changes.
Please reference the documents below for the most up-to-date information:
Order of the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara – May 18, 2021
Mandatory Directive for Case Reporting by K-12 Schools, Youth Athletic Programs, and Other Youth Programs
Mandatory Directive on Use of Face Coverings
Mandatory Directive for Unvaccinated Personnel
Certification of Vaccination Status Form
Vaccine Information Sheet
Ascertainment of Vaccination Status FAQs
New Order of The Health Officer of The County of Santa Clara
Issued May 18, 2021
Information and Resources for Travelers Arriving from India | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
Issued May 5, 2021
State releases a new tiered system of COVID-19 restrictions
Last content update: 10/13/2020
On August 28th, 2020, the State released its Blueprint for a Safer Economy (“Blueprint”), which created a tiered system of COVID-19 restrictions that all counties in California must follow. Santa Clara County is currently in the Yellow Risk Tier (Tier Four) and will stay there until the State moves Santa Clara County forward into Tier Four (Yellow) or back into Tier One (Purple) or Tier Two (Red). The most restrictive rules apply to Tier One (Purple), and the least restrictive rules apply to Tier Four (Yellow).
Find the latest advice from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and the World Health Organization.
UPDATE: On March 23, 2021, the California Department of Public Health announced that Santa Clara County will be entering the Orange Tier of the State’s the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy effective March 24, 2021. However, Santa Clara County continues to experience COVID-19 transmission, and the danger COVID-19 poses to our community has not subsided. The County Health Officer urges businesses, entities, and residents to continue exercising caution even as certain restrictions are lifted by the State. Just because the State allows certain activities to resume or adopts certain COVID protocols, that does not mean that those activities are safe.
The following documents can be reviewed for further information and updates.
- The County of Santa Clara October 5 Revised Risk Reduction Order - (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- NEW SANTA CLARA COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER ADVISORY ON COVID-19 RISK REDUCTION MEASURES – MARCH 23, 2021 – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Social Distancing Protocol: | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- COVID-19 Capacity Limitations
- Requirements for ALL Businesses – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- What Customers Should See in Every Business – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Guidance to Ventilation and Air Filtration Systems - (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish |Vietnamese | Tagalog |
The following documents are the Mandatory Health Officer Directives that specify requirements for businesses and activities:
- UPDATED Capacity Limitations – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- NEW Case Reporting By K-12 Schools, Youth Athletic Programs, and Other Youth Programs – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
Slow/Stop Spread of COVID-19 in Milpitas (@WeAsk2Mask)
The latest guidelines from the state, county requires us to wear masks/face coverings. The Federal government adamantly pushing forward for schools to open and more economic activity. The @weask2mask campaign is a pledge for WE THE MILPITAS COMMUNITY to work together and better protect the Milpitas community for the following reasons…
UPDATE: On January 25, 2021, the California Department of Public Health announced that the Bay Area Region is no longer subject to the State’s Regional Stay At Home Order. However, Santa Clara County continues to experience an alarming rate of COVID-19 transmission, and hospital and ICU capacities remain extremely limited in the county and region. The danger COVID-19 poses to our community has not subsided, and the County Health Officer urges businesses, entities, and residents to continue exercising the utmost caution even as certain restrictions are lifted by the State.
Effective January 25, 2021, all businesses, entities, and individuals in Santa Clara County are subject to the restrictions in the Purple Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and to additional restrictions that the County Health Officer has imposed. As always, businesses, entities, and individuals must follow both the State and County Health Officer Orders, and where there is a conflict between the two, the stricter rules must be followed.
As always, Santa Clara County residents and businesses must follow both the State and County Health Officer Orders, and where there is a conflict between the two, the stricter Order must be followed.
The following documents can be reviewed for further information on the Revised Order.
