State issues blueprint for a safer economy using color-coded tables; permits shopping centers, retail, hair salons and barbershops with modifications and restrictions to open immediately in Solano County

August 31, 2020

SOLANO COUNTY – Effective today, the California Department of Public Health, by order of the Governor, has implemented the new “Blueprint for a Safer Economy;” assigning every California County to one of four tiers (by color), increasing or decreasing requirements on businesses based on COVID-19 activity.

Solano County is currently assigned to Tier 1 (purple), which is classified as Widespread COVID-19 activity.  The primary changes to the State’s health orders for all Counties assigned to Tier 1 include:

n  Shopping Centers, including malls, destination centers and swap meets can re-open indoor operations at 25 percent capacity, but keep closed all common areas, including children’s play structures, gathering spots and food courts

n  All retail, excluding grocers, are limited to 25 percent capacity indoors

n  Hair salons and barbershops may open indoor operations with modifications

n  Please note, there are no changes to grocers

The Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health division, and the Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health division, continues their outreach to local businesses, assisting them in implementing state-mandated social distancing best practices; including protecting employees, customers and the public, limiting the spread of COVID-19 transmission.

“We must not forget that we are still operating in an emergency,” says Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County’s Public Health Officer.  “When businesses follow the State’s social distancing guidelines properly, 25 percent capacity is a reasonable expectation to help prevent the spread of the disease.”

The Blueprint for a Safer Economy (Blueprint) has four tiers, including Tier 1, Widespread; Tier 2, Substantial; Tier 3, Moderate; and Tier 4, Minimal.  Depending on the tier, there may be limits placed on operations, including requirements preventing or limiting indoor service, the type of service, and the number of people allowed indoors at one time.

On August 25, the Solano County Board of Supervisors, as part of their Board meeting, approved $2 million in CARES Act funding for a small business assistance program to be advanced by the Solano County Workforce Development Board (WDB) and the Solano County Small Business Development Center (SBDC).  This Board approved program, with support from several cities, is intended to help small businesses with COVID-19 related state-mandated expenses.  Solano County businesses interested in pursuing funding opportunities are encouraged to apply at the SBDC website, www.SolanoSBDC.org, by calling (707) 646-1071 and on social media @SBDCSolano.

Everyone is encouraged to visit the State’s Blueprint website for detailed information on the criteria that determines how Counties are assigned a specific tier, what it takes to move into a different tier, why some business activities can resume while others must remain closed, what businesses can open immediately state-wide that were previously closed and the status of business activities in Counties across the state, including Solano County.

Visit the Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health division Coronavirus website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19 for COVID-19 transmission case information, resources and updates.  Follow Solano County Public Health on social media @SolanoCountyPH.