City Supports Allowed Outdoor Business Activities with Flex Streets Initiative
Oakland, CA – Today, the California Department of Public Health announced effective today the Bay Area region meets the criteria to exit the Regional Stay At Home Order. Alameda County has issued a new Health Officer Order to align with the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and activities and businesses permitted in the Purple Tier may resume operation immediately. There are no additional local restrictions at this time.
Businesses and activities permitted to open include:
Outdoors only, with modifications
- Campgrounds
- Cardrooms and Racetracks
- Family Entertainment Centers and Movie Theaters
- Gyms
- Museums
- Places of Worship and Cultural Ceremonies
- Restaurants, Wineries, and Tasting Rooms
- Zoos and Aquariums
Indoors, with modifications
- Hair Salons and Barbershops
- Hotels and Lodging (indoor gyms and fitness studios remain closed)
- Personal Care Services, including Massage, Nail Salons and Skin Care Services
- Grocery Stores may increase capacity to 50 percent
- Other Retail may increase capacity to 25 percent
Businesses and activities permitted to open under the State’s Purple Tier must comply with State’s Industry Guidance modifications posted at: https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/. Additional workplace resources can be found here https://covid-19.acgov.org/recovery and resources for Alameda County workers are available here https://covid-19.acgov.org/worker-resources.
Oakland businesses that need to expand operations outdoors to comply with the State’s guidance should look to the City’s Flex Streets Initiative. All fees have been waived and permitting has been streamlined for business’ use of the public rights-of-way, including sidewalk, parking lane and roadway encroachments. Businesses expanding operations to private parking lots and other private outdoor areas will also benefit from streamlined permitting processes at www.oaklandca.gov/flexstreets. The important step is to apply for the permit before you start using the outdoor space, even for privately owned or leased outdoor spaces – including parking lots. Since launching in June more than 130 businesses have applied through Flex Streets.
Schools are not impacted by the lifting of the Regional Stay at Home Order, and Alameda County is following the State’s newly released framework and guidance on school reopening.
Small and time-limited private gatherings among no more than three household are now permitted outdoors under State guidance. Masks and physical distancing are still required for these gatherings, and anyone who is experiencing symptoms must not attend. Singing, shouting, chanting, cheering, or exercising are strongly discouraged. Those at high risk of severe illness are strongly encouraged not to attend. Large gatherings and gathering indoors are still prohibited.
“We may be past the winter surge, but COVID-19 is still with us,” said Dr. Nicholas Moss, Alameda County Health Officer. “We are only in the early stages of our vaccination campaign, and the virus has shown us it is capable of returning again and again. That means that, even as we cautiously reopen, we must continue to do the things we know work to keep each other safe.”
To ensure Alameda County can move forward through the State’s color-tiered framework and to allow more activities and businesses to reopen, residents are strongly encouraged to continue to stay home as much as possible and avoid gathering with other households. Residents are reminded of the state prohibition on gatherings of more than three households and should avoid Super Bowl parties and similar activities.
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