Our goal is to help workers and businesses take responsible steps toward resuming work, serving customers and rebuilding our economy. Click here for state specific industry guidelines to help you reopen safely.
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve rapidly, the city is committed to keeping business owners informed, providing resources, and advocating for effective strategies to assist in the recovery. We stand with you, and we’re working closely with the Governor’s Office and the County of Santa Cruz to help us all emerge stronger from this crisis.
Click here to view industry specific guidelines best practices, and other resources.
Before reopening, all facilities must:
- Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific Social Distancing Protocol
- The Social Distancing Protocol must explain how the business is achieving the following, as applicable:
- Limiting the number of people who can enter into the facility and work areas at any one time to ensure that people in the facility and work areas can easily maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another at all times, except as required to complete the Essential Business activity;
- Where lines may form at a facility, marking six-foot increments at a minimum, establishing where individuals should stand to maintain adequate social distancing;
- Providing hand sanitizer, soap and water, or effective disinfectant at or near the entrance of the facility and in other appropriate areas for use by the public and employees, and in locations where there is high-frequency employee interaction with members of the public (e.g. cashiers);
- Providing for contactless payment systems or, if not feasible to do so, then providing for disinfecting of all payment portals, pens, and styluses after each use;
- Regularly cleaning and disinfecting other high-touch surfaces;
- Posting a sign at the entrance of the facility and work area informing all employees and customers that they should: avoid entering the facility if they have a cough or fever; maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another; sneeze and cough into one’s elbow; not shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact; and
- Adhering to additional social distancing guidance recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html
In addition, business owners should:
- Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them
- Implement individual control measures and screenings
- Implement disinfecting protocols
It is critical that employees needing to self-isolate because of COVID-19 are encouraged to stay at home, with sick leave policies to support that, to prevent further infection in your workplace. See additional information on government programs supporting sick leave and worker’s compensation for COVID-19.
Thank you for your service and commitment to our community! We want to partner with you in keeping Watsonville healthy.