- The County of Santa Clara October 5 Revised Risk Reduction Order - (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- NEW Executive Summary of Changes Effective January 25, 2021 - (PDF): | English | Chinese |Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Social Distancing Protocol: | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- COVID-19 Capacity Limitations
- Requirements for ALL Businesses – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- What Customers Should See in Every Business – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Guidance to Ventilation and Air Filtration Systems - (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish |Vietnamese | Tagalog
The following documents are the Mandatory Health Officer Directives that specify requirements for businesses and activities:
- UPDATED Capacity Limitations – (PDF): | English |
- UPDATED Travel – (PDF): | English |
- UPDATED Personal Care Services- (PDF): | English |
- Tenant and Lessee Affirmation of Social Distancing Protocol Form – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese
- UPDATED Dining - (PDF): | English |
- Construction – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- UPDATED Gatherings (including social, religious, political, ceremonial, athletic, and other types of gatherings) – (PDF): | English |
- Public Transit - (PDF): | English |
- Lodging Facilities - (Including Hotels & Motels) (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish |
- Agriculture, Food Packing, and Food Processing Businesses - (PDF): | English |
- Programs Serving Children or Youth - (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese |
- Schools – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- UPDATED Collegiate and Professional Athletics – (PDF): | English |
- Amusement Parks – (PDF): | English |
- Long-Term Care Facilities – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog
County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Announces Revisions to the Health Officer’s Mandatory Directives Amid Steeply Rising Cases and Hospitalizations
November 28, 2020
Changes Are Designed to Slow Increasing Hospitalizations and Ensure Adequate Hospital Capacity for the Community
The number of Santa Clara County residents contracting COVID-19 and the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to rise significantly, reaching record levels. As of today, November 28, there were 760 new cases of COVID-19 and 239 COVID-related hospitalizations, 71 of whom are in the ICU. Both the number of new cases and COVID-related hospitalizations set new records for the highest single-day counts since the outset of the pandemic. To reduce the likelihood of a surge in hospitalizations that would exceed the capacity of hospitals in the county, the Health Officer is announcing several changes to the Mandatory Directives that accompany the Public Health Officer’s Risk Reduction Order.
The changes include requiring that certain sectors modify their operations to increase safety, reducing the number of persons allowed inside facilities at any one time, and reducing the size of outdoor gatherings. Further, certain higher risk activities will be prohibited. The Health Officer is also issuing a Mandatory Directive on Travel, which strongly discourages leisure and non-essential travel, and requires persons entering the county to quarantine for 14 days upon return from travel of more than 150 miles.
These revised and new Mandatory Directives will take effect on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect until at least December 21, 2020 at 5:00 a.m. unless they are extended.
The curfew has been classified by the state as a “limited stay at home order.” This means that as of 10pm on Saturday, November 21, ‘til 5am on Monday, December 21, all work, movement, and gatherings deemed by the state as “non-essential” will be prohibited.
What’s allowed? You can go buy groceries or go shopping at the drugstore. You can also walk your dog or pick up takeout from a restaurant. Essentially, the order exists to keep members of households from intermixing with members of other households. Some cities have pledged not to enforce the order, citing issues with the scientific reasoning behind it. San Jose intends to enforce the order, but does not plan to cite people for curfew violations.
As for Milpitas, the Milpitas Police Department (MPD) informed The Beat that for the time being their hope is to see compliance from residents and educate them about the curfew order when appropriate. If Milpitas residents are defiant of the order and enforcement is necessary, then enforcement measures may be carried out.
Here are key changes being made to the Mandatory Directives
Capacity Limits for Indoor Facilities Open to the Public:
Stores and other facilities open to the public will be limited to 10% capacity indoors. Grocery stores, drug stores, and pharmacies, however, will be allowed to operate at 25% capacity indoors to ensure adequate access to food and medicine.
All facilities open to the public must establish a “metering system” to ensure that the applicable capacity limits are not exceed by, for example, posting an employee at the facility entrance to track the number of people entering and exiting.
Outdoor Gatherings:
Gatherings continue to be allowed only outdoors, with a maximum of 100 people. The State limits such gatherings to First Amendment protected activities, such as religious services or protests.
