Updated as of December 8, 2020

State and County Updates

On Thursday, December 3, the State announced a new regional stay at home order based on the region’s ICU capacity rate. Once triggered, the new order would implement further sector closures and modifications. On Friday, December 4, the ICU capacity rate in the Southern California region, which includes the City of Santa Paula, fell below the State’s 15% rate, prompting the new order to take effect on Sunday, December 6. All operations in the following sectors must close:

• Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds
• Indoor Recreational Facilities
• Hair Salons and Barbershops
• Personal Care Services
• Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums
• Movie Theaters
• Wineries
• Bars, Breweries and Distilleries
• Family Entertainment Centers
• Cardrooms and Satellite Wagering
• Limited Services
• Live Audience Sports
• Amusement Parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100 percent masking and physical distancing:

• Outdoor Recreational Facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.
• Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20 percent capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
• Shopping Centers: Allow indoor operation at 20 percent capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
• Hotels and Lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.
• Restaurants: Allow only for take-out or pick-up.
• Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.
• Places of Worship: Allow outdoor services only.
• Entertainment Production including Professional Sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

Read the State’s full regional stay at home order here.

The new regional stay at home order augments the State's limited Stay at home order announced on November 19, which requires all gatherings and non-essential activities to stop between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM.

Alcohol-Serving Establishments

On September 22, Ventura County amended its prior health order that restricted the operations of bars, publics, brewpubs, breweries, wineries, wine tasting rooms and other establishments that serve alcohol on-premises. This new order allows alcohol-serving establishments to remain open until 10:00 PM to comply with the State's stay at home order. Read Ventura County Health Officer’s full order here.

Re-opening of Businesses

All businesses wishing to reopen must complete the County’s business attestation form. Please visit Ventura County Recovers, for county-specific information on revised business operations and additional restrictions. For more information on the State’s new guidelines, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/. 

August 28, 2020 - Governor Announces Blueprint for Safer Economy

On August 28, the Governor announced the Blueprint for a Safer Economy that categorized counties by tier (yellow, orange, red and purple) to replace its previous County Monitoring List. Ventura County is currently categorized as “Purple” or “Widespread" tier.

As of August 31, 2020, counties in the Widespread (purple) tier may open some businesses and activities with modifications, including all retail, shopping centers at maximum 25% capacity, and hair salons and barbershops indoors. Businesses that remain closed at this time include bars and breweries, nail salons, clubs, concert, theater and stadium venues, and tattoo and piercing shops. Find additional information about which businesses are permitted to open in which tiers under these new state guidelines on the State’s website.

July 23, 2020 - Santa Paula Announces Tables on Main Initiative

On Thursday, July 23, the City of Santa Paula began the "Tables on Main!" pilot program, currently scheduled through the end of September. The program allows for participating restaurants to expand operations into the public right of way. Sections of sidewalk and parking areas on Main Street between 8th Street and 10th Street will be reserved for additional dining space for select restaurants. An additional public dining area at Davis Street between Main Street and North Alley will be available for shared use.

Barricades and other traffic control devices will remain in place for the duration of the program, and a temporary 15 mph speed limit will be enforced on Main Street between 8th Street and 10th Street. Davis Street will remain completely closed between Main Street and North Alley to allow for additional open dining space.  

For questions, concerns, or information about this program, contact Jeff Mitchem at (805) 933-4214 x284 or jmitchem@spcity.org..

State’s website

Updates for Local Businesses Regarding COVID-19

Business Retention Coronavirus Disaster Recovery Checklist

Check here for a list of helpful items to keep your business covered during the ’Shelter in Place’ orders.
Checklist can be found here (English)
Checklist can be found here (Spanish)

Covid-19: Essential and Non-Essential Businesses

For a comprehensive listing of which businesses are considered essential and which are non-essential, please refer to the County’s Order (available here) and the County’s Stay Well at Home Frequently Asked Questions for Businesses (available here). 

For a list of essential business and non-essential businesses please refer to this quick reference list
Essential and Non-Essential Businesses (English)
Essential and Non-Essential Businesses (Spanish)

Economic Development Collaborative Business Resource Hotline

 In addition to our webinar series, we have created a Business Resource Hotline (805.409.9159) to help answer questions and direct the business and non-profit community to available resources. We hope that adding these new opportunities will increase the capacity for the EDC to serve the Ventura and Santa Barbara community.

More information on the EDC and COVID-19 Business Resources