About COVID-19 restrictions

This order ended for all regions statewide on January 25, 2021 because 4-week ICU capacity projections in the three remaining regions under the order had reached 15% or higher. The Limited Stay at Home Order (curfew) also ended. Counties returned to restrictions according to their tier in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

We ended the Regional Stay Home Order and hope we do not need to resort to such strict measures to keep our health care system protected and to save lives. We will examine conditions moving forward and determine interventions as they are warranted. The State will continue to take public health measures necessary to protect vulnerable Californians and the health care delivery system. With everyone’s continued collaboration, we hope to continue on the path to reopening.

This did not change the framework around school reopening. See COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year. Schools that are already open can remain open. Schools that are not already open must follow the reopening criteria laid out in that guidance.

The state maintains a publicly-available dashboard on hospital and ICU capacity by county.

Yes. Currently the state has 11 alternative care sites that could be activated in 24-96 hours should they be needed. The total number of beds in these alternative care sites is 1,862. In addition to the alternative care sites the state has 22 California Medical Stations, which are 50 bed field hospitals, in our cache that can be rapidly deployed. In total we have a capacity of approximately 3,000 additional medical beds currently available beyond what we have in the hospital system. Information on the number of alternative care sites and the number of surge beds in use can be found at the Alternate Care Site Dashboard.

The order went into effect on Thursday, March 19, 2020. The order is in place until further notice. It covers the whole state of California.

The order was modified on May 4, 2020. On August 28, 2020 the State modified it further with the release of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy to permit gradual reopening of certain businesses and activities.

On November 21, 2020, Californians in counties in the Widespread (purple) tier were directed to stop non-essential activities between 10PM and 5AM via the Limited Stay Home Order. On December 3, 2020, further restrictions were implemented in regions with low ICU capacity under the Regional Stay Home Order. Both the Limited Stay Home Order and the Regional Stay Home Order were lifted January 25, 2021.

See the Blueprint for a Safer Economy for state restrictions in your area. Further local restrictions may apply.

The Governor has ordered Californians to obey the directives of the State Public Health Officer. Those directives take many forms; they include specific materials linked on this page, as well as these questions and answers. These questions and answers are directives from the State Public Health Officer, and have the same force and effect as other State Public Health Officer directives.

Yes. The State Public Health Officer may issue new orders as the public health situation changes.

You can check the open or closed status of more than 90 kinds of businesses or activities at the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

The Blueprint for a Safer Economy has a map of California with each county’s current tier status: Widespread (purple), Substantial (red), Moderate (orange), or Minimal (yellow).

Yes. Hair salons and barbershops can open in every county, with modifications for safety. See what’s open in your area.

Playgrounds may remain open to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise. Playgrounds located at schools that remain open for in-person instruction, and not accessible by the general public, may remain open and must follow guidance for schools and school-based programs (PDF).

Outdoor swimming pools are allowed to open in all counties in California. Outdoor pools must close slides, rides, or other attractions. 

Indoor swimming pools are closed in counties in the Widespread (purple) or Substantial (red) tiers.

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.

Water parks, both indoor and outdoor, remain closed throughout the state.

When out of the water, masks or face coverings should be worn. Physical distancing should be practiced at all times. Group gatherings are not allowed. Bring your own towel, and don’t share items that are worn on the face (like goggles, nose clips, or snorkels). Pool operators should follow heightened cleaning and safety guidance in response to COVID-19. See sector guidance for gyms and fitness centers and campgrounds and outdoor recreation.

The risk of COVID-19 infection is still real for all Californians and continues to be fatal. That is why every business permitted to open should take every step humanly possible to reduce the risk of infection by following these state guidelines.

Essential workforce and critical infrastructure sectors are defined on the Essential workforce web page.

Yes. As described in more detail elsewhere in applicable state public health directives (including on this page), there are a wide range of circumstances in which you may leave your home or other place of residence, even if you are not an Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker. For example, you may leave your home to work at any business or other entity that is allowed to open, to engage in in-person worship and protest activities consistent with public health directives, to patronize local businesses, or to care for friends or family members who require assistance (as set forth under Health care). And errands like these are not the only reasons you may leave your home: you may also leave your home with or without a specific destination in mind (for example, to walk your dog, to engage in physical recreation, or simply to get some fresh air) as long as you maintain physical distancing and comply with any other applicable public health directives.

They are being enforced, and you can report it. Report unsafe conditions or businesses that shouldn’t be open to your local Alcohol Beverage Control, Labor Commissioner’s office, or regional Cal/OSHA office, depending on the type of business. To find these local contacts, see Appendix B of the Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening (PDF).

You can walk your dog. You can go to the vet or pet hospital if your pet is sick. Remember to wear a face covering and distance yourself at least 6 feet from other pets and owners.

There are many ways for you to express your political views without holding a physical, in-person gathering.  For example, you may continue to call or write elected officials, write letters to the editor of news publications, display lawn or window signs, or use online and other electronic media (including Zoom rooms, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, and other digital forums) to express your views.  

