Industry guidance to reduce risk

Use the Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening to help plan and prepare for reopening your business.

All businesses and facilities must follow the items listed here before reopening: 

1. Scroll down this page to find the guidance for your industry, business, event, or activity.
2. Review it completely.
3. Perform a detailed risk assessment and create a worksite-specific protection plan.
4. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. This includes how to screen themselves for symptoms and when to stay home.
5. Set up individual control measures and screenings.
6. Put disinfection protocols in place.
7. Establish physical distancing guidelines. 
8. Establish universal face covering requirements (with allowed exceptions). See CDPH’s guidance for the use of face coverings.
9. Post your completed checklist so everyone can know the steps you’ve taken. Feel free to add more safety measures to the ones included in your industry’s guidance.

Follow this guidance for the agriculture and livestock industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the agriculture and livestock industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Shared transportation in agriculture

Shared transportation is common in agriculture. Employers may provide shared transportation for workers. Workers may arrange a carpool to and from the worksite. Check the additional considerations for shared transportation in agriculture to support a safe, clean environment for passengers and drivers.

Follow this guidance for amusement parks and theme parks. This guidance also applies to fairs. Review the guidance and prepare a plan to support a safe, clean environment for workers and visitors. 

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

• Admissions, entry, and security
• Rides and attractions
• Interactive exhibits and attractions

Follow this guidance for the automobile dealerships and rental operators industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the automobile dealerships and rental operators industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Outdoor only with modifications
• Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Substantial (red)

• Outdoor only with modifications
• Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 25%
• Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 50%
• Racetracks may resume training and competition without live audiences, subject to approval by county public health officers

Outdoor operations of cardrooms and satellite wagering facilities

• Follow this guidance for outdoor operations of cardrooms and satellite wagering facilities to support a safer environment for workers and patrons.
• Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for outdoor cardrooms and satellite wagering in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Cardrooms, satellite wagering facilities, and racetracks with onsite wagering

• Follow this guidance for cardrooms, racetracks, and satellite wagering to support a safer environment for workers and patrons.
• Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for cardrooms, racetracks, and satellite wagering in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow the guidance for the childcare industry to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for childcare in your facility to show employees and families that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for operation.

• Follow the guidance related to cohorts of children and youth.
• See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohorts and waivers for childcare providers.
• Follow the case and contact management guidance related to cohorts for childcare facilities.

A cohort is a stable group of no more than 14 children or youth and no more than two supervising adults in a supervised environment. The group stays together for all activities, including meals and recreation. And this group avoids contact with anyone not in their group.

Kids and adults in supervised care environments must be in groups as small as possible. Kids and supervising adults in one group must not physically interact with:

• Kids and supervising adults in other groups
• Other facility staff
• Parents of kids in other groups

Practicing a cohort structure:

• Decreases opportunities for exposure to or transmission of the virus
• Facilitates more efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive case
• Allows for targeted testing, quarantine, and isolation of a single group instead of an entire population of kids and supervising adults

The guidance related to cohorts of children and youth sets minimum guidelines for providing specialized, targeted support services, necessary in-person child supervision and limited instruction, and facilitation of distance learning in small group environments in ways that maintain the focus on health and safety to minimize transmission. This guidance enables schools to provide specialized services for students with disabilities and English learners, and in-person support for at-risk and high-need students. 

• See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohort guidance in K-12 school settings.
• See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohorts and waivers for childcare providers.
• Follow the case and contact management guidance related to cohorts for childcare facilities. 

Local educational agencies, nonprofits, or other authorized providers must follow the guidance for cohorts of children and youth in controlled, supervised and indoor environments. These environments include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Public and private schools
• Licensed and license-exempt childcare settings 
• Organized and supervised care environments, like “distance learning hubs”
• Recreation programs
• Before and after school programs
• Youth groups
• Day camps

Guidance and directives related to schools, childcare, day camps, and youth sports are not superseded by this guidance for cohorts of children and youth and still apply to those specified settings.

Follow this guidance for the communications infrastructure industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the communications infrastructure industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for the construction industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the construction industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for day camps to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for day camps in your facility to show employees, campers, and families that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for operation. Follow the guidance related to cohorts of children and youth.

Follow this guidance for the delivery services industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the delivery services industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for the energy and utilities industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the energy and utilities industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for family friendly practices for employers to keep employees safe and be responsive to their needs in order to ensure continued productivity. As workplaces reopen, employees will require both child care supports and workplace flexibility. Work-life balance policies will become even more important and continued investment in family-friendly workplace policies by employers is critical.

