Placer County reminds would-be visitors that non-essential travel to Lake Tahoe still under state's orders

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With Placer County’s local health order expiring May 2, county officials and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association are reminding would-be-visitors that while they are preparing now for when North Tahoe reopens, that date still depends on the state’s timeline for loosening physical distancing requirements.

“While we are preparing for the day when we can again welcome our visitors, we need to move forward on the path to reopen in a way that ensures public safety, health and overall economic security,” said District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. “We can’t afford to undo all the community has done to flatten the curve and support our small healthcare system.”

The following guidelines are still in effect under the state stay-at-home order:

Nonessential business -- The state order is still in place until further notice and only exempts activity as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors.

Lodging -- Under the governor’s March 19 Executive Order, which remains in effect until further notice, lodging is not on the list of allowed essential business operations. These restrictions apply to the commercial use of short-term rentals. Exceptions include accommodations for COVID-19 mitigation or containment measures, or to house COVID-19 essential workers.

Travel -- Traveling between different communities contributes to the spread of disease and the burden on small hospital systems.

The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and senior officials from Placer County are proactively engaged with business industries and stakeholders to identify a clear and safe path to reopening. The region is reliant on tourism and much of their workforce has been laid off as a result of the pandemic.

“While we are excited for the day the region can reopen, we are asking visitors, including those who want to come up for a day trip, to wait a little longer,” stated Jeffrey Hentz, CEO of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Chamber of Commerce. “As we navigate this new chapter, our business community is working tirelessly behind the scenes to usher in a reopened North Tahoe, when the timing is right. We are hopeful that will happen in time for our summer season but also need to ensure the curve stays flattened.”

Placer County’s health officer announced April 29 that she would allow her local health order to expire May 2, but emphasized that the state’s stay-at-home order remains in effect in Placer and throughout the state until further notice.