Health Officer Order No. 2020-8 provides additional direction within the County of Santa Barbara to slow the spread of COVID-19, and about the operations of “Essential Businesses.”.

This Order is effective 5:00 pm (PDT) April 24, 2020 and continues until May 31, 2020 5:00 pm (PDT) or until extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the County Health Officer.

All essential businesses must prepare and post a Social Distancing Protocol for each of their Santa Barbara County facilities frequented by the public or employees.

The Social Distancing Protocol must include, but is not limited to, explaining how businesses are achieving the following, as applicable:

1. Ensuring individuals maintain a minimum of six-feet distance by:
   
   1. Limiting the number of persons who may enter the facility and work areas at any one time; and
   2. For facilities where lines may form, marking increments of six-feet establishing where individuals may stand.
2. Regularly disinfecting by:
   1. Providing hand sanitizer, soap and water, or other effective disinfectant at or near the entrance of the facility and in other appropriate areas for use by the public and employees and in locations where there is high-frequency employee interaction with the public (e.g., cashiers);
   2. Providing contactless payment systems or, if not feasible to do so, disinfecting all payment portals, keypads, pens, and styluses after each use; and
   3. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting other high-touch surfaces.
3. Informing the public and employees that they should:
   1. Avoid entering the facility if they have a cough or fever;
   2. Maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another;
   3. Sneeze and cough into their elbow; and
   4. Not shake hands or engage in unnecessary physical contact.
4. Any additional social distancing measures being implemented.

Social distancing protocols must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility and must be easily viewable by the public and employees.  A copy of it must also be provided to each employee who works at the facility.

Please refer to Attachments A and B of the Health Officer Order 2020-8. Examples include but are not limited to faith-based organizations, public and private golf courses, and botanical gardens. 

The following outdoor activities which are permitted include, but are not limited to, the following with social distancing in place at all times: visiting botanical gardens, golfing, tennis, pickleball, pleasure driving, outdoor housework including gardening, walking, hiking, running, and bicycling, going to the beach or trail walking.

Yes.  All faith-based services can be attended virtually or outdoors if the protocols outlined in the Order are followed.  One or more persons (but no more than five) may enter nearby buildings as necessary to put on the presentation while maintaining social distancing requirements.  

Yes.  However, faith-based organizations must ensure that attendees adhere to the following:

1. All attending persons must:
   1. Arrive in a motor vehicle occupied only by up to five persons from the same household or living unit;
   2. Remain in the motor vehicle they arrived in at all times during the services; and
   3. Do not transfer tangible items of any kind, including food products between motor vehicles.
2. All motor vehicles maintain at least a minimum distance of six feet from all other vehicles;
3. No restroom facilities are made available to persons at the facility during the services; and
4. No tangible items of any kind, including food products are transferred.

Yes.  Public and private golf courses may provide accommodations for persons who wish to golf as a form of outdoor activity provided they strictly enforce social distancing requirements.  Golfers must also adhere to social distancing and the following:

1. Only single occupant motorized carts are allowed.
2. No more than four golfers are allowed per group and each group must remain intact (i.e. no person may substitute in or out of the original group).
3. All groups of golfers are to maintain a distance of at least 30 feet between each group.
4. Persons may use a driving range provided that range balls are properly sanitized before distribution to customers (stand-alone golf driving ranges may also operate).

Public and private golf courses must strictly enforce social distancing requirements and the following additional protocols:

1. Each motorized cart must be sanitized before each use;
2. All ball washers shall be covered;
3. Flag pins shall be removed;
4. The cup on each green shall be inverted or otherwise installed to eliminate high-frequency touch services on the greens and tees; and
5. Food may only be served to consumers via delivery service, pick-up, or drive-thru.
6. The following shall remain closed:
   1. Practice putting greens;
   2. Pro-Shops or similar facilities whose purpose is to sale golf-related equipment and supplies; and
   3. In-room dining in snack shops and restaurants.