Follow this guidance for facilities that process or pack meat, dairy, or produce to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for facilities that process or pack meat, dairy or produce in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Outdoor only with modifications
• Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
  • Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential

Substantial (red)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 10%
• Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
  • Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential
• Climbing walls can open

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 25%
• Indoor pools can open
• Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
• Climbing walls can open

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 50%
• Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms can open
• Climbing walls can open

Follow this guidance for gyms and fitness centers, including yoga and dance studios, to support a safe, clean environment for workers, customers, and the public.

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

• Communal restrooms and shower facilities
• Swimming pools and aquatic venues

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for gyms and fitness centers in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

One-on-one personal fitness training

A gym can offer personal training for only one person at a time (no more than a total of one trainer and one client permitted at a time per business premises). Follow the guidance for limited services when providing one-on-one personal fitness training.

Follow this guidance for hair salons and barbershops to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for hair salons in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Closed for indoor lectures and student gatherings
• Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open

Substantial (red)

• Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
• Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity
• Conduct student activities virtually when possible

Moderate (orange)

• Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less
• Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity
• Conduct student activities virtually when possible

Minimal (yellow)

• Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 50%
• Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity
• Conduct student activities virtually when possible

This interim guidance for institutions of higher education provides guidelines to help institutions and their communities plan and prepare to resume in-person instruction. It includes interim guidance for collegiate athletics to help plan for and prepare to resume training and competition. Review the guidance and prepare a plan to reduce the risk and support a safer environment for students, faculty, workers, and families.

Spectators of college sports 

Spectators of outdoor college sports permitted by the guidance for outdoor live events and performances are allowed. 

Beginning April 15, 2021, spectators of indoor college sports will be permitted. This guidance is forthcoming. Learn about the upcoming changes by looking at Indoor Seated Live Events and Performances in CDPH’s activity and business tiers table. The interim guidance for institutions of higher education is being updated to include these changes.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Open with modifications
• Fitness centers can be open outdoors only with modifications
• Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms must close
  • Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential

Substantial (red)

• Open with modifications
• Fitness centers can open to 10% capacity
• Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
  • Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential

Moderate (orange)

• Open with modifications
• Fitness centers can open to 25% capacity
• Indoor pools can open
• Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close

Minimal (yellow)

• Open with modifications
• Fitness centers can open to 50% capacity
• Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms can open

Follow this guidance for hotels and short-term lodging rentals support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers.

This guidance includes additional considerations for:

• Short-term rental units
• Swimming pools and aquatic venues

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for hotels, lodging, and short-term lodging rentals in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for the life sciences industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the life sciences industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for limited services to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. A limited service is one that generally does not require close contact. Examples include:

• Laundromats
• Dry cleaners
• Auto repair shops
• Car washes
• Landscapers
• Door-to-door services and sales
• Pet grooming
• Dog walking
• One-on-one personal fitness training (no more than a total of one trainer and one client permitted at a time per business premises)

This guidance also applies to:

• Residential and janitorial cleaning services
• HVAC services
• Appliance repair
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Mechanical tradespersons
• Handypersons
• General contractors

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for limited services in your workplace to show clients and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

This guidance is not intended for:

• In-home healthcare, other in-home care, or assisted living
• Services that require close customer contact, including:
  • Hair salons
  • Barbershops
  • Nail salons
  • Massage parlors
  • Estheticians
  • Ear piercing
  • Tattoo parlors

See guidance for hair salons and barbershops and guidance for personal care services.

Faith-based counseling can reopen within the following parameters:

1. Counseling services are permissible in-person where the service cannot reasonably be practiced remotely;
2. Counseling services should adopt state guidance on Limited Services, where applicable;
3. This designation does not permit gatherings beyond counseling to members of a single household.

Outdoor

Follow this guidance for outdoor live events, entertainment, and performances with seated audiences.

Indoor – effective April 15, 2021

Beginning April 15, 2021, follow this guidance for indoor live events, entertainment, and performances with seated audiences.

Review the guidance and prepare a plan to support a safe, clean environment for workers, performers, volunteers, and patrons.

The guidance for indoor and outdoor live events and performances does not apply to convention-style events, general admission venues, and events where the central activity allows patrons to move around shared space.

Performances that take place in non-performance venues (like restaurants, bars, or places of worship) must also follow that type of venue’s industry guidance.

