Business Sector Weekly Telebriefing Recap—7/22/20

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our weekly COVID-19 Business telebrief. A special thank you to our telebriefing guests, Gary S. Johnston, Chief Resilience Officer / Agency Representative, San Diego Office of Emergency Services, and Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, Deputy Public Health Officer, Public Health Services, Health and Human Services Agency, for joining us to help inform and answer questions for the community about important COVID-19 topics. ​

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT 
The County of San Diego has immediate openings for Temporary Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) that will be part of the new T3 (Test, Trace, & Treat) Program whose objective is to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Duties will involve providing skilled nursing care to individuals that are either COVID-19 confirmed, or that may exhibit symptoms. Click here to apply for the LVN position. 
 
The County of San Diego is also hiring Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) positions that will work under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed vocational nurses to assist with patient care. Click here to apply for the CNA position. 

To recap, we discussed the following highlights:  ​​

• It is important that employers are prepared to ensure the safety of staff, customers, and the community should an outbreak occur at their workplace. Highly recommend employers read this letter related to resources for responding to COVID-19 in the workplace.  
• See Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance about when employees can return to work after testing positive with COVID-19.  
• County of San Diego’s COVID-19 Trigger related to case rate, a state metric that has the County on the State’s County Monitoring list, is beyond the threshold rate of 100 cases per 100,000 population for a 14-day period. Currently, the case rate is 149.2 cases per 100,000, which increased since the 7/22/20 rate of 145.3 cases per 100,000.  
• The State Watch List ordered the County of San Diego to close indoor operations for certain sectors effective last Wednesday, 7/15/20, until further notice, which includes:  
  • Gyms and fitness centers 
  • Places of worship 
  • Personal care services, including nail salons and massage and tattoo parlors 
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Indoor malls 
  • Offices for non-essential sectors 
• On July 20th, guidance was released by the State for personal care services that can be provided outdoors, like hair, nail, and massage services, in counties that have been on the Monitoring List for 3 consecutive days.  
• Electrology, tattooing, and piercing services must not be provided in the outdoor setting because invasive procedures require a controlled hygienic environment to be performed safely. 

Followed by Questions asked from the community, and answers:  
Protocol for Essential Businesses that Never Closed 

• All essential businesses that allow members of the public to enter a facility must prepare and post a Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol. This should be reviewed with employees, but does not need to be submitted to the county for approval. See Page 3, Section 10 of the Public Health Order for more information. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Time Frame for the Restriction on Indoor Services of Hair Salons 

• We don’t currently have a timeframe on when the state will allow indoor services to reopen. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Outdoor Service Guidance for Hair Salons and Barbershops  

• Follow the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) formal guidance about outdoor operations. The State Board of Cosmetology guidance is in line with CDPH. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Indoor Mall and Retail Operations  

• No new restrictions were placed on retail stores. Big indoor malls that are enclosed must be closed. Stores in malls with exterior doors can stay open and be treated using retail store guidance. [Posted 7/22/20]   

Outdoor Mall Operation 

• ​Yes, stores in outdoor malls are able to operate. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Personal Care Services and Outdoor Operation 

• All personal care services can operate outside except electrology, tattooing and piercing services. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Employers Requiring Employees to Work In-person 

• For resources please visit Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Resources for Employers and Workers to view rights and protections for workers. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Requirement for Employer to Report Employee who Tested Positive for COVID-19  

• See Employer Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Medical Massages 

• Massage therapy in non-therapy setting permitted outdoors only. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Fitness Classes and Face Coverings 

• Right now indoor operations of fitness centers are closed. But prior state response to wearing a face covering while exercising was to wear a face covering when within 6ft away from the next person in the class or fitness center. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Why Indoor Youth Facilities, Dance Studios and Indoor Stores Are Open 

• State is focusing on businesses and activities where there are opportunities for gatherings and congregate settings. Youth sports are not permitted indoor or outdoors right now, but San Diego County allows youth sport day camps to be open with restrictions. [Posted 7/22/20] 

County Public Health Officer Decisions 

• The County Public Health Officer has flexibility in decisions, but is not allowed to be less restrictive than the state. The Public Health Order offers additional guidance where necessary. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Handling Employees and Non-Essential Travel  

• State and county guidance both say non-essential travel is highly discouraged. If teleworking it feasible for any employee, it is highly encouraged. County doesn’t require an employee to quarantine after domestic travel, but if individual travelled internationally to a Level 2 or 3 country, then quarantine is recommended. Consult HR about requirements for your business. [Posted 7/22/20] ​

Restaurant Operating Protocol 

• Restaurants must complete the San Diego Food Facility, Restaurant, Bar, Winery, Brewery Operating Protocol. When moving outdoors, review your Restaurant Operating Protocol and Safe Reopening Plan. It is recommended to have separate protocols for outdoor and indoor operations. See Page 3, Section 11 of Public Health Order for more guidance. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Wedding Ceremony Allowance 

• Wedding ceremonies are allowed outdoors with physical distancing. Wedding receptions are not allowed per the state. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Golf Tournament Allowance 

• Per state, not allowed because it could create a congregate setting. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Blood Test for to Test for COVID-19  

• ​The blood sample test is not the correct way to test for current COVID-19 positive cases, it is the way to test for COVID-19 antibodies. The nasal swab test is currently the only way to test for current COVID-19 cases. [Posted 7/22/20] 

Websites/Resources mentioned: 

• Resources for Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace 
• County of San Diego Triggers Dashboard 
• Safe Reopening Page 
• COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Hair Salon and Barbershop Services Provided Outdoors 
• COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Expanded Personal Care Services Provided Outdoors 
• Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Resources for Employers and Workers   
• Updated Public Health Order  
• COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol 
• Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol 
• Cal/OSHA Interim General Guidelines on Protecting Workers from COVID-19 
• Absence of Apparent Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Two Stylists After Exposure at a Hair Salon with a Universal Face Covering Policy 
• CDC Traveler’s Health Notices 
• Shop Safe Shop Local 

 
We will be meeting again on Wednesday, August 12th from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM. To request resources, ask questions, or address concerns, please contact COVID-Business@sdcounty.ca.gov. ​