Some businesses in San Mateo County ordered to change their operations

They must perform work outside or offer pickup services, state says

Some indoor businesses and public activities must cease operations unless they can be modified to work outside or by offering pickup services to help contain the coronavirus, the state told San Mateo County officials Saturday.

The order, which took effect at midnight Sunday, was in response to the county being on a state COVID-19 monitoring list for more than three days, according to a statement the county posted on its website.

The order affects shopping malls, gyms and fitness centers; places of worship and where cultural ceremonies take place, such as weddings and funerals; offices for noncritical infrastructure; and locations for personal care services, like nail salons, body waxing, hair salons and barbershops.

Shops that offer tattoos, piercings and electrolysis may not operate outdoors and must close.

Business owners and managers are urged to visit the state website at covid.ca.gov for industry guidance.

State officials put San Mateo County on the state watch list, which is used to monitor areas showing troubling signs of the coronavirus spread, on Wednesday.

The county — the last place in the region where people could visit hair salons and work out in gyms — was added to the list after exceeding the state’s threshold for rising cases and hospitalizations.

At least 38 of California’s 58 counties were on the watch list as of Wednesday, stalling economic reopenings for the vast majority of California’s 40 million residents.

Information about San Mateo County’s response to COVID-19 is at smcgov.org.