Outdoor dining and indoor funerals with up to 10 people present will be allowed in San Mateo County beginning Saturday, June 6, under a new shelter-at-home order announced by county Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow on Thursday.
The updated order, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, comes less than a week after Morrow issued a new shelter-at-home order effective Monday, June 1, that allows places of worship to hold services and retail stores to have customers inside with restrictions and safety measures implemented.
The latest order states that restaurants and other food facilities that were previously licensed to provide sit-down food service can serve outdoor, sit-down meals "by working with local agencies to ensure compliance with local laws, regulations, and permitting requirements," according to a press release issued Thursday.
In addition to cleaning and sanitary measures, tables must be arranged to ensure customers are not sitting within 6 feet of one another at separate tables. There can't be more than six customers at a single table, and they must be from the same household, according to the county. Lounge areas, like fire pits, can be occupied by multiple households if 6-foot distancing is maintained.
Alcohol can be sold with food, but not independently, and bar areas must remain closed to customers. Patrons must wear a mask except when sitting at a table.
Eateries are also required to designate "COVID-19 supervisor/person(s) in charge" who must be present on-site during business hours to ensure implementation of social distancing protocol and the facility's health and safety plan, according to the new order.
Restaurants that offer outdoor dining must also offer curbside pickup, takeaway and/or delivery alternatives and keep lines for pickup away from the outdoor dining area.
The new order also allows charter boats to operate with passengers with capacity limits to ensure social distancing, and permits indoor funerals with up to 10 people present. Outdoor funerals are limited to 25 or fewer.
The announcement comes after Santa Clara County on Monday announced it will allow outdoor dining and in-store retail starting Friday, June 5.
Comments
Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jun 4, 2020 at 4:38 pm
on Jun 4, 2020 at 4:38 pm
In-door funeral ceremonies. Good news, ten folks is a minyan.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Jun 4, 2020 at 5:30 pm
on Jun 4, 2020 at 5:30 pm
Sounds totally random to me.
Verification of the 'same household' restriction is as good as impossible (we are all brothers in sisters), and beers+side of chips = meal.
But sure, everybody feels better when cases go up again.
another community
on Jun 5, 2020 at 12:20 pm
on Jun 5, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Someone explain to me the "charter boat" provision here. Why on earth is that suddenly an essential business? Not saying someone got paid off to put that in the new order, but it sounds like some money may have been exchanged there.
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Jun 5, 2020 at 12:35 pm
on Jun 5, 2020 at 12:35 pm
C'mon SMC...move it along...
I need a haircut.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Jun 5, 2020 at 2:47 pm
on Jun 5, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Time to open everything. People should exercise responsibility on their own according to their own risk assessments.
Menlo Park: Park Forest
on Jun 5, 2020 at 3:59 pm
on Jun 5, 2020 at 3:59 pm
"People should exercise responsibility on their own according to their own risk assessments."
That would be fine if they alone bore the risks of their exposure - however if they get Covid 19 (and also give it to others ) will they expect the emergency response personnel and medical personnel to place themselves at risk to take care of them?