HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER
AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
(Effective July 30, 2020)
Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code sections 101040, 120175, and 120175.5 (b) the
Health Officer of the County of San Diego (Health Officer) ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:
Effective 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2020 and continuing until further notice, the following
will be in effect for San Diego County (county):
1. All persons are to remain in their homes or at their place of residence, except for employees
or customers traveling to and from essential businesses, reopened businesses, or essential
activities as defined in section 22, below, or to participate in individual or family outdoor
activity as allowed by this Order.
2. All public or private “gatherings,” as defined in section 22 below, are prohibited.
3. All businesses not meeting the definition of essential business or reopened business in section

22 below are referred to in this Order as “non-essential businesses” and shall be and remain
closed for the duration of this Order. All essential businesses and reopened businesses must
comply with the requirements of this Order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any business may
remain open if its employees and owners can provide its services from home, including by
telecommuting, without direct contact with the public.
4. All public, charter and private schools shall not hold classes on the school campus, and shall

conduct distance learning only as required by COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning
Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year issued by the California
Department
of
Public
Health
on
July
17,
2020
available
at
{https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID19/Schools%20Reopening%20Recommendations.pdf}. Colleges and Universities shall not

 hold classes or other school activities where students gather on the school campus, except for
research-related activities in colleges and universities and where necessary to train students
who will serve as essential workers.
5. Child daycare and child care providers shall operate in compliance with the measures set forth
in State COVID-19 Updated Guidance: Child Care Programs and Providers and shall prepare
and post a Safe Reopening Plan pursuant to section 11, below.
6. “Non-essential personnel,” as defined in section 22 below, are prohibited from entry into any
hospital or long-term care facility. All essential personnel who are COVID-19 positive or
show any potential signs or symptoms of COVID-19 are strictly prohibited from entry into
hospitals or long-term care facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, individuals requiring
medical care for COVID-19 or related conditions may be admitted to hospitals or other
medical facilities if the hospital or medical facility is appropriate for treating COVID-19 and
has adequate precautions in place to protect its patients, medical personnel and staff.
7. Hospitals and healthcare providers, including dentists shall:
a. Take measures to preserve and prioritize resources; and,
b. May authorize and perform non-emergent or elective surgeries or procedures based on
their determination of clinical need and supply capacity, and where consistent with
State guidance.
c. Nothing in this Order shall prevent physicians and other healthcare providers from
conducting routine preventive care provided it conforms to any applicable State
guidance.
d. Nothing in this Order shall prevent dentists or dental hygienists from conducting routine
preventive care provided it conforms to any applicable State guidance.
8. Hospitals, healthcare providers, pharmacies and commercial testing laboratories shall report
all COVID-19 test results to the Public Health Officer immediately after such results are
received.
9. All persons two years of age or older who are present in the county shall have possession of a
face covering when they leave their home or place of residence and shall wear the face
covering as described and required in California Department of Public Health Face Covering
Guidance
issued
on
June
18,
2020,
(available
at:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVIDPage 2 of 12
ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 19/Guidance-for-Face-Coverings_06-18-2020.pdf).

10. All essential businesses that allow members of the public to enter a facility must prepare and
post a “Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol” on the form available at:
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/Epidemiology/covid19
/SOCIAL_DISTANCING_AND_SANITATION_PROTOCOL_04022020_V1.pdf ), or on a
form required by another governmental entity requiring substantially similar information, for
each of their facilities open to the public in the county. The Social Distancing and Sanitation
Protocol must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility, and shall be easily
viewable by the public and employees. A copy of the Social Distancing and Sanitation
Protocol must also be provided to each employee performing work at the facility. All essential
businesses shall implement the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol and provide
evidence of its implementation to any authority enforcing this Order upon demand. The Social
Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must ensure all required measures are implemented and
must identify and require measures necessary to implement social distancing are implemented
at each facility that will ensure social distancing and sanitation at that particular facility. If the
measures identified and implemented are not effective in maintaining proper social distancing
and sanitation, the business shall promptly modify its Social Distancing and Sanitation
Protocols to ensure proper social distancing and sanitation. Any business that fails to
successfully implement social distancing and sanitation may be required to close.
11. All reopened businesses, with the exception of restaurants, bars, wineries, distilleries and

