Quarantine Extended and New Stricter Regulations on Essential Businesses in California
We previously reported on Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order which put in place mandatory stay-at-home restrictions except for workers in “essential businesses” as part of an effort to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Since the order was issued on March 19, 2020, the California Governor, as well as the Mayors of various cities in California, have taken additional steps as the number of people infected by the disease and death count grows.
On March 27, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed another executive order, this time enhancing the authority of California’s Judicial Branch to take emergency action in the face of the COVID-19 crisis to ensure the safe and orderly operation of the courts. The Governor’s Order would allow California Courts to, at their discretion, implement new rules and policies including:
- Allowing a party deponent to appear at a deposition by telephone;
- Ordering parties to accept electronic service of court papers and other documents; and
- Taking other actions to respond to the emergency caused by COVID-19.
In addition to statewide actions, individual cities in California have also seen an expansion of rules and timeline extensions to shelter in place orders, placing further restrictions on residents and essential businesses. (See our complete and updated list of shelter in place orders.)
In Los Angeles, on March 27, 2020, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued an order temporarily closing public trails and trailheads, beaches, piers, beach bike paths, and beach access points as a reaction to what city officials deemed “unacceptable” crowds in the first weekend of the City’s Safer at Home Order.
City and county officials in the Bay Area have taken even stronger actions. Not only are residents no longer able to visit playgrounds, dog parks, public picnic areas or other recreational areas, but the original end date of April 7, 2020, has been extended to at least May 3, 2020. Furthermore, residential and commercial construction will be prohibited, aside from limited exceptions, which will likely place additional strains on one of the nation’s largest real estate industries.
In coordination with the other Bay Area counties, San Francisco updated and broadened its order to require essential businesses to take several additional steps such as posting and implementing social distancing protocols, providing hand sanitizers, and controlling the number of people allowed inside at one time. Essential businesses should take steps to make sure they are complying with these regulations or otherwise risk potential fines or closures.
As a reminder, Governor Newsom’s order remains in place for an indefinite duration. We will continue to update this article as the situation in California develops.
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