Professional, Collegiate, and Youth Sports:
All recreational activities that involve physical contact or close proximity to persons outside one’s household, including all contact sports, will be temporarily prohibited. People can continue to engage in outdoor athletics and recreation where social distancing can be maintained at all times.
Cardrooms:
Cardrooms are temporarily closed.
Hotels and Other Lodging Facilities:
Hotels and other lodging facilities will be open only for essential travel and for use to facilitate isolation or quarantine.
Quarantine Post-Travel:
Leisure and non-essential travel are strongly discouraged, and a new Mandatory Directive on Travel will require people to quarantine for 14 days upon return to the County from travel of more than 150 miles. Healthcare workers traveling into the county to provide care or patients traveling into the county to obtain treatment will be exempted from this requirement.
Follow our Twitter for updates: @HealthySCC
Public Health Facebook: www.facebook.com/sccpublichealth
Public Health Website: www.sccgov.org/coronavirus
The County’s new Mandatory Directive on Capacity Limitations describe the additional capacity limitations for businesses, entities, and activities under the Purple Tier.
As always, Santa Clara County residents and businesses must follow both the State and County Health Officer Orders, and where there is a conflict between the two, the stricter Order must be followed.
The following documents can be reviewed for further information on the Revised Order.
- The County of Santa Clara October 5 Revised Risk Reduction Order - (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog
- Executive Summary of Changes Effective November 17, 2020 - (PDF): | English
- Social Distancing Protocol: | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog
- COVID-19 Capacity Limitations
- Requirements for ALL Businesses – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog
- What Customers Should See in Every Business – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog
- Guidance to Ventilation and Air Filtration Systems - (PDF): | English | Spanish |Vietnamese| Chinese
The following documents are the Mandatory Health Officer Directives that specify requirements for businesses and activities:
- Capacity Limitations – (PDF): | English |
- Personal Care Services- (PDF): | English
- Tenant and Lessee Affirmation of Social Distancing Protocol Form – (PDF): | English |
- Dining - (PDF): | English |
- Construction – (PDF): | English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese |
- Gatherings (including social, religious, political, ceremonial, athletic, and other types of gatherings) – (PDF): | English |
- Public Transit - (PDF): | English |
- Lodging Facilities - (Including Hotels & Motels) (PDF): | English |
- Agriculture, Food Packing, and Food Processing Businesses - (PDF): | English |
- Programs Serving Children or Youth - (PDF): | English |
- Schools – (PDF): | English |
- Collegiate and Professional Athletics – (PDF): | English |
- Amusement Parks – (PDF): | English |
Below are key rules under the Revised Risk Reduction Order:
Consistency with State’s Blueprint: Unless otherwise specified in the County’s Order or Mandatory Directives, businesses are allowed to open to the extent allowed under the State’s Blueprint and the restrictions applicable to the tier to which the County is assigned.
Requirements Applicable to All Businesses: The Revised Order continues to require that allbusinesses follow a set of rules to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, including:
- Telework: All businesses must continue to require workers to do their jobs from home whenever possible. Workers can go into work only to complete the job duties they can’t complete from home.
- Social Distancing Protocol requirements: All businesses must complete and submit a Revised Social Distancing Protocol for each of their facilities on the County’s website at COVID19Prepared.org. Social Distancing Protocols submitted prior to October 11, 2020 are no longer valid. The Revised Social Distancing Protocols must be filled out using an updated template for the Social Distancing Protocol at COVID19Prepared.org.
- Positive case reporting: All businesses (and governmental entities) are legally required to report to the Public Health Department within 4 hours if they learn that any of their workers are confirmed to be positive for COVID-19. They must also ensure workers alert them if they test positive.
- Capacity Limitation: All businesses must comply with applicable capacity limitations established in the Mandatory Directive on Capacity Limitations.
