PLEASE NOTE:  This page is an active information page. As information is provided by the local work groups, health professionals and the State, it will be updated and added here.

As Butte County begins to reopen from restriction in place from the Governor's "Stay at Home" order for both residents and low-risk and high-risk businesses, the following information is important to limit and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our county.

Reopening Butte County

Stage 2 - Butte County Moving Further into Stage 2 (local plan)

The State outlined a resilience roadmap for modifying the Stay-at-Home Order. Butte County is moving further into Stage 2 based on local conditions for COVID-19. The chart below outlines the businesses and activities that may reopen, the timeline, and the measures that must be in place before reopening. 

Reopening businesses in these sectors means individual continue taking steps to reduce exposure and limit the spread of COVID-19 as shown in the list below.

• View the State's Roadmap Guidance
• View Butte County's Attestation
• View Butte County's Reopen Plan

• View Water System Safety for Businesses Reopening
• Food Safety Reopening Checklist
• Download the Self-Certification Window Placard

• Anyone who is feeling ill should stay home.
• Vulnerable (high risk) individuals – should continue to follow the State’s Stay-at-Home Order.
• Wear face coverings – individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when in public. See face covering guidance.
• Continue physical distancing – When in public, maximize physical distance from others (at least six feet).
• Maintain good hygiene practices – Washing hands, use hand sanitizer, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, covering coughs and sneezes.
• Social Settings – Gatherings are not allowed at this time.
• Non-essential travel is discouraged.

What should remain closed

The State Resilience Roadmap lists the following as higher-risk workplaces, and the County does not have the ability to authorize them to open at this time.

• Personal services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, gyms and fitness studios
• Hospitality services, such as bars and lounges
• Entertainment venues, such as movie theaters, gaming facilities, and pro sports
• Indoor museums, kids museums and gallery spaces, zoos, and libraries
• Community centers, including public pools, playgrounds, and picnic areas
• Nightclubs
• Concert venues
• Festivals
• Theme parks
• Hotels/lodging for leisure and tourism

Butte County is working with the State and advocating to go further and open businesses the State has listed in Stage 3 if local conditions continue for loosening restrictions.

Cloth Face Coverings

To protect against COVID-19, Butte County Public Health Officer, Dr. Andy Miller strongly recommends the use of cloth face coverings for individuals who must leave their home to conduct essential activity.

A significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.

Cloth Face Covering Safety Measures:

• Wash your hands before putting on a face covering
• Don’t touch your face or the face covering during usage
• Wash the face covering before using it again
• Face coverings are not a substitute for staying home or social distancing, especially when ill.
• The purchase of N95 respirator masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders.

A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.

Quick Links for Cloth Face Coverings:

• Guidance from the California Department of Public Health.
• Guidance from the CDC.

If you don't have a cloth face covering, you can make your own!

Continued Social Distancing

As we reopen parts of the community, including low-risk and medium-risk businesses, social distancing remains an important step to limiting and slowing the spread of COVID-19. 

Social distancing requires the creation of physical space between individuals who may spread certain infectious diseases. The key is to minimize the number of gatherings as much as possible and to achieve space between individuals when events or activities cannot be modified, postponed, or canceled:

• Maintain space between individuals of approximately six feet or more.
• Create space between individuals who have come together on a one-time or rare basis and who have very different travel patterns such as those coming from multiple countries, states or counties
• Create space in work settings for essential workers.
• It people must wait in line to purchase items, make sure there is space for social distancing.

Mass Gatherings

Mass gatherings are still disallowed by the Governor's order. As information changes, we will provide updates here. A “gathering” is any event or convening that brings together people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space.

School Graduation Drive-In Guidance

As we close out the school year, we understand the strong desire to recognize graduating students for their accomplishments. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has provided guidance stating that in-person graduation is still not allowed at this time. CDPH has noted that drive-in only services are permissible as long as all public health precautions and social distancing is maintained. 

View Drive-In Graduation Guidance

COVID-19 and Funerals

Funeral services are permitted and allow for 10 or fewer people.
View the State Guidance for Funeral Establishments

Examples of mass gatherings disallowed by the Governor's order:

• Concerts
• Conferences
• Sporting event (professional, college and school)
• Gym/Health Clubs
• Theaters