Press release from the Humboldt County Joint Information Center:

The Office of the California Governor and California Department of Public Health issued COVID-19 safety guidance late this afternoon for additional business sectors, although these sectors have not yet been cleared to reopen locally.

Under California’s four-stage roadmap to reopening, the state issues guidance to help industry sectors understand how to reopen safely, while counties decide when businesses can reopen based on local COVID-19 conditions.

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich noted that the state strongly recommends no reopening of additional sectors until after June 12, in order to allow time to monitor for COVID-19 activity after the Memorial Day holiday and gathering due to protests.

“We all know how important reopening businesses is to our whole community. Our economy directly impacts the health and well-being of residents,” Dr. Frankovich said. “We are going to do this as quickly as possible, but with safety as our first priority.”

The Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is incorporating new guidance for 12 additional industry sectors into the county’s Business Reopening Plan process. The County Health Officer will determine the timeline for reopening each sector based on local COVID-19 conditions. If those conditions remain favorable, EOC-certified businesses in the following sectors are expected to be cleared for reopening in this order:

• Hair salons and barber shops – Reopening date expected to be announced Monday, June 8. Hair salons and barber shops with approved Business Reopening plans will receive EOC certificates in advance of the sector being cleared to open.
• Campgrounds, including RV parks – Reopening date expected to be announced in the middle of next week with a reopening anticipated at the end of next week.
• Hotels and lodging for leisure travel/tourism – after June 12
• Gyms – after June 12.

Dr. Frankovich pointed out that the county continues to follow a steady approach to reopening. “As we’ve said since shelter-in-place first took effect, every time we add activities or businesses for reopening, we increase the number of people moving and interacting throughout our community, which increases the chances for the virus to spread,” she said. “It is important to monitor the amount of disease activity so we know whether it is safe to continue moving forward or whether a pause is needed.”

Learn more about the Business Reopening process, including how to submit a plan, at humboldtgov.org/2756/Business-Compliance. For general information about COVID-19, please contact the Joint Information Center at 707-441-5000 or covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us.