What’s open in the red tier in Santa Clara County as of Monday, October 5, 2020
As of October 5, 2020
Revised Risk Reduction Order Issued October 5, 2020: The Revised Risk Reduction Order, which will go into effect when the County moves into Tier 3 (the Orange Tier) under the State’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” generally allows all businesses in the County to operate if the State allows them to be open. Under the Revised Risk Reduction Order, many additional activities and business operations can resume, including indoor dining and indoor gatherings. Importantly, this does not mean that the Health Officer considers all open activities to be safe. COVID-19 continues to pose a severe risk to residents of Santa Clara County, and the Health Officer urges residents to continue taking precautions, including staying home when possible, minimizing interaction with people outside one’s household, maintaining social distance, wearing face coverings, and moving as many activities outdoors as possible. Individuals over age 50 and those with serious underlying medical conditions are at greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19. Indoor dining and indoor gatherings are particularly high risk activities.
Tier Three restrictions are different from Tier Two restrictions (which were previously in place) in the following ways:
- Indoor pools may now open
- Indoor movie theaters may now operate, but they must limit their capacity to the lesser of 25% of normal capacity or 100 people
- Indoor worship services are now allowed, but they must limit their capacity to the lesser of 25% of normal capacity or 100 people
- Indoor dining operations and wineries may now operate, but they must limit their capacity to the lesser of 25% of normal capacity or 100 people
- Bars, brewpubs, and breweries may now operate outdoors
- Some family entertainment centers may now operate indoors, but only those facilities used for naturally distanced activities (such as bowling alleys and climbing walls). These facilities must limit their capacity to 25% of normal
- Cardrooms may now operate indoors, but they must limit their capacity to 25% of normal
- Indoor shopping malls no longer have a capacity limitation, but common areas must remain closed. Note that the Mandatory Directive for Dining does not allow food courts in shopping malls to open any indoor dining areas
- Retail businesses and Libraries no longer have a capacity limitation
- Gyms and fitness centers may increase their capacity limit to 25% of normal. This also applies also to indoor sports and dance facilities (e.g., gymnastics, martial arts, fencing, and Zumba facilities)
- Museums and zoos may increase their capacity limit to 50% of normal
Note: All businesses must ensure that everyone visiting their facility is able to maintain at least 6-foot social distance from everyone not in their household. All businesses are responsible for enforcing this requirement at their facilities.
See the following documents for further information on the revised Order.
- Revised Health Officer Risk Reduction Order (PDF)
- October 5 Order Executive Summary PDF: | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Social Distancing Protocol
As of September 8, 2020
What’s Open Under the State or Local Health Orders?
Under California’s brand-new coronavirus reopening plan, counties in the “red tier” can reopen schools, indoor personal care services, indoor dining, gyms, movie theaters and more. [Note: this is a dated article, prior to September 8, so read with that in mind until I find an article more updated.]
The red tier — home to counties with four to seven daily new cases per 100,000 residents or test positivity between 5% and 8% — is classified as “substantial” risk, and is the second-worst tier behind only purple (more than seven daily new cases per 100K or test positivity over 8%).
The following businesses and activities are now allowed to resume under the State’s framework as well as the County’s Risk Reduction Order. Businesses and activities must be in compliance with all industry-specific mandatory directives set forth by the County and State, including having a Social Distancing Protocol on file and displayed.
Counties in the red tier can reopen much more of their economies than counties in the purple tier, so long as county officials do not implement stricter regulations of their own. Here’s a rundown of the differences in restrictions that would apply to various sectors of interest:
- Schools: K-12 schools can open after the County has been in the Red Tier for 14 days. All schools must follow mandatory guidance set by the County of Santa Clara and the State of California
- Personal care services: allowed to open indoorswith modifications. No facials.
- Museums, zoos, aquariums: allowed to open indoors at 25% capacity
- Gyms and fitness centers: allowed to open indoors at 10% capacity
- Shopping malls: allowed to open indoors at 50% capacity (previously open at 25% capacity) Note that the County’s Risk Reduction Order does not allow food courts to open any indoor dining areas.
