We are entering week seven from Governor Newson’s March 18 order requiring all California residents to stay at home or place of residence until further notice. Businesses and functions deemed essential to 16 federally-designated “critical infrastructure” sectors are excepted. The state is regularly updating “COVID Response – Stay Home Except for Essential Needs FAQs” for further guidance.

The governor has specified six indicators to warrant modification of the March 18 order:

• The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed;
• The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19;
• The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges;
• The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand;
• The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and
• The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

Since our April 17 listing, we count five more California counties and one city joining those which have implemented similar – and in many instances progressively stricter -- “Safer at Home,” “Shelter in Place” or “Stay Well at Home” orders.  Sutter and Yuba counties have  issued a joint order, effective May 4, phasing out their previous restrictions. To our knowledge, and as of May 1:

Thanks to our legal assistant Daniska Coronado for this continuing compilation. There appears to be no other attempted comprehensive statewide listing readily available online.

Perhaps there is good reason for this. We cannot confirm this collection is complete or will even still be current by the beginning of the coming week. As applies to your locale, please use the above links and other online resources for updates. Requirements of varying strictness continue to change frequently, municipality-by-municipality.

See also:

• The New Normal; Organizing or Post-Pandemic Workplace Revival (April 30, 2020)
• Are We Done Yet?; Workplace Return Planning (April 29, 2020)
• Thinking the Unthinkable; Workplace Return? (April 23, 2020)
• Keep It to Yourself; Essential Workers Must Cover Up and Stay Six Feet Apart (April 16, 2020)
• COVID-19 Safety Nets; Overview of CARES Act Small Business Loans (April 14, 2020)
• When the Show Must Go On; Key Protection for an Employee’s COVID-19 Diagnosis/ Symptoms (April 8, 2020)

For more information about these laws or other employment issues related to coronavirus, contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.

Tim Bowles
Daniska Coronado

May 1, 2020