COMPLIANCE ALERT – CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ORDERS THAT MANY OPERATIONS RE-CLOSE
On July 13, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an order once again closing indoor operations for a number of California businesses, due to rising COVID-19 concerns. The order took immediate effect. Affected operations include:
- Dine-in restaurants
- Wineries and tasting rooms
- Movie theaters
- Family entertainment centers
- Zoos and museums
- Cardrooms
Additionally, bars, brewpubs, breweries, and pubs must close all operations, both indoor and outdoor, statewide.
In addition to these statewide closures, various California counties (including San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties) are ordered to close the following indoor services/activities:
- Offices for non-essential sectors
- Fitness centers
- Worship services
- Protests
- Personal care services, like nail salons and tattoo parlors
- Hair salons and barbershops
- Malls
Currently, there is no end date for these closures. However, certain businesses providing essential services may continue to lawfully operate. See DDWK Update No. 3 for a full listing of essential services and compliance strategies. As a reminder, for worksites that remain open, employers must continue to abide by state and local laws regarding required COVID-19 protocols and be prepared to address good-faith employee safety concerns, as appropriate, to avoid potential retaliation claims.
Many employers have urgent questions regarding whether (and how) their business can lawfully operate under Governor Newsom’s latest order. Please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance with performing an updated evaluation of permissible business operations during this time.