Follow this guidance for businesses operating in the logistics/warehousing industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post  the checklist for the logistics/warehousing industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for the manufacturing industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the manufacturing industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Follow this guidance for the mining and logging industries to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the mining and logging industries in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Movie theaters

Tier status

Widespread (purple): Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity limited to 50%

Follow this guidance for movie theaters to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance includes additional considerations for indoor movie theaters and drive-in movie theaters. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for movie theaters in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Family entertainment centers

The interim capacity limits below are effective April 2, 2021. The guidance is in the process of being updated. Check CDPH’s activity and business tiers table for more information about these changes.

Tier status

Widespread (purple): Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red): Outdoor only with modifications

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity limited to 25%
• If all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination, 50% capacity is allowed
• 100% masking except for food and beverage service
• Food and beverage consumption must be restricted to designated areas separated from activity areas
• Service of alcohol without meals must follow bar guidance (outdoor only)

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity limited to 50%
• If all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination, 75% capacity is allowed
• 100% masking except for food and beverage service
• Food and beverage consumption must be restricted to designated areas separated from activity areas

Follow this guidance for family entertainment centers, like bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, and arcades, to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for family entertainment centers in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Outdoor playgrounds

Outdoor playgrounds can open with modifications in all tiers. See requirements for outdoor playgrounds to keep them safe and fun for everyone.

Tier status

Widespread (purple): Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red)

• Indoor with modifications
• Indoor activities must be limited to 25% of capacity

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Indoor activities must be limited to 50% of capacity

Minimal (yellow): Indoor with modifications

Follow this guidance for zoos, museums, galleries, botanical gardens, aquariums, and other similar spaces to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for zoos, museums, galleries, and aquariums in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

This industry can open with modifications. Music, TV, and film production may resume, subject to approval by county public health officers. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers must abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Live audiences are not allowed. Back office staff and management must follow the guidance for office workspaces.

Tier status

Widespread (purple): Remote work

Substantial (red): Remote work

Moderate (orange): Indoor with modifications, encourage telework

Minimal (yellow): Indoor with modifications, encourage telework

Follow this guidance for office workspaces to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for office workspaces in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Faith-based office workspaces can reopen within the following parameters:

1. Faith-based facilities are considered “offices” only for those employed by the organization and where the facility is their regular place of work.
2. The employer should implement state guidance relating to offices before reopening the facility for employees.
3. This designation does not permit gatherings of non-employees, such as the organization’s congregation.

Follow this guidance for campgrounds, RV parks, ski operations, and other outdoor recreation to create a safer environment for workers and patrons.

Review the guidance and prepare a plan for your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Outdoor playgrounds can open with modifications in all tiers. See requirements for outdoor playgrounds to keep them safe and fun for everyone.

Outdoor skateparks can open with modifications in all tiers. Attendees must adhere to physical distancing requirements and mask wearing as outlined in the outdoor playground guidance.

Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential.

Personal care services can open indoors with modifications in all tiers. Follow this guidance for personal care services like nail salons, tattoo parlors, and body waxing to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance applies to services that require touching a client’s face, like facials, electrolysis, and waxing. It also applies to esthetic services, skin care, and massage therapy. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for personal care services in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

This guidance and checklist include additional considerations for:

• Esthetic and skin care services
• Electrology services
• Nail services
• Body art professionals, tattoo parlors, and piercing shops
• Massage services (in non-healthcare settings)

In response to recent judicial rulings, effective immediately, location and capacity limits on places of worship are not mandatory but are strongly recommended. The linked guidance is in the process of being updated. All other restrictions in the guidance remain in place. 

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Outdoor or indoor with modifications
• Indoor activities are strongly discouraged and should be limited to 25% of capacity

Substantial (red)

• Indoor with modifications
• Indoor activities should be limited to 25% of capacity

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Indoor activities should be limited to 50% of capacity

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Indoor activities should be limited to 50% of capacity

Singing, chanting, and playing wind instruments

Singing, chanting, playing wind instruments, and similar activities are permitted, subject to the restrictions below. Workers or volunteers who are providing vocal, instrumental, or other music for a service or ceremony but sit or stand separately from the visitors or congregants are considered performers.

For outdoor activities:

• Performers must follow the guidance for outdoor live events and performances. 
• Use of face coverings is mandatory except when actively eating and/or drinking. Exemptions identified in CDPH’s guidance for the use of face coverings are allowed.
• Discourage audience members from singing, chanting, and similar practices that may increase the likelihood of transmission from contaminated exhaled droplets and aerosols.