breweries which do not limit services to take-out or delivery, must prepare and post a “Safe
Reopening
Plan”
on
the
form
available
at:
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/Epidemiology/covid19
/Community_Sector_Support/BusinessesandEmployers/SafeReopeningPlanTemplate.pdf
for each of their facilities in the county. Restaurants bars, wineries, distilleries and breweries
which do not limit services to take-out or delivery, must prepare and post a “COVID-19
Restaurant Operating Protocol” on the form available at
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/deh/fhd/food/pdf/covid19sdrestaurantoper
atingprotocol_en.pdf for each restaurant in the county. The Safe Reopening Plan or COVID19 Restaurant Operating Protocol must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility,
and shall be easily viewable by the public and employees. A copy of the Safe Reopening Plan
or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol must also be provided to each employee
performing work at the facility. All reopened businesses shall implement the Safe Reopening
Plan or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol and provide evidence of its implementation
to any authority enforcing this Order upon demand. The Safe Reopening Plan or COVID-19
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 Restaurant Operating Protocol must ensure all required measures are implemented. If the
measures identified and implemented are not effective in maintaining proper social distancing
and sanitation, the business shall promptly modify its Safe Reopening Plan or COVID-19
Restaurant Operating Protocol to ensure proper social distancing and sanitation. Any business
that fails to comply with its Safe Reopening Plan or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol
shall immediately close.
12. When the State of California has issued an industry guidance, or any subsequent amendments
thereto, with mandatory and/or suggested measures to be implemented by a particular type of
business or industry, a reopened business must include in its Safe Reopening Plan all of the
industry guidance mandatory measures, including, but not limited to, all of the requirements
and guidance set forth in the Statewide Public Health Officer Order, issued by the California
Department of Health Services on July13, 2020, all portions of which are operative in San
Diego
County
effective
immediately,
and
available
at
{https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID19/SHO%20Order%20Dimming%20Entire%20State%207-13-2020.pdf}. The reopened business
shall include all suggested measures necessary to maintain proper sanitation, employee
screening, social distancing and facial coverings. Any mandatory measures required by this
Order must also be included in the Safe Reopening Plan.
13. All brewpubs, breweries, bars and pubs shall close unless they comply with section 14c, below,
in which case they shall comply with all other requirements in this section and section 14
below. All other restaurants, bars, wineries, distilleries and breweries shall close indoor
service in conformance with the requirements set forth in the Statewide Public Health Officer
Order, issued by the California Department of Health Services on July13, 2020, all portions of
which are operative in San Diego County effective immediately, and available at
{https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID19/SHO%20Order%20Dimming%20Entire%20State%207-13-2020.pdf}, and shall be closed from
10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. every day. Guests already in the facility at 10:00 p.m. may remain
in the facility until 11:00 p.m. Only staff needed to close, open or clean shall be in the facility
between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
14. All restaurants, bars, wineries and breweries shall also be required to ensure their customers
comply with all of the following measures and shall immediately close if they are not able to
do so:
a. No food or beverages shall be served to or consumed by a customer who is not seated
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 b.
c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.
j.

k.
l.

