Outdoor Dining, Child Care Allowed In Sonoma County's New Order

Nick Garber
·1 min read

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Officials on Friday announced changes to Sonoma County's shelter-in-place order, allowing restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining, as well as expanded child care offerings and drive-in ceremonies, among other relaxed restrictions.

The expanded activities were made possible Thursday after the state Department of Public Health approved Sonoma County's request to vary from the statewide schedule, allowing the county to move further into Stage 2 of the state's four-part reopening plan.

Major changes in Sonoma County's new order include:

  • Restaurants and food facilities can offer onsite, sit-down outdoor meals. Wineries, tasting rooms, bars, pubs, breweries and craft distilleries can offer curbside pickup, or sit-down outdoor meals if food is also served.

  • Summer day camps and other educational or recreational programs can provide child care for children of all ages

  • Drive-in ceremonies, including graduations and religious services, can be conducted in closed vehicles. Drive-in movies are also allowed.

  • Libraries can offer curbside pickup.

  • Faith-based counseling can be given in person when virtual sessions are not possible.

Businesses that reopen must still comply with a number of safety measures, including maintaining social distancing and conducting a health check on employees before they can return to work.

Friday's changes amend the county's most recent shelter-in-place order, issued May 1, which included a number of eased restrictions from the first order, issued in March.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know

This article originally appeared on the Petaluma Patch