Widespread (purple)

• Performers singing, chanting, playing a wind instrument, or engaging in similar activities indoors must wear face coverings at all times. 
• Such performers must maintain at least 12 of physical distance from other performers and 24 feet of physical distance from visitors or congregants.  
• During a single service or ceremony before a live audience, no more than 10 performers may sing, chant, play wind instruments, or engage in similar activities.  
• Performers are counted toward the occupancy capacity limit unless they are fully vaccinated. 
• Performers are strongly recommended to obtain a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to the service.
• Houses of worship should improve ventilation as much as possible.  

Substantial (red), Moderate (orange), and Minimal (yellow) 

• Performers singing, chanting, playing a wind instrument, or engaging in similar activities indoors must wear face coverings at all times or follow the requirements for performers in the guidance for live events and performances. 
• Performers must maintain physical distancing from congregants or spectators and other performers. 
• Performers are counted toward the occupancy capacity limit unless they are fully vaccinated. 
• Performers are strongly recommended to obtain a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to the service.
• Houses of worship should improve ventilation as much as possible.  

Recorded performances

When making a recording without a live audience for later use at a service or ceremony, performers may sing, chant, play wind instruments, or engage in similar activities without face coverings if the following conditions are met:

• Each performer has taken a laboratory-based PCR diagnostic test (i.e., not a rapid test) that yielded a negative result within 72 hours prior to the recording session.
• Performers must maintain six feet of physical distance.
• Any additional individuals involved in making the recording must wear face coverings at all times.

Follow this guidance for places of worship and providers of religious services to support a safe, clean environment for congregants, visitors, workers, and volunteers. Places of worship include:

• Churches
• Mosques
• Synagogues
• Temples

This guidance also applies to cultural ceremonies like weddings and funerals.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for places of worship and cultural ceremonies to show everyone that you’ve reduced the risk.

Follow this guidance for the port industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the port industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Beginning April 15, 2021, follow this guidance for private venues and events to support a safe, clean environment for workers, guests, and customers. Private venues and events must have defined guest lists and use assigned seating for guests.

Follow this guidance for public transit agencies to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance includes additional considerations for passenger carriers, like taxis, rideshare vehicles, shuttles, and limousines.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for public transit agencies in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Shared transportation in agriculture

Shared transportation is common in agriculture. Employers may provide shared transportation for workers. Workers may arrange a carpool to and from the worksite. Check the additional considerations for shared transportation in agriculture to support a safe, clean environment for passengers and drivers.

Follow this guidance for businesses operating in the real estate industry to create a safer environment for workers.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for the real estate industry in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Restaurants

Tier status

Widespread (purple): Outdoor only with modifications

Substantial (red)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 50%

Follow this guidance for restaurants to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for restaurants in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Beginning April 15, 2021, private events that are held at restaurants must follow the guidance for private venues and events.

Wineries, breweries, and distilleries (where meals are not served) – effective March 13, 2021

The interim capacity limits below are effective March 13, 2021. The guidance is in the process of being updated. Check CDPH’s activity and business tiers table for information about these changes.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Outdoor only with modifications
• Reservations required
• 90-minute time limit
• Seating/tables only
• Limited hours (service for on-site consumption close by 8:00 pm)

Substantial (red)

• Outdoor only with modifications
• Reservations required
• 90-minute time limit
• Seating/tables only
• Limited hours (service for on-site consumption close by 8:00 pm)

Moderate (orange)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less

Follow this guidance for wineries and tasting rooms that do not serve meals to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. This guidance also applies to breweries and distilleries and is in the process of being updated.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for wineries and tasting rooms, which also applies to breweries and distilleries, in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business. Establishments that serve meals must follow the guidance and checklist for restaurants.

Beginning April 15, 2021, private events that are held at wineries, breweries, and distilleries must follow the guidance for private venues and events.

Bars (where meals are not served) – effective March 13, 2021

The interim capacity limits below are effective March 13, 2021. Check CDPH’s activity and business tiers table for information about these changes.

Tier status

Widespread (purple): Closed

Substantial (red): Closed

Moderate (orange): Outdoor only with modifications

Minimal (yellow)

• Indoor with modifications
• Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less

Follow this guidance for bars that do not serve meals to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers.

