Press release from the Humboldt County Joint Information Center:

Hotels, short term-rentals and personal care services, including nail salons, tattoo parlors and massage studios, can begin reopening as soon as Friday, June 19, with certification from the Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich noted that these sectors are at higher risk for COVID-19 transmission, which increases the importance of state-required safety measures as businesses reopen.

“Places like nail salons, piercing shops and massage studios require close physical contact, often face-to-face, and hotels and other types of lodging bring non-residents and possibly more virus exposure into our county,” Dr. Frankovich said. “Guidance from the state outlines strategies to reduce risk, but it takes everyone working together to protect our community from an increase in virus transmission.”

Hotels, Lodging and Short-Term Rentals

Lodging has been allowed for essential workers and essential travel throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health Officer issued updated travel guidance on Friday, June 12, to allow for non-essential and leisure travel, which permits hotels, lodging and short-term rentals to book tourists and other out-of-county travelers once a facility has been certified by the EOC.

Many facilities have already submitted a reopening plan based on the state’s initial sector guidance. The state has now revised that guidance, and updates have been incorporated into the local business reopening process. Hotels that have already submitted a plan do not need to resubmit. Members of the EOC Review Team will reach out directly to communicate about any additional state requirements. Those businesses that have not yet submitted a plan are required to do so prior to reopening.

Short-term rental operators who have already submitted a plan must resubmit to meet additional state requirements. All short-term rental operators who have not yet submitted a plan must do so prior to reopening.

In addition to state requirements, all hotels and lodging facilities must reserve 25% capacity to plan for the possibility that a guest will require isolation or quarantine on-site. Short-term rental operators should ensure that booking and cancellation policies allow for a guest who becomes ill to remain on-site until they have been cleared from isolation. Each facility will also need to designate a caretaker to be on call at all times to monitor and adhere to COVID industry guidance and for any COVID-related issues.

Additional requirements are included in the “Hotels and Lodging” and “Short-Term Rentals” Reopening Plan forms at this link, which will be available by noon on Tuesday, June 16.

Personal Care Services

The personal care services sector applies to esthetician, skin care, and cosmetology services, electrology, nail salons, body art professionals, tattoo parlors, piercing shops and massage therapy.

Both the worker and customer should wear facial coverings throughout the appointment per the local Order of the Health Officer. Providing services that require customers to remove facial coverings puts workers at increased risk, and businesses should consider not offering these types of services. If offered, workers are strongly encouraged to use a medical grade mask such as a procedural or surgical mask in addition to all of the other safety measures in place. N95 masks should be reserved for medical personnel.

Additional requirements are included in the “Personal Care Services” Reopening Plan form at this link.

Learn more about the business reopening process, including how to submit a plan, at this link. Anyone with questions can call the Joint Information Center at 707-441-5000 or email covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us.

For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org.