Additionally, as noted above, you may leave your home for any reason as long as you comply with any other applicable public health directives. When you are otherwise out in public, public health directives do not prevent you from engaging in political expression—such as by wearing or carrying a sign.

If collective action in physical space is important to you, consider whether you and other participants can safely protest from within your cars. The State Public Health Officer does not consider in-car activities to be gatherings, if participants stay in their cars and otherwise remain apart from individuals who are not part of their households. Many activists have organized car-based protests (honking horns, flying flags, displaying signs, and so on) to express their political views while complying with State public health directives.  

Whenever you are considering a protest (including an in-car protest), make sure you comply with all other applicable laws, including any local public-health measures that may be more restrictive than statewide directives and any other applicable local laws.

If you do wish to engage in in-person protest outside of your car with a group of any size, you must follow the guidelines for political protest gatherings below.

Yes, although in-person protests and rallies present special public health concerns for high risk of COVID-19 transmission. 

Even with adherence to physical distancing, bringing members of different households together to engage in in-person protests and rallies carries an especially high risk of widespread transmission of COVID-19.  Such gatherings may result in increased rates of infection, hospitalization, and death, especially among more vulnerable populations. In particular, activities like chanting, shouting, singing, and group recitation negate the risk-reduction achieved through 6 feet of physical distancing. For this reason, people engaging in these activities must wear face coverings at all times.

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that those exercising their right to engage in political expression (including, for example, their right to petition the government) should utilize alternative channels, such as the many online and broadcasting platforms available in the digital age, in place of in-person gatherings. 

However, state public health directives do not prohibit in-person outdoor protests and rallies as long as you maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet between persons or groups of persons from different households at all times. In addition, you must wear a face covering or mask. Local Health Officers are advised to consider appropriate limitations on outdoor attendance capacities, factoring their jurisdiction’s key COVID-19 health indicators. Failure to follow these requirements may result in an order to disperse or other enforcement action. 

In counties in the Widespread (purple) tier, indoor protests and rallies are not currently permitted. In other counties, state public health directives do not prohibit in-person indoor protests and rallies as long as (1) attendance is limited as required by the relevant restrictions on places of worship and local health restrictions, (2) physical distancing of at least 6 feet between persons or groups of persons from different households is maintained at all times, and (3) singing and chanting activities are discontinued. Failure to follow these requirements may result in an order to disperse or other enforcement action. Masks and face coverings are required in compliance with CDPH directives.

Participants must maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet from any uniformed peace officers and other public safety personnel present, unless otherwise directed, and follow all other requirements and directives imposed by local health officers and law enforcement, or other applicable authorities.

This limitation on attendance will be reviewed regularly. This review will assess the impacts of these imposed limits on public health and provide further direction as part of a phased-in restoration of gatherings that implicate the First Amendment.

Elections are an essential activity. The Governor has issued executive orders to ensure elections are safe and accessible. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent to all registered voters for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Most counties will provide three days of early voting in-person starting the Saturday before the election. Open ballot drop-box locations will be available between October 6 and November 3, 2020. Existing laws addressing the use of vote-by-mail ballots in California elections remain in effect except where suspended by Executive Order. Find guidance for the safe administration of elections during COVID-19.

 Visit online voter registration to register to vote or check your voter registration status. 

Practice physical distancing and follow other applicable public health directives while engaged in election-related activities. These include collection and drop-off of ballots, and collection of signatures to qualify candidates or measures for the ballot.

Yes. Places of worship such as churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues can open throughout the state, with modifications for safety (PDF). In counties in the Widespread (purple) tier, indoor services in places of worship must be discontinued but outdoor and online services are permitted.

Yes. Practicing your faith is a constitutionally-protected activity and may manifest in many different forms.

Although in-person religious gatherings—like other in-person gatherings—have been restricted to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, on May 25, 2020, the State Public Health Officer began to ease restrictions on in-person religious gatherings. In particular, the State Public Health Officer now authorizes County Departments of Public Health to allow collective activities at places of worship, subject to conditions that support a safe, clean environment for employees, interns and trainees, volunteers, scholars, and all other types of workers as well as congregants, worshippers, and visitors.

Information on conditions imposed by the state can be found at guidance for places of worship (PDF). Additional conditions may be imposed by local public health officials. This guidance does not obligate places of worship to resume in-person activity. It is strongly recommended that places of worship continue to facilitate remote services and other alternatives to in-person religious practice for those who are vulnerable to COVID19.

Even with adherence to physical distancing, convening in a congregational setting of multiple households to practice a personal faith carries a higher risk of widespread transmission of COVID-19, and may result in increased rates of infection, hospitalization, and death, especially among more vulnerable populations. In particular, activities like singing and group recitation dramatically increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. For this reason, singing and chanting activities must be discontinued at indoor services, and congregants engaging in group recitation should wear face coverings at all times.

Places of worship may only open indoor operations when permitted by relevant local restrictions and must comply with all applicable attendance limitations and guidance requirements.

Local Health Officers are advised to consider appropriate limitations on outdoor attendance capacities, factoring their jurisdiction’s key COVID-19 health indicators. At a minimum, outdoor attendance should be limited naturally through implementation of strict physical distancing measures of a minimum of 6 feet between attendees from different households, in addition to other relevant protocols within this document.