• This guidance does not apply to breweries and distilleries. Breweries and distilleries must follow the guidance for wineries. 
• Establishments that serve meals must follow the guidance for restaurants.
• When alcohol is being served with a meal, follow the guidance for restaurants.
• Beginning April 15, 2021, private events that are held at bars must follow the guidance for private venues and events.

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for bars in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Open with modifications
• Retail capacity must be limited to 25%
• Grocery store capacity must be limited to 50%

Substantial (red)

• Open with modifications
• Retail capacity must be limited to 50%
• Grocery stores can operate at full capacity

Moderate (orange): Indoor with modifications

Minimal (yellow): Indoor with modifications

Follow this guidance for retailers to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for retail in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Retailers and libraries can re-open, along with the manufacturing and logistics sectors that support retail.

Libraries should follow the guidance for retailers. The State Library has also released guidance for the re-opening of libraries for in-person services. See the State Library’s COVID-19 website for more information. Find resources for public libraries by the California Library Association and the State Library.

Drive-in and movie theaters can re-open with additional considerations. Check the guidance for movie theaters and family entertainment centers for details.

Retail doesn’t include personal services such as beauty salons, but does include the sale of goods such as:

• Bookstores
• Jewelry stores
• Toy stores
• Clothing and shoe stores
• Home and furnishing stores
• Sporting goods stores
• Florists

Retail stores identified in the essential workforce list can open for in-store shopping. They include:

• Retail facilities specializing in medical goods and supplies
• Grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retail that sells food or beverage products, and animal/pet food
• Fuel centers such as gas stations and truck stops
• Hardware and building materials stores, consumer electronics, technology and appliances retail

California has updated the guidance and framework for reopening K-12 schools for in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more in the K-12 schools reopening framework and guidance. Check the questions and answers about the K-12 schools reopening framework and guidance.

For school-sponsored youth sports, follow the guidance for youth sports.

Visit Safe Schools for All for the latest information and resources about COVID-19 and schools.

Tier status

Widespread (purple)

• Open with modifications
• Indoor capacity must be limited to 25% for shopping malls, destination shopping centers, and swap meets
• Closed common areas
• Closed food courts

Substantial (red)

• Open with modifications
• Indoor capacity must be limited to 50% for shopping malls, destination shopping centers, and swap meets
• Closed common areas
• Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)

Moderate (orange)

• Open with modifications
• Closed common areas
• Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)

Minimal (yellow)

• Open with modifications
• Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)

Follow this guidance for shopping malls, destination shopping centers, and swap meets to support a safe, clean environment for workers, customers, and the public. 

Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for shopping centers in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

The support for working families guidance provides information to help you locate child care, find assistance to pay for child care, and connect you to additional supports for your family. As stay-at-home orders are lifted for additional industries to promote California’s economic recovery, the need for child care and other supports for working families increases.

Follow this guidance for youth and adult recreational sports, both indoor and outdoor. It shows which sports are allowed to return to play in which tiers, based on level of contact and risk of COVID-19 transmission. It also includes limitations for competitions and tournaments.

This guidance applies to all organized youth sports, including:

• K-12 school programs
• Community-sponsored recreational programs
• Private clubs and leagues

This guidance also applies to adults playing recreational sports. It does not apply to collegiate or professional sports. 

Find more information in the California Department of Public Health’s questions and answers about youth sports.

Competitions

Competitions for some sports can resume. Competitions, meets, races, or similar events must be:

• Only with other teams from California. Out-of-state tournaments are not permitted.
• Between only two teams.
• Limited to one game per team each day.

Multi-team competition is permitted for sports where individual competitors from multiple teams is routine, such as:

• Track and field
• Cross-country
• Golf
• Ski and snowboarding
• Tennis
• Swimming, diving, and surfing
• Biking
• Equestrian events

The local health department where the event is being held and each of the local health departments that teams are traveling from must authorize the competition.

Check the guidance for youth and adult recreational sports for complete details.

Teams following college sports requirements

If a team follows the stricter requirements in place for college teams, they can return to competition at any time for any sport, including indoors. These requirements include:

• Rigorous testing requirements for each competition
• Contact tracing protocols
• Coordination with local health authorities

Spectators and observers

Spectators and observers of outdoor sports permitted by the guidance for outdoor live events, entertainment, and performances  are allowed.

For indoor sports, observers are currently permitted only for youth sports, and they must be limited to immediate household members for the purpose of age-appropriate supervision.

Find complete details about these requirements in the guidance for youth and adult recreational sports.