Statement of the County of Santa Clara Regarding the Governor’s Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2020
At noon today, the Governor announced new guidance for school reopening that generally requires counties to be off the State’s monitoring list for at least 14 days before schools will open for in-person instruction. Santa Clara County is currently on the State’s monitoring list. The State’s guidance also states that local health officers may grant a waiver for elementary schools to open for in-person instruction. These waivers may be granted “when requested by a local superintendent (or equivalent for charter or private schools), in consultation with labor, parent and community organizations. Local health officers must review local community epidemiological data, consider other public health interventions, and consult with CDPH when considering a waiver request.”
- What’s Closed Under the State or Local Health Orders (PDF)
COVID-19: Q & A about the New July 13, 2020 Health Order
Covid19Prepared.org
The County Shelter-in-Place Order remains in effect, and all persons and businesses in Santa Clara County must comply with the County Order. While the State announced on May 7, 2020 that it is relaxing certain state restrictions, you must comply with the stricter of the two orders. If the City of Milpitas order is even more strict, follow that order.
Santa Clara County (has variance) is experiencing increased hospitalization. Drivers of increased hospitalization of COVID+ patients may include: 1) increased transmission in the community; 2) patient transfers from outside the county; 3) patient transfers from long term care facilities; 4) /or increased transmission among residents or individuals from neighboring counties who seek care in hospitals in Santa Clara County.
What’s Closed Under the State or Local Health Orders?
As of July 17, 2020
New Order Issued July 2, 2020: The Health Officer issued a new Order on July 2, 2020. This Order will go into effect on July 13, 2020. Below are the July 2 Order and some documents to help you understand it.
- Health Officer Risk Reduction Order (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- July 2 Order Executive Summary (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Social Distancing Protocol: | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Requirements for All Businesses (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese |
- What Should Customers See in Every Business? (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese |
- Mandatory Health Officer Directives: the Health Officer will begin issuing mandatory Directives for specific business sectors and activities, including:
- Personal Care Services – (PDF) (including hair and nail salons, tattoo and piercing shops, massage therapy, and other services providing body care services): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Tenant and Lessee Affirmation of Social Distancing Protocol Form (PDF): | English |
- Outdoor Dining – (PDF): | English |
- Construction – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Food Facilities – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Gatherings (including social, religious, political, ceremonial, athletic, and other types of gatherings) – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Public Transit – (PDF): | English |
- Lodging Facilities – (PDF) (Including Hotels & Motels): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Agriculture, Food Packing, and Food Processing Businesses – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Outdoor Pools – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Recreation and Athletics – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Childcare, summer camps, and children’s activities: | English | Chinese | Spanish| Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Gyms and Fitness Centers – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Schools – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Movie Theaters – (PDF): | English |
- Offices for Non-Essential Sectors – (PDF): | English |
- Cardrooms – (PDF): | English |
- Malls – (PDF): | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |
- Zoos and Museums – (PDF): | English |
This information is provided to clarify prohibited and allowable activities while the Shelter in Place Order is in effect. Please remember when reading this information and deciding whether to submit a question that the goal of the Order is to maximize the number of people who are staying home. The Order’s exemptions for allowable activities are intended to be narrow. Please limit physical interactions and stay home as much as possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Santa Clara County CAN is a Navigation Assistance Hotline 408-809-2124.
The line provides assistance for workers affected by COVD-19 in English, Español, and Tiếng Việt. Call anytime, leave a message and your call will be returned within 24 hours. The new hotline provides navigators to help workers determine eligibility for various programs and assist with applications.
Santa Clara County residents can now call 2-1-1 for information on novel coronavirus and COVID-19 thanks to a new partnership between the County of Santa Clara and 2-1-1. Residents can also receive information on novel coronavirus by simply texting the word “coronavirus” to 211211 and following the prompts provided. 2-1-1 phone and text services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 150 languages through phone interpretation services.
