State issues guidance for private gatherings

Up to three households can congregate outside for two hours

In a preemptive strike with the holidays around the corner and Californians aching to host or attend gatherings, state health officials have released new guidelines for how those events can and should take place.

Marking a departure from a previous declaration that private gatherings of any size shouldn’t be allowed, state officials now say up to three households may congregate at a time outdoors.

The new guidance, released by the California Department of Public Health on Friday, allows outdoor private gatherings of up to three separate households provided masks and certain social distancing protocols are met. Indoor gatherings with people outside of an immediate household are still strongly discouraged.

The new guidance does not apply to religious or cultural gather-

ings otherwise specified in the state’s reopening blueprint.

Even as the guidance allows for more socializing than before, Gov. Gavin Newsom stressed during a press briefing Monday that people should remain vigilant and not let their guard down against getting or spreading COVID-19.

“That does not mean people should now rush back to their original form,” Newsom said, referring to the pre- pandemic days. “…We are entering into the holidays — and also part of the year where things cool down and people are more likely to congregate indoors and in settings that put their physical proximity and the likelihood of transmitting the disease at higher risk.”

As of Monday, California had recorded more

than 856,000 coronavirus cases and more than 16,500 deaths related to the disease, according to state health data compiled by this news organization.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the purpose of the new guidelines is “not say it’s a good idea or appropriate to gather with three families but to really say, more than three households, you really are increasing your risk.”

Up until Friday, state health officials had repeatedly said gatherings were not permitted “unless otherwise specified” in the state’s sector- by-sector guidelines. And even now, the guidance restricts gatherings to twohours periods held outside, during which everyone should still wear face coverings unless they take them off “briefly” to eat or drink.

Because activities such as singing, chanting and shouting can cause respiratory droplets to travel longer distances and therefore increase the risk of spreading COVID-19, state health officials strongly discourage them at gatherings. People at a higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 — such as older adults and those with preexisting medical conditions — are urged to stay home, along with anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Californians should also keep socializing with the same household bubbles and ensure they know the names and contact information for each person gathered in case someone gets COVID-19 and everyone who came into contact with them needs to be traced.

Still, it wasn’t immediately clear how the guidance will affect some local jurisdictions’ reopening plans; throughout the pandemic, state and local officials have made clear that whichever rules are more restrictive should apply.