at a table designated by the restaurant for dining.
The bar area of a restaurant may be used only for table service of meals.
Alcoholic drinks shall only be served as part of a meal and must be sold and served in
the same transaction as the meal. All meals shall be served by a food operator permitted
by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health. This restriction shall
not be applicable to outdoor service of wine at a winery or spirits at a distillery.
Customers shall not stand in the restaurant, bar, winery, distillery or brewery except in
the reception area while waiting for a table or to pick up take-out food. If customers
cannot be socially distanced in the reception area they shall wait in their cars or outside
of the restaurant in a line with six feet between each customer.
Discontinue open seating. All members of the party must be present before seating and
the host must bring the entire party to the table at one time. The customers allowed at a
table are limited to members of a single household or customers who have asked to be
seated together at the time a table is requested.
Discontinue seating customers and/or groups at bar counters, sushi preparation bars,
etc. where they cannot maintain at least six feet of distance from employee work
areas/stations. Install physical barriers or partitions in areas where maintaining a
physical distance of six feet is difficult.
Customers are not required to wear face coverings while at a table with members of the
same household. Customers at a table with non-household members are not required
to wear face coverings when eating and drinking. Customers are required to wear face
coverings at all other times in conformance with paragraph 9, above.
Tables designated for dining shall be six feet apart, or separated by barriers or partitions
that extend above the heads of customers while seated. Customer shall not be allowed
to bring additional chairs to the table that interfere with the six foot separation.
Self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations are not
allowed.
Shared entertainment items such as board games, arcade games and vending machines
are prohibited and customers shall not have access to game and entertainment areas
such as pool tables or darts.
Dance floors shall be closed and live performances such as musical or dance acts shall
be discontinued.
Any customer that refuses to comply with this section shall be subject to enforcement
per Health and Safety Code section 120295.

15. Places of Worship – Religious services and cultural ceremonial activities (including wedding
ceremonies but not receptions) may be conducted in conformance with the State Guidance
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 pursuant to sections 11 and 12, above. Given the high risk of this activity, vulnerable members
of the population (over 65 years old, compromised immune system or underlying condition)
are strongly encouraged to participate through streaming or some other form of remote
technology. Outdoor services and cultural ceremonial activities may be conducted provided
all persons practice social distancing as defined in section 22e, below.
16. Each essential business and reopened business shall:
a. Require all employees/on-site contractors (hereinafter referred to as employees) to have
possession of face coverings and wear them as described in section 9 above when in the
business facility; and,
b. Shall conduct temperature screening of all employees and prohibit entry to the
workplace of employees with a temperature of 100 degrees or more, employees
exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms as described by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, or employees who have recently been exposed to a person who has tested
positive for COVID-19 (either directly or through a breach of Personal Protective
Equipment in the case of healthcare workers/first responders); and
c. Take all of the following actions if an employer becomes aware that an employee is
diagnosed with COVID-19:
i. Promptly notify the County Department of Public Health that there is an
employee diagnosed with COVID-19, together with the name, date of birth,
and contact information of the employee.
ii. Cooperate with the County Department of Public Health’s COVID-19
response team to identify and provide contact information for any persons
exposed by the employee at the workplace.
iii. When three or more cases are identified at the workplace within a span of 14
days, provide notice of the exposure to any employees, customers, or any
other persons who may have been exposed to COVID-19 at the workplace.
A strong recommendation is made that employers also provide such notice
when at least one employee is diagnosed with COVID-19 in the workplace.
17. Outdoor Recreation
a. Each public park and recreation area or facility, shall operate in compliance with the
measures set forth in the State COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Campgrounds, RV Parks
and Outdoor Recreation. The operator of the park shall prepare a Safe Reopening Plan
pursuant to section 11, above, indicating how the park or recreation facility will
implement the required measures. Any park or recreation area/facility at which the
Protocol requirements cannot be effectively implemented may be required to close.
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 b. Outdoor recreation instruction and day camps that comply with the State COVID-19
Industry Guidance: Day Camps, may be conducted in park and recreation
areas/facilities.
c. Swimming pools owned or operated by a Homeowners’ Association, Condominium or
Apartment complex may be open provided the owner or operator completes and posts
a Safe Reopening Plan that shows conformance with the requirements of this Order and
with the swimming pool/aquatic venues requirements of the State COVID-19 Industry
Guidance on Fitness Facilities.
18. All essential businesses and reopened businesses that remain in operation in accordance with
the Order shall make every effort to use telecommuting for their workforces.
19. A strong recommendation is made that all persons who are 65 years old or older, have a chronic
underlying condition, or have a compromised immune system self-quarantine themselves at
home or other suitable location.
20. All persons arriving in the county from international locations identified on the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Warning Level 2 or 3 Travel Advisory (available at:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices) shall be subject to 14-day home or other suitable
location quarantine and self-monitoring.
21. Persons who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who are likely to have COVID-19, shall
comply with the Order of the Health Officer titled: “Isolation of All Persons with or Likely to
have COVID-19”, or as subsequently amended. Persons who have a close contact with a person
who either has COVID-19, or is likely to have COVID-19, shall comply with the Order of the
Health Officer titled: “Quarantine of Persons Exposed to COVID-19,” or as subsequently
amended.
Both
orders
are
available
at:
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/community_epidemiology/d
c/2019-nCoV/health-order.html. If a more specific isolation or quarantine order is issued to a
person, that order shall be followed.
22. For purposes of this Order:
a. “Essential business” is any business or activity (or a business/activity that
employs/utilizes workers) designated by the State Public Health Officer as “Essential
Critical Infrastructure Workers” set forth in: https://covid19.ca.gov/img/Essential
CriticalInfrastructureWorkers.pdf) as that list may be updated from time-to-time, and
referenced in Executive Order N-33-20 issued by the Governor of the State of
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