Santa Clara County Parks
All in park classes, programs and special events have been cancelled or postponed. Park closures consist of Lexington Reservoir, museums, visitor centers, group sites, yurts and playgrounds (Ed Levin, Martial Cottle Discovery Farm, Vasona and Hellyer). Dog parks at Ed Levin, Los Gatos Creek and Hellyer are now open as is first come first serve picnic tables of 10 people or less from the same household.
July 2, 2020, Order of the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara
If the State approves the County’s application for a variance before July 13, then the Order issued on July 2 goes into effect on July 13. Otherwise, the Order will go into effect two days after the State approves the County’s variance. Continue to check the Public Health website for updates. Item 13 is of particular interest for many. See full document for other open or closed facilities and behavior expected.
13. Facilities that Must Remain Closed. The following facilities are not allowed to open under this Order because they create a particularly high risk of COVID-19 transmission:
- Any indoor facility that is used for an activity inherently necessitating the removal of a face covering, including but not limited to indoor dining, indoor bars, indoor swimming pools, smoking lounges, saunas, steam rooms, and heated exercise studios. This prohibition does not apply to healthcare facilities.
- Professional sports stadiums and arenas, except that professional sports training is permitted and professional sporting events can occur in such facilities without spectators and in accordance with other applicable requirements, upon approval by the Health Officer of a facility-specific risk reduction protocol.
- Non-residential adult and elder day care facilities.
- Amusement and theme parks.
- Nightclubs, music and concert venues, and indoor theaters.
- Indoor playgrounds and amusement centers such as bounce centers, ball pits, and laser tag.
- Any additional businesses or facilities that the Health Officer specifies in a directive or order must be closed.
Mandatory Directives
The Health Officer will issue a set of mandatory directives with rules to reduce risk in the following specific industries and activities:
• Gyms and fitness centers
• Construction
• Recreational and athletic activities
• Gatherings, including for social, economic, religious, cultural, and other purposes
• Agriculture
• Hotels and motels
• Public transit
• Childcare, summer camps, and children’s activities
• Pools
• Outdoor dining
• Food facilities
All businesses and people in the County must follow these directives, as well as the industry-specific guidance issued by the State.
When is the Order effective?
It depends. The County is submitting an application to the State that, if approved, would allow more businesses to open under the State’s Stay-at-Home Order. The State calls this a “variance.” If the State approves the County’s application for a variance before July 13, then the Order goes into effect on July 13. Otherwise, the Order will go into effect two days after the State approves the County’s variance. Continue to check the Public Health website for updates.
Order of the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara
Effective June 15, 2020. The intent of this Order is to ensure access to Diagnostic Testing, as defined in Section 7 below, in order to effectively prevent and control COVID-19 in our community.
Allowed Additional Activities effective June 5, 2020
From the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
- Automobile Parades
- Automobile-based Gatherings and Drive-thru Events
- Outdoor Recreational and Athletic Activities
- Use of Dog Parks
- Small Outdoor Ceremonies and Religious Gatherings
June 5, 2020 Updates to Current County Order
The Order will be updated at 12:01 am on Friday, June 5, 2020, and will remain in effect until the Health Officer amends or rescinds it. Information for businesses.
County of Santa Clara Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody today announced amendments to the current Shelter in Place Order that will allow multiple sectors and activities to resume, including in-store retail, outdoor dining, all manufacturing, small service businesses, childcare and summer programs, as well as religious, cultural, and civic activities. The updates will go into effect on Friday, June 5th.
June 4, 2020. Learn What to Do.
Table of Contents
- If You Think You are Sick
- I Think I Have or Am at Risk of Having COVID-19: What do I do?
- I Have Tested Positive for COVID-19: What do I do?
- I Have Tested Negative for COVID-19: What do I do?
