Coronavirus Updates

Most Recent Updates

Be Ready For COVID-19 In Your Business: Employer Responsibilities For Prevention, Preparedness, & Outbreak Management

County of Santa Cruz – Employer Toolkit

Chamber of Commerce & City of Scotts Valley provide comprehensive list of all open essential businesses updated daily.

June 2020

6/15/20 Expanded Personal Care Services May Resume Friday
6/10/20 Great Plates Delivered Extended
6/9/20 Revised Health Order Removes Lodging Restrictions
6/5/20 Great Plates Vendors Announced, Extension sought
6/2/20 Restaurants and Businesses Given Outdoor Options
6/1/20 Limited In-Person County Services Resume

The SCORE reopening plan checklist will help ensure you take all the relevant factors into account to develop a well-thought-out plan and includes resources to help you.

SCORE-Checklist-Coronavirus-Reopening-General-Business Download

There are several factors to consider as you develop your business reopening plan:
1. How your business model may need to change to stay competitive
What types of sales are needed to break even and when you can expect to become profitable again
2. Where to access the financing you may need to retrofit or adapt your business
3. How to maintain a safe environment for everyone who enters your location
4. Any accommodations your employees may need to return to work
5. How to make customers feel comfortable doing business with you
6. How to market your reopening to build awareness and demand
To get advice about creating your business’s reopening plan, contact a SCORE mentor online or in your community.

May 2020

5/30/20County Restaurants, Hair Salons May Resume Services
5/29/20Board Approves Application to Move into Late Stage 2
5/27/20 Special Board Meeting
5/26/20 New Health Order Allows Certain Activities to Resume
5/22/20 Public Health Monitoring Covid-19 Clusters
5/21/20 SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County Launches Website
5/15/20 Advisory on Local Business and Other Activities
5/9/20 Save Lives Economic Recovery Council Announced
5/7/20 Watsonville Specimen Collection Site to Launch
5/6/20 Health Officer to Amend Shelter-In-Place Order
5/5/20 County Guidance on Dental Services
5/5/20 County Seeks Vendors for Great Plates Program

Business and Industry Specific Resources

California’s resilience roadmap (A four stage approach to reopening the economy. Includes guidance and industry-specific checklists to help businesses reduce risk and establish a safe, clean environment for workers and customers.)
California’s list of Stage 2 businesses to reopen (Sectors, businesses, establishments or activities that qualify to reopen upon certification that the county meets CDPH criteria and implement the relevant Industry Guidelines.)

Mandatory Business Requirements

REQUIRED SIGNAGE POSTING:
Businesses MUST post signage at each public entrance of the facility noting the following:
1, Avoid entering the facility if you have a cough or a fever.
2. Maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another.
3. Sneeze and cough into a cloth or tissue or, if not available, into your elbow; and Not shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact.
PROTECTING EMPLOYEE HEALTH
Everyone who can carry out their work duties from home has been directed to do so. All employees have been told not to come to work if sick
Symptom checks are being conducted before employees may enter the work space. All desks or individual workstations are separated by at least six feet
Break rooms, bathrooms, and other common areas are being disinfected frequently, include posted schedule. Disinfectant and related supplies are available to all employees, list the location in which supplies are located
Soap and water are available to all employees
MEASURES TO PREVENT CROWDS FROM GATHERING
Limit number of customers in the store at any one time. Post an employee at the door to ensure that the maximum number of customers in the facility set forth is not exceeded. Place per-person limits on goods that are selling out quickly to reduce crowds and lines.
MEASURES TO KEEP PEOPLE AT LEAST SIX FEET APART
Place signs outside the store reminding people to be a least six feet apart, including when in line. Place tape or other markings at least six feet apart in customer line areas inside the store and on sidewalks at public entrances with signs directing customers to use the markings to maintain distance
Separate order areas from delivery areas to prevent customers from gathering. All employees have been instructed to maintain at least six feet distance from customers and from each other, except employees may momentarily come closer when necessary to accept payment, deliver goods or services, or as otherwise necessary
MEASURES TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY CONTACT
Prevent people from self-serving any items that are food related
Lids for cups and food-bar type items are provided by staff, not to customers to grab. Bulk-item food bins are not available for customer self-service use. Customers are not permitted to bring their own bags, mugs, or other reusable items from home. Provide contactless payment systems or, if not feasible, sanitize payment systems regularly.
MEASURES TO INCREASE SANITIZATION
Disinfecting wipes that are effective against COVID-19 are available near shopping carts and shopping baskets. Employees assigned to disinfect carts and baskets regularly. Hand sanitizer, soap and water, or effective disinfectant is available to the public at or near the entrance of the facility, at checkout counters, and anywhere else inside the store or immediately outside where people have direct interactions. Disinfect all payment portals, pens, and styluses after each use. Disinfect all high-contact surfaces frequently.

