LONG BEACH (CNS) - Long Beach officials announced that bars and nail salons will be permitted to open today, and religious services and cultural ceremonies can now be conducted outdoors with modifications, provided they meet physical distancing and sanitization requirements to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
“We continue to slowly reopen the economy safely and based on stable hospitalization data,'' Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said. “Please be responsible, physically distance, wear face coverings and follow the guidance of health experts.''
Bars and wineries may reopen at 50% capacity, with bar areas closed and with no standing permitted. Patrons may use restaurant-style seating and must wear a face covering when entering a facility or moving throughout a facility. Servers must wear a face covering and a face shield for protection when serving customers who are not wearing face coverings.
Nail salons may reopen with restrictions and with proper safety protocols in place, such as a minimum six feet of distance between service stations, mandatory facial coverings for both employees and patrons, frequent sanitization of high-touch surfaces, and limited patron capacity.
The Health Order contains revisions for religious services and cultural ceremonies conducted outdoors.
Although there is no maximum attendance limit for outdoor religious services or cultural ceremonies such as funerals, attendees must have space to observe a minimum six feet of distance between those who do not live in the same household.
However, indoor religious services remain limited to 25% of occupancy or 100 people, whichever is less.
Applicable safety protocols will be outlined in an amended Health Order, which is forthcoming, officials said.
Beginning on June 26, personal care services -- such as tattoo parlors, cosmetology services, body-waxing, spa and massage therapy in non-healthcare settings, body art professionals and piercing shops -- will be permitted to reopen with restrictions and with proper safety protocols in place.
“These personal care services often involve face-to-face activity over a prolonged period of time without the ability to distance,'' a city statement said. “Often, for these services, the person receiving the service is not wearing a face covering. City health officials have determined these to be higher-risk activities.
“Therefore, the city is waiting an additional week to permit these personal care services to reopen in order to provide businesses with opportunities to prepare facilities to comply with infection control measures and to implement proper safety protocols prior to reopening,'' the statement said.
The following businesses must remain closed in Long Beach until further notice: movie theaters; and “family entertainment centers,'' such as bowling alleys, miniature golf, and arcades.
The actions were put in place by the City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, and in accordance with the Emergency Powers granted to the City Manager through the Proclamation of Local Emergency.
The Health Order was effective on June 12, 2020, and will continue until it is extended, rescinded or amended in writing by the Health Officer.
The updated Health Order will align with Los Angeles County's and California's Resilience Roadmap. Business owners are encouraged to review the state guidelines in advance of the forthcoming amended Long Beach Health Order.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep its residents safe, visit:www.longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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