San Francisco Updates Its Shelter-In-Place Order to Reopen Certain Businesses

Topics: COVID-19

On June 1, 2020, the City and County San Francisco updated its shelter-in-place order, which replaces the prior May 17, 2020 extension of the initial shelter-in-place order.  The updated order is considered Phase 2A of its incremental process to reopen the economy and extends to certain types of businesses and other activities.

The order continues to restrict all businesses from operating at their facilities in San Francisco and requires employees to work from home if possible, except for essential businesses, outdoor businesses and those additional businesses covered by the updated order.  As of June 1, 2020, the additional businesses permitted to resume with modifications include:

• Outdoor curbside pick-up and drop off for low contact retail services (like dog grooming and shoe repair)
• Childcare programs and summer camps (not just limited to children of essential workers)
• Outdoor activity equipment rental businesses
• Professional sports teams  (practices only with an approved plan)

Attached as Appendix A to the order is a revised Social Distancing Protocol. All businesses currently operating in San Francisco must update their social distancing protocol to conform to the revised protocol by June 15, 2020. Any business that is implementing a social distancing protocol for the first time on or after June 1, 2020, must comply with the new protocol before resuming operations. In addition to the social distancing protocol, all businesses allowed to operate under the order must prepare a written health and safety plan and follow any industry-specific directives, which can be found here.

This updated order is in effect without a specific expiration date until it is extended in writing by San Francisco’s Public Health Officer.Based on a news conference held by Mayor London Breed on May 28, 2020, we can expect that to be soon as she announced that Phase 2B of the reopening plan has a targeted date of June 15, 2020, Phase 2C has a targeted date of July 13, 2020, and Phase 3 has a targeted date of sometime in mid-August.

A complete copy of the order (with Attached Exhibit A) can be found here.