April 2020

4/29/20 Additional Beach Activity Limits During Peak Hours
4/29/20 County Announces COVID-19 Community Recovery Efforts
4/28/20 Hotel Rooms Available for Local Health Care Workers
4/24/20 Limited Beach Access
4/23/20 County Completes COVID-19 Readiness Assessment of Skilled Nursing Facilities
4/23/20 Face Coverings Order Available
4/21/20 Health Officer to Issue Face Covering Order

April 13th – MBCP Board Approves Electric Rate Deferral for All Customers in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic While many local, state and federal programs are available to support customers, MBCP is here to provide support to all customers we serve. 50% of Your May and June MBCP Electric Generation Charges Will Be Deferred. Please Click here to review MBCP’s COVID-Response Press Release

April 8, 2020 – Public Parks and Beaches Closed
Effective today, Wednesday, April 8, 2020, Gail Newell, Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer, has ordered the temporary closure of all public parks, trails and trailheads, beaches and beach access points. The Order covers the unincorporated areas and all cities and is necessary to reduce the public health and safety threat from the coronavirus due to crowding in recreational spaces throughout Santa Cruz County. The closure will remain in place until next Wednesday, April 15, 2020 and includes all public trails, paths, parkways, trailheads and campgrounds, public beaches, golf courses, and other public areas. Recreational activity in those areas is prohibited, including walking, running, jogging, cycling, etc. The order prohibits surfing in Santa Cruz County until April 16th. Click here for more details. Failure to comply with this Order is a misdemeanor. Public safety personnel throughout Santa Cruz County will work collaboratively to ensure compliance with the Order through patrols and engagement with community members. Read more here.

April 8, 2020 Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for exemption from the requirement to provide leave due to school closings or child care unavailability if the leave requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.

April 8, 2020 As many of you are aware, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the “Paycheck Protection Program,” the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during this emergency. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward. Please find attached and at this link the U.S. Chamber’s Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist. This is the first of a number of resources we are developing to help you connect your members with the resources recently approved by Congress to respond to the ongoing pandemic.

April 8, 2020 – Paycheck Protection Program. Banks in Scotts Valley that are services these loans are Santa Cruz County Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Here is the United States Senate Committee On Small Business & Entrepreneurship’s FAQs explaining the new SBA loans available to you. These FAQs include invaluable information to assist you in understanding how to apply for an SBA loan, how the funds may be used, and which uses of the funds will result in the loan being forgiven. You can find the FAQs here.

April 1, 2020 – Santa Cruz County has joined six other Bay Area counties in issuing a shelter in place order, which is in effect through April 7 and allows certain essential businesses to continue operating. Click here for more.

April 1, 2020
Tax Extensions
California Franchise Tax Board
California Dept of Tax & Fee Administration
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

State Resources – Employee, Employer
Employment Development Department (EDD)
Employer, employee, worker, self-employed, caregiver information and assistance.
California Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Benefits, paid leave, disability and unemployment insurance, worker’s comp.
California Department of Industrial Relations
California’s paid sick leave laws
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Economic development, business assistance, job growth

March 30, 2020 – SBDC has resources related to COVID-19 to help navigate through the chaos COVID-19 is having on our communities. Please reach out to your SBDC center if you have questions regarding how your business can maximize the available help.

