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Tulare County has received approval from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to move forward in accelerated reopening under the statewide Stay-at-Home Order. Tulare County can now move fully into Stage Two of California’s Resilience Roadmap. On May 18, the Governor revised the process where counties who met specified criteria could move more quickly than other parts of the state through Stage Two of modifying the order.

“We are happy to announce that we have met the metrics set forth by State Public Health officials, allowing us to move forward in the reopening of all businesses within Stage Two,” stated Karen Elliott, Tulare County HHSA’s Public Health Director.

This includes allowing barbershops and hair salons to open following State modifications and guidance documents released this week. In addition, the CDPH has expanded the opening of faith-based services and in-store retail shopping, issuing guidelines earlier this week. Tulare County’s full COVID-19 Variance Attestation submission was posted on the CDPH website and can be viewed at https://covid19.tularecounty.ca.gov/.

Business and industry sectors within Stage Two will be allowed to resume operations once they have implemented the guidance provided by the CDPH. Businesses and employers can access the full list of permitted statewide industry guidance to reduce risk at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCoV2019.aspx#track-data.

In submitting the local county variance, the County Health Officer attested to various reopening criteria issued by the State Department of Public Health, including testing capacity, positivity rates of COVID-19 tests, hospitalization rates, hospital surge capacity, contact tracing, and more.

While the local variance approval allows Tulare County to accelerate fully into Stage Two, it does not allow for the reopening of nail salons or other higher-risk workplaces, such as entertainment venues, movie theaters, live sports audiences, concerts, conventions, or large gatherings.

As Tulare County begins to slowly reopen, public health officials continue urging residents to follow safety precautions in protecting our most vulnerable populations and those at high risk for severe illness from Covid-19.This includes: people over the age of 65, individuals with serious underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, or asthma, and individuals whose immune system is compromised.

In order to stay healthy and keep safe, those most vulnerable to COVID-19 should continue:

• Social Distancing: Continue to maintain space of at least 6 feet or greater between persons; avoid gatherings of any kind; practice physical distancing.
• Cloth Face Coverings: When outside the home, the wearing of cloth face coverings (masks) is strongly encouraged to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19 if someone is asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. Avoid touching your face and eyes.
• Hand Washing: Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer often.
• Disinfecting Surfaces: Regularly disinfect high-traffic surfaces to prevent transmission from droplets that may have settled on surfaces or have transferred to commonly used surfaces through touch.
• Stay Home If Sick or You Are Instructed to Isolate/Quarantine by a Medical or Public Health Professional: If you are sick or have been instructed to stay home by a medical professional, stay home. If possible, ask others to deliver needed supplies instead of going to the store. If you live with others, follow CDC guidance for caring for someone who is sick at home.