Personal care services are not yet scheduled to open in Imperial County.
IMPERIAL COUNTY, CA – Last Friday, the California Department of Public Health released new guidance for activities protected by the First Amendment including religious services and the right to protest as well as guidance for personal care services. Although the guidelines for religious services and the right to protest will be implemented in Imperial County effective immediately, the County is still not permitted to open personal care services since it has not yet received a variance from the State.
According to the State guidance, indoor activities for religious services and the right to protest will remain at 25% of the building’s capacity, or up to 100 attendees, whichever is lower. The newest information provided by the State is that the maximum attendance requirements have been lifted for religious services and public protests when events are held outdoors. Attendance at such outdoor events should be limited naturally through the implementation of strict physical distancing measures of a minimum of six feet between attendees from different households. It is important to keep in mind that with the extreme summer temperatures in Imperial County, outdoor activities should only take place in the early morning or late evening/night-time hours, and participants should watch closely for evidence of heat-related illnesses in attendees. Temporary shelters of any kind are not permitted since these are contrary to the outdoor requirements.
Prior to engaging in any protected activity, organizers are asked to perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan, train employees and volunteers on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, implement individual control measures and screenings, as well as disinfecting protocols and physical distancing guidelines. Event organizers can find more information about the guidance by visiting the website at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Guidance.aspx.
Examples of a written workplace-specific plan for places of worship or religious services and businesses, in general, can be found at www.icphd.org.
Imperial County remains in Stage 2 – Lower Risk under the Roadmap to Recovery mandated by guidelines established in the California Resilience Roadmap by Governor Gavin Newsom.
For information on COVID-19, please visit the Imperial County Public Health Department website at www.icphd.org or contact the COVID-19 Information Line at 442-265-6700.