Covid19-survival-guide_sbdc_3-26-v3 Download

MARCH 24, 2020 – Scotts Valley City Council halted coronavirus-related evictions in passing an emergency residential and commercial eviction moratorium. This ordinance is effective immediately through May 31st, 2020. The tenant will have 120 days after the end of this ordinance to repay in full any rents not payed in April and May. Under these temporary measures, tenants cannot be removed due to non-payment of rent when the inability to pay rent is caused by: income or business losses or substantial medical expenses (related to the COVID-19 pandemic). “We hope to protect safety, welfare and public health by reducing further economic destabilization, loss of housing, businesses and jobs opportunities in Scotts Valley from COVID-19”. Here is the full list of covid-19 related circumstances

MARCH 24, 2020 – CA State Parks, Effective immediately, State Parks has temporarily closed vehicular traffic to parks experiencing high visitation. For those wishing to take a break in the outdoors, public health officials are advising them to walk, run, hike and bike in their local neighborhoods and walk to parks. Click here to view the list of the impacted parks.

MARCH 24, 2020
Due to extraordinary impacts to residents and businesses from the COVID-19 pandemic and in alignment with communities throughout California, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously passed a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions. Press Release Here.

MARCH 22, 2020 – The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. Stay informed and stay home thru April 7th. City of Scotts Valley

City of Scotts Valley Operations

With the order to stop non-essential government and business operations, Scotts Valley has shifted to provide only essential services. Police and dispatch service will operate as normal, so will our Wastewater Treatment Plant and maintenance response crews. Essential building inspections and permitting will occur by appointment. The Senior and Community Centers and Recreation programs are closed. All outdoor parks and open space remain open, including playgrounds and bathrooms, with enhanced cleaning schedules. The City will work with our businesses regarding the Public Health Order to cease non-essential business operations. Our approach is education and voluntary compliance . We know that this Order appeared quickly and businesses are grappling with adjusting operations. If the City receives complaints of a business improperly operating, we will make contact with owners/managers to explain the order and seek voluntary compliance.

We understand the tremendous impacts this Order will have on our business community and the City will work with the Chamber to support business during and after this Order period. The City is grateful for part you are playing to contain this public health threat. For more information: County Public Health website www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus

City of Scotts Valley COVID-19 webpage: www.scottsvalley.org/covid19

New Public Health Call Center

Santa Cruz County has launched a new public health call center to address questions regarding COVID-19. Call (831) 454-4242 Monday through Friday 8 AM – 6 PM.

Shelter in Place Order

On March 16, 2020, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel issued a shelter in place order.

Effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, residents are hereby ordered to shelter in place and limit public activities to essential services. The order is intended to help restrict the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

For the latest news on COVID-19, text “covid19” to 211211. This service has been set up by the Santa Cruz County Public Health Service and the United Way.

Business Resources & Guidance

Small Business Development Center

NEED HELP MAKING A PLAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR FIGURING OUT FINANCIAL OPTIONS ARE BEST FOR YOUR SITUATION?
The SBDC (Small Business Development Center) has expert business consultants available to provide free, individualized and confidential one-on-one advising to help you develop a strategy to plan and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBDC is also available to help you understand the financial resources available and prepare applications for funding.You can email them directly at [email protected]

Employment Development Department

EDD Employment Development Department is providing programs that are available and what situations may be applicable to your circumstances. We encourage you to apply for the program you believe best fits your needs and the EDD will determine your eligibility for benefits such as Disability or Paid Family Leave Benefits, Unemployment Insurance Benefits, Employer Information

Most Recent Updates

Be Ready For COVID-19 In Your Business: Employer Responsibilities For Prevention, Preparedness, & Outbreak Management

Essential Open Business Listing

November 2020

October 2020

September 2020

August 2020

July 2020