Santa Clara County Public Health Eases Some Restrictions Starting Tomorrow On Outdoor Gatherings And Youth Activities

Press release from the City of Palo Alto:

February 25, 2021

Santa Clara County is easing some restrictions and is better aligning County guidance with State guidance. In addition, the Public Health Department also announced that it will be making significant changes to local Health Directives effective as soon as the County enters the State’s “Red Tier,” which could occur as soon as Wednesday, March 3.

The City will be evaluating how this impacts City Services in the coming days.

The following changes are effective, Friday, February 26:

• The County’s Mandatory Directive for Youth and Adult Recreational Athletic Activities will no longer be in effect. These activities remain subject to the State’s Guidance on Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports and the County’s updated Mandatory Directive for Gatherings.
• The County’s Mandatory Directive for Programs Serving Children and Youth will no longer be in effect. These activities remain subject to all applicable State guidance (which may include the State’s guidance on Day Camps, Fitness Facilities, Child Care Programs and Providers, and/or Cohorts).
• The County’s Mandatory Directive for Schools has been converted to operational guidance to augment the requirements put in place by the State. Schools remain subject to the State’s Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools and are also encouraged to follow the County’s Guidance for Schools.
• The Health Officer has issued a new Mandatory Directive for Case Reporting by K-12 Schools, Youth Athletic Programs, and Other Youth Programs. This new directive preserves the requirement that any program with one or more youth participants to report immediately to the County Public Health Department if any program participant tests positive for COVID-19.
• The rules for outdoor gatherings in the Mandatory Directive for Gatherings have been relaxed in light of declining case rates and because outdoor activities have a lower risk of spread than indoor activities.
• The Health Officer still strongly recommends that everyone wear a face covering at all times at outdoor gatherings, but face coverings are required outdoors only if within 6 feet of someone who is not a member of your household.
• The Health Officer still strongly recommends that everyone maintain at least 6 feet of social distance from anyone who is not a member of their household at outdoor gatherings, but it is not required.
• People are allowed to sing at outdoor gatherings without a face covering, provided that they stay at least 6 feet away from everyone who is not a member of their household.
• Indoor gatherings of any kind remain prohibited, until the county enters the State’s Red Tier.

This press release was produced by the City of Palo Alto. The views expressed here are the author’s own.