State Health & Emergency Officials Release Guidance to Prevent the Transmission of COVID-19 in Food and Beverage Venues

Guidance outlines steps restaurants, bars, wineries, food trucks, grocery stores, and farmers' markets should take to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

All guidance is consolidated in one place on the California Department of Public Health website.

SACRAMENTO – Today California officials issued guidance regarding retail food, beverage and other service venues. These venues bring people from multiple communities into close contact with each other and have the potential to increase the transmission of COVID-19.

"These are aggressive, but necessary actions to protect our communities," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "We all have a role to play when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19. These establishments that are remaining open should think creatively about how they can continue to provide services to the community. Shifting operations to focus on pick up and delivery options should be prioritized."

The guidance will protect individuals attending and working at these venues and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community

Retail Beverage Service Venues:

• Bars, wineries, breweries and pubs should be closed, except for venues that are currently authorized to provide off sale beer and wine to be consumed off premises are allowed.
• This guidance is not intended to affect production of beer and wine.  

• Bars, breweries, pubs, and wineries that include meals provided by a full kitchen should follow the restaurant guidance below if they provide delivery or pick-up options.
  

Restaurants/Cafeterias:

• Restaurants should be closed for in-restaurant seated dining and should be open only to drive-through or other pick-up/delivery options.
• Remind employees of best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Increase frequency of cleaning and sanitizing per CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection guidance of all hard surfaces, including tables and counter tops that are being utilized by employees and patrons during pickup/delivery options.
  

Food Trucks:

• Increase frequency of cleaning of menus, cash registers, receipt trays, condiment holders, writing instruments and other non-food contact surfaces frequently touched by patrons and employees.
• Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate together, stand in line together, etc.
• Limiting the number of people in lines.
  
• Increase frequency of cleaning and sanitizing per CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection guidance of all hard surfaces.
• Remind employees of best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Grocery Stores and Charitable Food Distribution Sites

• The food distribution chain is critical to the public's health.
• Grocery stores and charitable food distribution sites should remain fully open and operational.
• As with other settings, ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for nonfamily members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
  
• Social distancing of six feet per person, particularly between individuals who have come together on a one-time or rare basis.
• Limiting the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
• Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
• Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Additional opportunities throughout the venue for persons to reduce the spread of the virus through hand washing or sanitizing stations.
• Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
• Stores that have online ordering with outside pick-up or delivery options should encourage use of these when possible in lieu of indoor shopping.

Certified Farmers' Markets

• Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
• Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
• Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
• Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
• Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.
• Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
• Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
• Suspend sampling activities.
• Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
• Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
• At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.
• If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment. 
  

The full guidance is available here.

California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on California Department of Public Health's Guidance page.

For more information on COVID-19 and California's response visit the California Department of Public Health's website.

COVID-19 in California by the Numbers (as of 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on March 15, 2020):

6 – Deaths (including one non-California resident)

392 – Positive cases

Ages of all confirmed positive cases:

• Age 0-17:  6 cases
• Age 18-64: 246 cases
• Age 65+: 135 cases
• Unknown: 5 cases

24 – Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights

368 – Cases not related to repatriation flights

• 75 – Travel-related
• 75 – Person to person
• 80 – Community transmission
• 138 – Under investigation

11,700+ – Number of people self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through SFO or LAX
49 – Number of local health jurisdictions involved in self-monitoring
22 – Labs with test kits, 21 of which are already testing

How Can People Protect Themselves
Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense: 

• Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
• Practice social distancing.
• Following guidance from public health officials.

All Community Guidance released from CDPH:
The California Department of Public Health has consolidated state guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 in a single location. This includes guidance for:

• Adult and Senior Care Facilities
• Community Care Facilities, Including Assisted Living Facilities and Child Care
• People at Risk for Serious Illness
• Self-Isolation for Older Adults and Those Who Have Elevated Risk
• Drinking Water, Recreational Water and Wastewater
• Employers, Health Care Workers and Workers in General Industry
• Entertainment Venues
• First Responders, Including Paramedics and EMTs
• Food Industry
• Event and Gathering Guidance
• Homeless Assistance Providers
• Individuals with Access or Functional Needs
• Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans
• Health Care Facilities from Cal/OSHA
• Health Care Facilities, Including Long-Term Care Facilities
• Health Care Plans
• Coverage Options
• Home Cleaning with COVID-19 Positive Individuals
• Laboratories
• Schools and Institutions of Higher Education
• Long-Term Care and Adult and Senior Care Facilities

What to Do if You Think You're Sick:
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

California's Response to COVID-19:
We have been actively and extensively planning with our local public health and health care delivery systems. Here are some of the things we are already doing:  

• As in any public health event, our Medical and Health Coordination Center has been activated and is coordinating response efforts across the state and preparing for possible community transmission. 
• In coordination with the CDC, state and local health departments, we are actively responding to cases of COVID-19. 
• The Public Health Department is supporting hospitals and local public health laboratories in the collection of specimens and testing for COVID-19. 
• California activated the State Operations Center to its highest level to coordinate response efforts across the state. 
• Governor Gavin Newsom requested the Legislature make up to $20 million available for state government to respond to the spread of COVID-19. 
• California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering facepiece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment. 
•  We are providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, elder care and congregate living facilities and childcare facilities across California. 
• California obtained approval to provide meal service during school closures to minimize potential exposure to the coronavirus. These meals are available at no cost to low-income children – and are not required to be served in a group setting – to ensure kids receive nutritious meals while schools are temporarily closed. 
• The state directed mass gatherings be postponed or cancelled to slow the spread of the virus. 
• The Franchise Tax Board is providing a 90-day extension to file California tax returns for taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• CalTrans launched a statewide educational campaign on more than 700 electronic highway signs, urging all Californians to be more diligent about containing the spread of the virus.  
• The state is allowing local and state legislative bodies to hold meetings via conference calls while still meeting state transparency requirements.  
• The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency released guidance for homeless assistance providers in the state. 
• The California Department of Public Health is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases, quarantine of returning travelers.  
• In coordination with state and local health departments, we have actively managed suspect and confirmed cases of COVID-19 patients. 
• California worked in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of 962 Californians from the Grand Princess cruise ship. This mission centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that when the passengers disembarked, the public health of the United States, the State of California, and partner communities was protected. 
• 24 million more Californians are now eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing. 
• The state is taking aggressive social distancing steps - bars, night clubs, breweries and wine tasting rooms should close and restaurants should focus on food delivery and takeout while maximizing social distancing for those who are inside their restaurant. 
• California released guidance for older Californians (65+) to socially isolate in their homes.  
• The state is providing safe, wrap around services to vulnerable residents who are isolating at home – ramping up existing meal delivery and home visiting services  
• The California Employee Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim. Californians unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member can file a Paid Family Leave claim.  
• The Governor removed the waiting period for unemployment and disability insurance for Californians who lose work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.  
•  EDD is also encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program.  
• The Governor declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19.  
• The California Department of Public Health's state laboratory in Richmond and 20 other public health department laboratories now have tests for the virus that causes COVID-19.