This limitation will be regularly reviewed by the California Department of Public Health.

Yes.  Outdoor activities are permitted, and indoor activities are permitted if they comply with the cohort guidance.

The California Department of Public Health, in consultation with county Departments of Public Health, will regularly review and assess the impacts of these imposed limits on public health and provide further direction as part of a phased-in restoration of activities in places of worship.

Yes, but only wedding ceremonies are allowed, not receptions. Wedding ceremonies should follow the guidance for Places of worship or cultural ceremonies. As required by that guidance, social distancing should be practiced by all attendees. Wear masks, wash hands frequently, and keep 6 feet from anyone you don’t live with. 

Ceremonies have restrictions on their setting or capacity, depending on your county’s tier status:

• Widespread (purple) tier: Outdoors only
• Substantial (red) tier: May be held indoors, but with max capacity of 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer
• Moderate (orange) tier: May be held indoors, but with max capacity of 50% or 200 people, whichever is fewer
• Minimal (yellow) tier: May be held indoors, but with max capacity of 50%

While wedding receptions are not permitted, consider safer options like sharing your wedding online via video conference (Zoom, Google Meet, or other platforms). This protects all your loved ones, especially those at high risk like seniors or people with chronic conditions.

See more details in guidance for Places of worship and cultural ceremonies.

Gatherings for live musical, theatrical, and other artistic performances are not permitted indoors or outdoors in counties that have been designated as having “Widespread” (purple) or “Substantial” risk levels of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Because such gatherings frequently involve the mixing of people from different communities creating a high risk of transmission of COVID-19, until further CDPH guidance is issued, such gatherings are  allowed only in counties in the “Moderate” (orange) or “Minimal” (yellow) risk levels.  In addition, performances are permitted only if, in the exercise of their discretion, the relevant local or city health officer approves the precautions taken to ensure the safety of audience members, performers and others connected with the performance.  Performances may have no more than 50 persons in the audience in counties in the “Moderate” risk level and no more than 100 in counties in the “Minimal” risk level. If a local or city health officer approves a performance, the officer shall notify CDPH of the approval within two business days.   

During approved performances, all audience members and others not performing must wear masks, and audience members from different households must be spaced at least six feet apart when seated or otherwise viewing the performance. Performers who are not wearing face coverings must be at least six feet apart from each other. 

Approval is not required in counties with a “Moderate” or “Minimal” risk level for a live musical, theatrical, or artistic performance if, in aggregate, members of no more than three households attend, perform, or otherwise are involved in the performance.

Additionally, live performances are permitted to the extent that they are permitted by applicable sector guidance for the venue hosting such a performance (such as restaurants, wineries, or bars).

Yes, but first check if an in-person visit is required. Several deadlines have been extended, and many DMV services can be accessed online.

Extended deadlines

DMV has extended deadlines for:

• Driver’s license renewals for drivers of any age
• ID card or REAL ID renewals
• Renewals for commercial licenses, endorsements, and certificates
• Vehicle registrations
• Driver’s license permits
• Commercial learner’s permits

Online or by-mail services

DMV offers many services that can be handled online, including simple vehicle registration, renewing a driver’s license, getting a duplicate license, and more. See DMV Online Services.

Some DMV services that used to require an in-person office visit can now be accessed online, including driver’s license renewals, vehicle registrations, title transfers, temporary driver’s license extensions, commercial driver’s license renewals, and more. See DMV Virtual Field Office.

Still more services can be accessed by mail. See the DMV website for details.

In-person visits

Beginning June 11, 2020, all DMV offices are open to the public for appointments that require an in-person visit. You will be required to wear a mask and must remain 6 feet apart in line.

On December 14, 2020, commercial and non-commercial driving tests were suspended until at least December 28. Those with canceled appointments were notified. Motorcycle driving tests were not canceled. See the DMV Field Office Reopenings page for details.

In-person appointments are limited to:

• Commercial driver’s license transactions including applications, medical reports and administering knowledge and vision tests.
• Paying registration for a vehicle impounded because of registration-related issues
• Reinstating a suspended or revoked driver license
• Applying for a reduced-fee or no-fee identification card
• Applying for a disabled person parking placard (though this can also be done by mail)
• Adding an ambulance certificate or firefighter endorsement to a driver license
• Verifying a transit training document to drive a transit bus
• Processing DMV Express customers for REAL ID transactions, if time and space allow
• Vehicle verifications

It depends. Some smog check locations may be closed. The Bureau of Automotive Repair advises drivers to still pay DMV vehicle registration fees to avoid any late fees. However, you will not receive your new registration or year sticker until the smog information has been received by DMV. Once state and local orders or directives are no longer in effect, you can then obtain the required smog check certificate to complete the DMV vehicle registration process.

Court operations vary from county to county. You can use the California Courts Self-Help Center or reach out to your local government office for more information.

Court operations vary from county to county. You can use the California Courts Self-Help Center or reach out to your local government office for more information about jury duty.