California. For the purposes of this Order, the following businesses in the Food and
Agriculture Sector are considered “groceries” or “other retail that sells food and
beverages”: grocery stores, corner stores and convenience stores, liquor stores that sell
food, farmer’s markets, food banks, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, big box
stores that sell groceries and essentials, or similar business that sell food so long as the
store has a current permit related to the sale of food and/or beverages from the San
Diego County Department of Environmental Health.
“Gathering” is any event or convening that brings together more than one person in a
single room or single indoor or outdoor space at the same time. A gathering does not
include:
i. A gathering consisting only of members of a single family or household.
ii. Operations at airports, public transportation or other spaces where persons in
transit are able to practice social distancing.
iii. Operations at essential businesses as defined in section 22a above and
reopened businesses as defined in 22f below and where the other
requirements set forth in this Order are followed.
“Long term care facility” is a facility serving adults that require assistance with
activities of daily living, including a skilled nursing facility, and that is licensed by the
California Department of Community Care and Licensing, or the California Department
of Public Health.
“Non-essential personnel” are employees, contractors, or members of the public who
do not perform treatment, maintenance, support, or administrative tasks deemed
essential to the healthcare mission of the long-term care facility or hospital. Nonessential personnel do not include first responders, nor State, federal, or local officials,
investigators, or medical personnel carrying out lawful duties. Non-essential personnel
do not include visitors to hospitals and long-term care facilities who are granted entry
by the facility’s director, or designee, because they are family or friends who are visiting
a resident in an end of life or similar situation, are parents or guardians visiting a child
who is a patient, or because of any other circumstances deemed appropriate by the
facility director, or designee, and where appropriate precautions by the facility that
follow federal, State, and local public health guidance regarding COVID-19 are
followed.
“Social distancing” is maintaining a six-foot separation from all persons except for
household members, first responders and medical providers or employees conducting
temperature screenings.
“Reopened business” is a business that is not an essential business as stated in section
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 22a above, and has reopened in conformance with the State of California’s Resilience
Roadmap (available at: https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/) and the Statewide
Public Health Officer Order, issued by the California Department of Health Services
on July13, 2020, all portions of which are operative in San Diego County effective
immediately,
and
available
at
{https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID19/SHO%20Order%20Dimming%20Entire%20State%207-13-2020.pdf}.
A reopened
business may open when the State has posted the applicable COVID-19 INDUSTRY
GUIDANCE, the Public Health Officer has posted an acknowledgement of the
reopened status on the County of San Diego Coronavirus website and the business has
complied with the requirements of this Order.
23. Hotels and lodging establishments may be open for all guests, including tourists and leisure
guests, provided they comply with the State COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Hotels, Lodging
and Short Term Rentals and complete and post a Safe Reopening Plan pursuant to section 11,
above.
24. This Order is issued as a result of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a worldwide
pandemic of COVID-19 disease, also known as “novel coronavirus.”
25. This Order is issued based on scientific evidence regarding the most effective approaches to
slow the transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically, as well
as best practices as currently known and available to protect vulnerable members of the public
from avoidable risk of serious illness or death resulting from exposure to COVID-19. The age,
condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the county places it at risk
for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19. Although most individuals
who contract COVID-19 do not become seriously ill, persons with mild symptoms and
asymptomatic persons with COVID-19 may place other vulnerable members of the public—
such as older adults, and those with underlying health conditions—at significant risk.
26. The actions required by this Order are necessary to reduce the number of individuals who will
be exposed to COVID-19, and will thereby slow the spread of COVID-19 in the county. By
reducing the spread of COVID-19, this Order will help preserve critical and limited healthcare
capacity in the county and will save lives.
27. This Order is issued in accordance with, and incorporates by reference: a) the Declaration of