- People Who Need Extra Precautions
- People Living and Working in Multi-Unit Housing Communities
- Guide for Recreational Activities and Facilities (effective June 5, 2020)
- Guide for Summer Camps (effective June 5, 2020)
- Guide for Outdoor Dining (effective June 5, 2020)
- Guide for Outdoor Swimming Pools (effective June 5, 2020)
- How To:
- Healthcare Providers
- Businesses and Workplaces
- Guidance for Workers
- Guidance for Food Facilities
- Guidance for Agricultural Industry Workers
- Guidance for Construction Field Safety
- Small Construction
- Large Construction
May 18, 2020/ Order of the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara
New Order. Because of the substantial progress our community has achieved in slowing the spread of COVID-19, our Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody has issued an updated Shelter-in-Place order that will allow certain additional businesses and activities to resume. The new order went into effect Friday, May 22, 2020.
The new order allows retailers to provide curbside pickup services and also allows certain additional outdoor activities, including car parades, outdoor museums, historical sites, and public gardens.
We must all continue to stay home as much as possible, continue with to wear face coverings, and practice social distancing when in public. This is what has helped our region make progress to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Regional Shelter-in-Place Orders Extended as Some Rules Ease
These new Health Officer orders, which take effect May 4, cover everyone living or working in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara as well as the City of Berkeley.
Under new orders, some businesses and activities can be resumed on May 4th often with precautions. These orders are generally consistent with the state’s shelter in place order. On any issue where the local and state orders may differ, the stricter order applies.
- Construction projects
- Real Estate Transactions
- Those who are allowed to return to work may also access childcare open just for the children of these workers
- Wholesale and retail nurseries, landscapers, gardeners, and other businesses that primarily provide outdoor services
- Residential moves
- Use of certain shared outdoor recreational facilities that were previously ordered closed, like skate parks, but not others that involve shared equipment or physical contact.
Complete Order of the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara April 29, 2020
This Order supersedes the March 31, 2020 Order of the Health Officer directing all individuals to shelter in place (“Prior Order”). Read this if you want the fine details of the order about what you may or may not do at this time. The order has a long list of “essential businesses” you may want to read.
Bay Area’s Shelter-in-Place Extended Through End of May
Santa Clara County and its neighboring jurisdictions will last through at least the end of May, public health officials announced today.
Effective April 24, 2020, by City of Milpitas Emergency Order, face coverings are *required* to be worn by both employees and customers in places of business. Face coverings are recommended, but not required, when you are outdoors and can safely maintain a six-foot social distance from people outside your immediate family. For complete details on the order, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Another order was issued March 31, 2020.
The link above is to the full content of the order. It extends the stay-at-home order at least through May 3, 2020. (News release)
Activities You Can Still Do
- Grocery shopping, pick up medications, or pick up food to-go
- Work if you work for an essential business
- Attend doctor’s appointments
- Go outside as long as you can maintain 6 feet or more distance from others at all times
- Make face masks. Contact via Messages to 925-354-6174 for pickup and delivery to medical services, grocery stores, etc, nearby who badly need them so you can keep sewing.
Join the Love Mask Brigade, and help make or distribute masks.
What is Different From the March 16, 2020 Order?
The updated order clarifies essential business and activities and has some new directives:
- Limiting activities at parks and other outdoor activities to improve social distancing – any with shared equipment
- Closing playgrounds and shared facilities for recreational facilities – now includes picnic tables.
- Closing dog parks
- Requiring essential businesses to prepare, post, and implement a Social Distancing Protocol
- Limiting the number of people allowed in a store at one time and providing guidance on how to control shopping lines
- Requiring stores to provide hand sanitizer
- Further limiting allowable construction activities
- Eliminating the exemption for businesses that sell products that allow people to work from home
- Allowing delivery of goods but not services to residences and businesses.
All counties in the Bay Area urge residents to practice social distancing, and advise proactive measures:
- Limit time outside of your home to only essential trips and activities (find a complete list in the English, Español, 中文, and Tiếng Việt FAQ);
- Stay home when you are sick or if you have come in contact with someone who has COVID-19;
- If you are 65+, please self-isolate at home to prevent contracting the virus;
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water;
- Avoid crowds and practice social distancing of 6 ft or more;
- Always cover your cough with a tissue or your elbow and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth;
- Frequently sanitize high-touch surface areas.
