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June 15 and Beyond

On May 21, 2021, California announced the details of the state’s full reopening plan. As of June 15, 2021, the State moved into beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Businesses may now return to usual operations with limited exceptions for mega events. The updated framework clarifies that physical distancing and capacity limitations will no longer be required for most businesses.
Review California’s reopening plan and guidance effective June 15, 2021 for all sectors listed in the current Blueprint Activities and Business Tiers Chart

Note: Employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS)

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) strongly encourages the following general public health recommendations:

Everyone should get vaccinated when eligible.
Indoor spaces should be well ventilated (i.e., open all windows and doors to increase natural air flow), following current CDPH and CalOSHA guidance.
Everyone should sign up for CA Notify as an added layer of protection for themselves and the community to receive alerts when they have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

For questions on COVID-19 protections in the workplace or to speak with a Cal/OSHA representative during normal business hours, please call 833-579-0927.

MEGA EVENTS REQUIREMENTS	Indoors ( > 5000 attendees)	Outdoors ( > 10,000 attendees)
Vaccine Verification / Negative Testing	Required for mega-events	Recommended for mega-events
Capacity Limitations	No restrictions
Physical Distancing	No restrictions for attendees, customers and guests
Masking	Follow current CDPH Guidance for Face Coverings
Travelers	Follow CDC recommendations and CDPH Travel Advisory

K-12 Schools Reopening Framework and Guidance Q&A (Updated 7-12-21)

Contains 2 requirements:
- Universal masking for indoors
- Case reporting, contact tracing, and investigation
Contains recommendations for:
- Ventilation for indoor spaces
- Staying home when sick and testing
- Screening & testing
- Quarantine
- Isolation
- Cleaning
- Food service
- Vaccine verification
- COVID-19 Safety Planning Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unvaccinated children and youth be required or recommended to wear a mask during recess outdoors if they cannot maintain physical distancing?

In general, unvaccinated children and youth do not need to wear a mask outdoors, even if they cannot maintain physical distancing. However, per CDC recommendations, in areas of substantial to high transmission, people who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact (including high-risk contact sports) with other people who are not fully vaccinated.

When will CDPH release School Guidance for the 2021-2022 school year?

We recognize that school districts are planning now for the upcoming school year, as well as year-round schooling that may start as early as July. CDPH is waiting for the CDC to update their school guidance in order to make updates to the CDPH K-12 school guidance. This will allow coordination between Federal and CA guidance. CDPH is trying to avoid potential confusion associated with releasing guidance prior to CDC, so schools do not need to make multiple planning changes.

Do fully vaccinated teachers and staff need to wear masks in school buildings if school is out for the summer and students are not in the building?

For district staff in administrative buildings or for teachers on campus when student programs are not in session and students are not in the building, masking guidance is governed by current Cal/OSHA requirements. A district may use any of the options for masking that are provided to businesses to guide masking policies for anyone from the general public who may be entering the District Offices or coming on-campus when student programs are not in session.

If students take a school trip off school campus to an indoors location, do vaccinated students need to wear a mask indoors if the location they are visiting does not require vaccinated people to wear masks?

If students are participating in a school event or being supervised by school staff, face mask guidance for K-12 settings must be followed regardless of location.

Since there are several changes after June 15’s Beyond the Blueprint, are K-12 schools required to update and post a new version of our COVID Safety Plans (CSP)?

K-12 schools are not required to update their COVID-19 Safety Plans, but the spirit of the school guidance is to support transparency and as a way of sharing with school communities. So, schools should consider updating CSPs for major changes, and re-post to your school website.

Resources for Businesses

Learn about important information including Federal, State, and local assistance programs available to small business owners and employers. Please check out the County of Santa Barbara’s updated list of new programs and policies that may impact your business.

Resources for Individuals

If you are a small business owner, employer, employee or a resident and you are interested in assistance that is specifically targeted to individuals and workers, please check out these resources.

Local & State Health Orders

Find local and state health orders that may affect your business here. Health orders can have an impact on when businesses may reopen, how goods and services may be delivered to the public and if there are any special health-related requirements of businesses or the general public.

Small Business & Community Partnership Enhancement Program

Want to take your business outdoors? Check out this special allowance that provides businesses or other organizations to expand into adjacent public right-of-way outdoor areas in the unincorporated areas of the county.