The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced the state will move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, allowing businesses to return to usual operations (with limited exceptions for Mega Events), effective June 15, 2021.
As Californians get vaccinated, the state is on track to “fully reopen” on June 15, 2021. On May 21, 2021, the CDPH announced that California will move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy by June 15, 2021. Beginning that day, all sectors listed in the current Blueprint Activities and Business Tiers Chart may return to “usual operations” with limited exceptions, with the following general health recommendations:
- No capacity limitations
- No physical distancing limitation for attendees, customers, and guests who are fully vaccinated
- Face mask requirements to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guidance and CDPH’s Guidance for Face Coverings[1]
- Travel restrictions to follow the CDC Recommendations and the CDPH's Travel Advisory, both of which recommend being fully vaccinated before resuming domestic travel
- Verification of fully vaccinated status or pre-entry negative test result will be required to attend “Indoor Mega Events” (those with crowds of greater than 5,000 attendees in indoor venues). For “Outdoor Mega Events” (those with crowds of greater than 10,000 attendees in outdoor venues), verification of fully vaccinated status or pre-entry negative test result will be strongly recommended, and attendees who do not verify vaccination status should be asked to wear face coverings.
Employers should monitor and review the directives in the local jurisdictions in which they operate and adhere to more restrictive measures. Employers should also monitor the latest developments with the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).[2]
[1] On May 17, 2021, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary announced that the state will update its face mask guidance to align with the CDC’s recent guidance, effective June 15, 2021, while noting that fully vaccinated individuals still have the option to wear a face mask if they choose. As a result, the CDPH’s Guidance for Face Coverings (last updated May 3, 2021) should be updated by June 15, 2021, to align with the CDC’s guidance. Once California’s new guidance to align with the CDC’s guidance becomes effective, California businesses will be permitted to allow fully vaccinated employees to stop wearing masks indoors and in most outdoor settings, and to stop practicing social distancing.
[2] On May 20, 2021, the Cal/OSHA board delayed proposed “readoption” of the ETS in light of the new guidance the CDC issued on May 13, 2021. The Cal/OSHA board plans to conduct an emergency public meeting on June 3, 2021 to consider updated proposed language that Cal/OSHA will post publicly by May 28, 2021.
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