​Sierra County receives approval from State to reopen Stage 2 Businesses

On May 13, 2020, the State of California approved Sierra County’s Local Variance Attestation, which allows the county to consider increasing the pace at which they advance through Stage 2 of California’s roadmap to modify the Stay-at-Home Order. To see the variance go to the state website at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Local-VarianceAttestations.aspx or our local website at https://www.sierracounty.ca.gov/variance. The state determines which businesses will open in each stage. The following Stage 2 businesses are now allowed to open with modifications: • All retail business to on site sales (in store) including swap meets andmalls • Personal services, limited to: car washes, pet grooming, tanning facilities and landscape gardening • Office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged) • Dine in restaurants (bars and gaming areas, notpermitted) • Outdoor museums and open gallery spaces • Home Childcare providers (schools and preschools remain closed at this time) All businesses must have a written plan to mitigate COVID-19 transmission risks. Sierra County has developed a template for businesses, COVID-19 Reopening Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to guide them. The COVID-19 Reopening MOU needs to be submitted to the County for approval and be accessible to all employees and county officials if requested. The COVID-19 Reopening MOU template is located on the county website: https://www.sierracounty.ca.gov/BusinessReopeningPlan. It is unknown at this time how long Stage 2 may last or when we will be able to safely and legally re- open Stage 3 businesses. The State has made it very clear that any county that moves into Stage 3 without the state’s approval may jeopardize receipt of state funding. Sierra County is already working on a plan to move to Stage 3 as soon as the state allows. Being able to safely and legally re-open Stage 3 businesses will be a community effort. Please continue to stay strong and maintain social distancing, practice good hygiene, wear face coverings in public when maintaining 6 feet of separation from others is not possible, and minimize going into public.