As Santa Clara County continued to show an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, the gradual loosening of restrictions on personal and business activities was halted, and then reversed through a series of State and County actions.
Return to Purple Tier
Having been poised to re-enter the Red Tier of restrictions, Santa Clara County joined most of the rest of California in going all the way back to Purple. Based on the recent upward trend in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Santa Clara County moved back into the Purple Tier (Tier One), the most restrictive tier in the State’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy.” The changes were effective at 12:01 am on November 17, 2020. Under the Purple Tier, the following businesses and activities are prohibited from operating indoors: dining, gatherings (including movie showings, political events, weddings, funerals, and places of worship), gyms and fitness facilities, family entertainment centers, cardrooms, museums, zoos, and aquariums. These businesses and activities may proceed outdoors only.
The County’s new Mandatory Directive on Capacity Limitations describe the additional capacity limitations for businesses, entities, and activities under the Purple Tier.
Additional information from the County on the Purple Tier requirements:
As always, Santa Clara County residents and businesses must follow both the State and County Health Officer Orders, and where there is a conflict between the two, the stricter Order must be followed.
Temporary curfew
On November 19th, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health announced a new “Limited Stay At Home Order” for all Purple tier counties throughout California. The order takes effect at 10 p.m. this Saturday, November 21 and will remain in effect until 5 a.m. Monday, December 21.
It prohibits non-essential work and gatherings from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in an effort to reduce opportunities for COVID-19 transmission and flatten the curve.
What This Means For Businesses
- Non-essential work and gatherings must stop from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Santa Clara County, starting Saturday, Nov. 21 and continuing for one month.
- You can pick up take out from restaurants after 10 p.m.
- The curfew does not apply to those activities associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure or required by law. Consult this webpage for what constitutes essential business activity - https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/
- The curfew means that all non-essential businesses must close early enough to allow customers and employees to be back at home by 10 p.m. This will require closure BEFORE 10 p.m.
- Non-essential businesses in Downtown San José that had been allowed to stay open until 12 a.m. must also comply with this curfew, closing before 10 p.m. as described above.
What This Means For Residents
- Gatherings are not allowed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. starting Saturday, November 21 at 10 p.m.
- This applies to gatherings with other households and any activities that happen outside your residence.
- People are free to leave their residence as long as they do not interact with people from other households.
- Does not apply to people experiencing homelessness.
- This Stay at Home Order does not apply to those activities associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure or required by law, for instance, an individual can go to an open grocery store after 10 p.m. Consult this webpage for what constitutes essential activity - https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/
County Business & Compliance Enforcement Team.
For two months, the County of Santa Clara Business and Compliance Enforcement Team has been responding to complaints of business that are not complying with the County’s Social Distancing Protocols. The Team is focusing on businesses that ignore educational outreach and continue to operate un-safely. So far, the County’s Business Engagement Team, has visited more than 10,000 businesses.
The County will enforce the rules for serious, repeat and willful violations and after a business has refused fix the problem.
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