Heightened urgency to use physical distancing, face coverings and cleaning protocols
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to stabilize, retailers who can sell at curbside as well as manufacturers and warehouses can re-open in Berkeley on Tuesday using disease prevention guidelines.
This pending relaxation of rules paired with new COVID-19 restrictions reflects progress -- the careful and measured return on May 4 of construction and outdoor businesses did not result in a surge of cases.
Aligning new rules to guide new activities also reflects caution: this easily spreading and currently untreatable virus remains deeply embedded in our community and region. We are now threatened by what just five months ago were simple acts, like talking unmasked to a storekeeper.
"Just two months ago, Bay Area COVID-19 cases were spiking, but now they appear to continue to stabilize," said Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. "As more people move around in our community, so does the virus and there is greater urgency to use the new habits we've developed: keep physical distance, keep faces covered and stay home as much as possible."
Guidance for retailers, manufacturers, and warehouses
The rules going into effect on Tuesday follow state guidelines on "Early Phase 2," and allow retail stores and manufacturing and logistics businesses to open for curbside pickup with no entry into stores and delivery.
Similar rules are being implemented by the Health Officer for the rest of Alameda County as well as the Health Officers for the counties of Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and Santa Clara.
Retailers
Retail stores that are not essential businesses must:
- Before re-opening, follow state Retail Industry Guidance
- implement measures to prevent customers from blocking pedestrian access or causing vehicle congestion while picking up goods.
- limit the number of employees in enclosed areas, to ensure at least six feet of separation between employees.
- Not allow a customer to enter a store authorized to operate at any time.
- Not display goods at curbside
Read more in the Order and Appendix C.
Manufacturers
Manufacturing businesses in Berkeley will be allowed to operate Tuesday using the state Resilience Roadmap, which is amended from time to time, and also using state Manufacturing Industry Guidance.
Logistics and Warehousing
Logistics and warehousing businesses in Berkeley will be allowed to operate Tuesday using the state Resilience Roadmap, which is amended from time to time, and also using state Logistics and Warehousing Facility Industry Guidance
Plan Ahead
Every organization and business, regardless of when it will be permitted to open should work on plans that include:
- physical distancing
- training for employees on limiting spread of COVID-19
- disinfection protocols
Additional guidance can be found on the CDC's webpage for Worker Safety and Support.
For eligible businesses, we plan to align with the state's Resilience Roadmap Guidance for Industries where possible.
Data will drive next steps
There is no end date in the current order.
Berkeley's Health Officer and those for other jurisdictions around the region look closely at the data and other indicators to determine future phases. Determining the early impact of a set of rule changes requires at least two weeks - the outer limit of how much time it takes for someone to develop COVID-19 after being exposed.
"Each phase is a trial," said Dr. Hernandez. "When more activities are permitted, we see more cases and examine how that impacts the total number of cases and hospitalizations. Community members and businesses do their part by using face coverings, physical distancing and acting in ways that limit sickness and the virus' spread."
