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Restaurants, Retail get OK to Start Reopening

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 21, 2020 

News Contacts:
Matthew A. Davis, Sr. Management Analyst and Public Communications Officer
(707) 784-6111 and 
MADavis@SolanoCounty.com 
(AND) 

Jayleen Richards, Public Health Administrator, Health and Social Services Department
(707) 784-8616 and 
JMRichards@SolanoCounty.com 

County receives OK to move further into Stage 2, begin process of reopening destination retail stores, shopping malls and dine-in restaurants

SOLANO COUNTY – County officials are pleased to announce the California Department of Public Health has agreed to the County’s COVID-19 County Variance Attestation request to move further into Stage 2 of the Governor’s Roadmap to Modify the Stay-at-Home health order. The approval allows for the reopening of some low-risk business activities closed under the state’s current health order.

Business sectors that have been given permission to begin the safe reopening process in Solano County as part of the accelerated plan include destination retails stores, including bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, home furnishing, sporting goods, florists, shopping malls, swap-meets, dine-in restaurants and office-based business operations – all with social distancing modifications in place.

“It’s because our residents have done such an amazing job following the County and state health orders that we’re able to allow for the phased reopening of some businesses here in Solano County,” says Erin Hannigan, District 1 Supervisor and Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors.

County Health Officials are currently updating the health order and will allow for businesses to begin operations starting tomorrow morning, Friday, May 22, at 6 a.m. as long as they have met the state’s guidance for reopening. Businesses are encouraged to get a head start on reviewing the state’s guidance and post readiness checklists at their establishments to self-certify their commitment to the public that they are ready to reopen safely. All of these materials, including signage, are available for review and preparation on the Solano County Public Health Roadmap to Recovery website.

“Solano County Public Health appreciates the opportunity the state has given us to move forward into an accelerated Phase 2,” says Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County Public Health Officer. “As we begin reopening businesses here in Solano County, Public Health will continue to monitor the situation, reminding everybody to continue to maintain social distancing best practices.”

As Solano County moves to relax its Stay-at-Home health order, we encourage all residents to continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Public Health and Solano County Public Health social distancing best practices, including wearing a cloth face mask outside your home whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained, maintaining a physical distance of six-feet from others, practicing coughing and sneezing etiquette, using a hand sanitizer or washing your hands for at least 20-seconds and to stay at home if you’re not feeling well. Businesses that are permitted to reopen must abide by the social distancing requirements in the County’s and State’s Orders.

For more information about Solano County’s Roadmap to Recovery, social distancing protocol and frequently asked questions about the phased reopening, visit the Solano County website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19 and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH. # # #

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