Offices, strip malls can reopen with changes, Gov. Newsom says

Butte and El Dorado are only counties that can go further

Offices and several other businesses may reopen in California with modifications, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday, as part of the latest rollback of shelter-inplace restrictions.

The loosening allows office-based businesses to reopen if they follow physical distancing and other guidelines. Strip malls and outlet malls may also reopen for pickup services, along with pet grooming and car washing businesses.

However, Butte and El

Dorado counties remain the only counties that have posted attestations allowing them to move further into the second phase of reopening.

And Newsom emphasized that stricter local county ordinances still take precedence over his order.

“The statewide order affords the opportunity for local governments to conform with those guidelines, but one can choose — a region like the Bay Area and its six counties — can choose to be a little bit more prescriptive and restrictive,” Newsom said.

His office has been in touch with 27 counties about attestations, Newsom said, and has had “deep” discussions with four. By the end of the day Tuesday, he was expecting another two to join Butte and El Dorado.

As part of the loosening, Newsom released new guidelines for restaurants that plan to reopen dine-in services in the weeks ahead, which include guidance around screening, cleaning and disinfecting protocols and employee training.

Newsom acknowledged the pressure on the restaurant industry, which has been rocked by the economic fallout from the pandemic.

“You’re already running on low margins to begin with. I’m not naive about any of this … I’m deeply concerned,” Newsom said.