Local Health Emergency issued by the Health Officer on February 14, 2020; b) the
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the County Director of Emergency Services on
February 14, 2020; c) the action of the County Board of Supervisors to ratify and continue
both the local health emergency and local emergency on February 19, 2020; d) the
Proclamation of a State of Emergency issued by the Governor of the State of California on
March 4, 2020; e) Executive Order N-25-20 issued by the Governor of the State of California
on March 12, 2020 which orders that “All residents are to heed any orders and guidance of
state and local health officials, including but not limited to the imposition of social distancing
measures, to control COVID-19”; f) Proclamation 9984 regarding COVID-19 issued by the
President of the United States on March 11, 2020; g) Executive Order N-33-20 issued by the
Governor of the State of California on March 19, 2020; h) the “Interim Additional Guidance
for Infection Prevention and Control for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in
Nursing Homes” issued by the CDC; i) COVID-19 guidance issued by the California
Department of Public Health on including, but not limited to the Face Coverings Guidance
issued on April 1, 2020; and j) the State of California’s “Resilience Roadmap.”
28. This Order is issued to prevent circumstances often present in gatherings that may exacerbate
the spread of COVID-19, such as: 1) the increased likelihood that gatherings will attract people
from a broad geographic area; 2) the prolonged time period in which large numbers of people
are in close proximity; 3) the difficulty in tracing exposure when large numbers of people
attend a single event or are at a single location; and 4) the inability to ensure that such persons
follow adequate hygienic practices.
29. This Order is issued to provide additional opportunities for recreational activities while also
requiring additional protections from the spread of COVID-19 to the public who are taking
advantage of these opportunities for recreational activities. And providing additional
protections for employees of essential businesses or reopened business and their
customers/clients by increasing facial covering requirements and health checks and
temperature screening.
30. This Order is issued to protect the public health as businesses are allowed to reopen by
requiring businesses to implement procedures necessary to ensure their employees and
customers comply with social distancing, sanitation and screening practices.
31. This Order comes after the release of substantial guidance from the Health Officer, the
California Department of Public Health, the CDC, and other public health officials throughout
the United States and around the world.
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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 32. The statement of facts and circumstances set forth as justification for each Guidance issued by
the California Department of Health Services that is referenced in this Order are hereby
accepted and incorporated by reference into this Order.
33. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 120175.5 (b) all governmental entities in the
county shall take necessary measures within the governmental entity’s control to ensure
compliance with this Order and to disseminate this Order to venues or locations within the
entity’s jurisdiction where gatherings may occur.
34. Violation of this Order is subject to fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety
Code section 120295.)
35. To the extent necessary, this Order may be enforced by the Sheriff or chiefs of police pursuant
to Government Code sections 26602 and 41601 and Health and Safety Code section 101029.

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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

 36. Once this Order takes effect it shall supersede the Order of the Health Officer and Emergency
Regulations dated July 20, 2020.
IT IS SO ORDERED:
Date: July 29, 2020

______________________________________
Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H.
Public Health Officer
County of San Diego

EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
As Director of Emergency Services for the County of San Diego, I am authorized to promulgate
regulations for the protection of life and property pursuant to Government Code Section 8634 and
San Diego County Code section 31.103. The following shall be in effect for the duration of the
Health Officer Order issued above which is incorporated in its entirety by reference:
The Health Officer Order shall be promulgated as a regulation for the protection of life and
property.
Any person who violates or who refuses or willfully neglects to obey this regulation is subject to
fine, imprisonment, or both. (Government Code section 8665.)

Date: July 29, 2020

______________________________________
Helen Robbins-Meyer
Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Emergency Services
County of San Diego

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ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS