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.
In response to an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations throughout California, as the holiday season continues with uncertainties about the new Omicron variant, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requiring masks to be worn in all indoor public settings, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. This requirement will be in place December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022.
On June 15th the State moved beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. All sectors listed in the current Blueprint Activities and Business Tiers Chart may now return to usual operations (with the limited exceptions noted below for Mega Events) based on the following general public health recommendations:
Employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), if applicable to them.
Planning an Event or Performance?
Other than for any required regulatory permitting such as food service operations, Butte County Public Health does not review, approve, deny or make recommendations concerning public or private event plans of any kind. As Butte County continues to open up more, the state has issued new guidance and updated existing guidance for gatherings, private events, indoor events, graduation ceremonies and the like. Any person or agency who is planning, organizing or attending any such event and has questions, should locate the appropriate guidance and review it closely. It is the responsibility of event organizers to review and interpret the State’s guidance and make a determination if they can comply with it.
Guidance Documents can be found at (Google Chrome works best when accessing the State websites):
Workplaces Guidance for COVID-19 Exposure & Diagnosis:
To determine when an employee who has been exposed to COVID or tested positive for COVID may return to work, please refer to the Butte County Guidance for Employers Regarding COVID Exposure. For additional information please refer to the following:
(click to view) Employer Playbook for Safe Reopening
(click to view) Returning to Work/School Following COVID-19 Diagnosis
(click to view) COVID FAQs for Employers
(click to view) COVID Exposure: What Should I Do?
(click to view) Local Self-Certification placard
COVID-19 Workplace Outbreak Reporting
AB685 is a new California law that requires employers to notify employees/workers who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and to report workplace outbreaks to the local health department. A workplace outbreak is defined when an employer identifies 3 or more cases of COVID-19 at a worksite within a 14-day period - the employer is required to report this to their local health department within 48 hours.
Please note: this report is only for businesses and should not be used by the general public to report a business that may have infected workers.
Return to work letters no longer provided
To determine when an employee who has been exposed to COVID or tested positive for COVID may return to work, please refer to the Butte County Guidance for Employers Regarding COVID Exposure. Butte County Public Health (BCPH) will no longer provide return to work or release from isolation or quarantine letters for employers or employees. Due to a sharp increase in cases in Butte County, COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing must be prioritized to prevent outbreaks, stop chains of transmission and respond to cases in persons at highest risk for complications. Because of this prioritization, BCPH may not have specific information about your employee’s COVID infection and will not be able to confirm their release from quarantine or isolation.
COVID-19 Industry Guidance & Assistance
The California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
(LWDA) in coordination with CDPH recently launched a new Employer Portal, a
one-stop hub for California employers to quickly find up-to-date state and
local county COVID-19 guidance by business industry. This website will help expedite locating the most current state and local guidance and will be changing on a regular basis due to the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Access the CA COVID-19 Employer Portal: SaferAtWork.covid19.ca.gov
Individuals Actions:
- Anyone who is feeling ill should stay home.
- Vulnerable (high risk) individuals – should continue to use non-pharmaceutical interventions to protect themselves.
- Wear face coverings – Face coverings are still required in some settings, regardless of vaccination status: View the CDPH Guidance for Face Coverings, Effective June 15, 2021.
- Maintain good hygiene practices – Washing hands, use hand sanitizer, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, covering coughs and sneezes.
Face Mask Guidelines
In response to an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations throughout California, as the holiday season continues with uncertainties about the new Omicron variant, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requiring masks to be worn in all indoor public settings, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. This requirement will be in place December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022.
Masks are required for everyone in the following situations, regardless of vaccination status:
- All indoor public settings, including, but not limited to:
- In restaurants, bars and clubs
- In retail shops and malls
- In libraries
- In grocery stores
- On public transit and transportations hubs
- In Healthcare settings, including long term care facilities
- In homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers
- In Correctional Facilities and detention centers
- In K-12 schools, child care and other youth settings. View the CDPH Guidance for the use of Face Coverings.
What is a face mask?
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.
If you don't have a cloth face covering, you can make your own!