South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County can move ahead in reopening phase

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - California Governor Gavin Newsom has given El Dorado County the go-ahead to move fully into Stage 2 of the reopening phases. They joined Butte County to became the first two counties in the state to be allowed to move forward.

While businesses can start to reopen, there is still a statewide ban on nonessential travel. Second-home owners are still asked to respect that order and come to South Lake Tahoe to check their homes, or quarantine upon arrival. Vacation rentals are still not allowed in this stage.

The County's Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams said once people start traveling to multiple areas, and back and forth from primary homes to secondary homes, the chance for the spread of COVID-19 grows.

It was determined the two counties met the criteria needed to increase this pace they are allowed to advance through the roadmap to reopening and modification of the Stay-at-Home order.

This allows all businesses included in Stage 2 to open as soon as they have their COVID-19 protection plans in place.

“It’s a good day for El Dorado County, its residents, and its economy,” said El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Chair Brian Veerkamp. “We’re very happy for our business owners, their employees, and patrons that we are in the front of the State’s approval line so they can re-establish their livelihood and return to some semblance of normalcy.”

Dr. Williams submitted the County’s Attestation letter and supporting documents on Saturday, May 9 demonstrating that the County meets the criteria to fully reopen the businesses and facilities listed in Stage 2. CDPH needed to post the letter online as the final step to approval for early opening, which it did this morning, as well as publishing guidelines for this full phase of Stage 2 business and facilities.

“As soon as businesses and facilities have implemented a safety plan reflecting those guidelines, they can open,” said Williams.

The businesses and industries that may open in El Dorado County immediately upon having implemented their safety plans include (links to the State guidelines below):

• Dine-in restaurants
• Limited services (laundromats, dry cleaners, other laundry services, auto repair shops, car washes, landscapers, pet grooming, and dog walking)
• Outdoor museums and galleries
• Shopping centers & all in-store retail
• All office-based workplaces
• All manufacturing industries supporting retail
• All logistics industries supporting retail
• Stage 1 Sectors

In a press conference today, Governor Newsom said this list may be periodically expanded if the State Public Health Officer deems it to be in the interest of public health and safety.