Update from Public Health Officer regarding the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for the San Diego region

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No later than 12:00 a.m. on April 7, 2020:

• All businesses that remain in operation in accordance with the Order and that allow members of the public to enter a facility must prepare and post a “Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol” on the form attached to the Order for each of their facilities open to the public in the county.
• The Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility, and shall be easily viewable by the public and employees.
• A copy of the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must also be provided to each employee performing work at the facility.
• All businesses shall implement the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol and provide evidence of its implementation to any authority enforcing this Order upon demand.
• The Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must ensure all required measures are implemented and must identify and require measures necessary to implement social distancing and sanitation at that facility.
• If the measures identified and implemented are not effective in maintaining proper social distancing and sanitation, additional measures shall be identified and implemented, or the facility shall be closed.
• A fillable Social Distancing Protocol template can be found here and utilized to fulfill this requirement.

As mentioned this week by Dr. Wilma Wooten, the County’s  Public Health Officer, “We all have an essential role to play and must take these actions to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19.” The County is implementing these new guidelines to keep COVID-19 from making more people sick. They include:

• Residents are strongly encouraged to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential activities, such as grocery shopping, getting gas, visiting convenience stores or pharmacies.
• The cloth facial coverings don’t have to be hospital grade but should cover the nose and mouth. Homemade masks, bandanas, scarves and neck gaiters are acceptable since these items can be washed and reused. Facial coverings don’t need to be used when people are at home.
• Effective, Saturday, April 4, all employees who may have contact with the public in any grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, convenience store, gas station, restaurant or other business establishment that serves food shall wear a cloth face covering as described in the California Department of Public Health Face Covering Guidance.
• All public parks and beaches shall close their parking lots.
• Law enforcement agencies throughout the region will be out making sure that people who are in public are conducting essential activities and to keep people from being out in groups, especially if they are not members of the same family or household.
• People who disobey the essential business guideline or who are in groups in public are subject to a misdemeanor ticket. Penalties can be up to a $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail.

For more information please visit the County News Center.

We appreciate your continued commitment to follow the County’s order and keep your employees and the public safe. If you have questions regarding this information, please contact our duty phone at 858-565-5173 or email at LWQDuty.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov.

For updated information about COVID-19, including resource documents such as frequently asked questions, informational posters, and guidance, please visit www.coronavirus-sd.com.

Sincerely,

Lars Seifert, Chief

Land & Water Quality Division

Department of Environmental Health