County of Santa Clara sccgov
SCCgov
The County of Santa Clara seal
Public Health Department logo
County of Santa Clara
Emergency Operations Center

Public Health Orders

Last content update: 5/18/2021​​​​

UPDATE: On May 18, 2021, the California Department of Public Health issued a new order establishing focused safety measures designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and announced that Santa Clara County will be entering the Yellow Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.  The new health order and the move to the Yellow Tier will both be effective May 19, 2021. Many of the previous restrictions are no longer necessary because there is increasing and widespread vaccination and fewer cases of COVID-19 in the community.  However, it is critical that more people get vaccinated and that unvaccinated people continue to take appropriate safety measures.  The County Health Officer urges businesses, entities, and residents to continue exercising caution even as certain restrictions are lifted. Furthermore, the County Health Officer strongly urges all eligible residents to get vaccinated.

 

The following documents can be reviewed for further information and updates.

The following documents are the Mandatory Health Officer Directives that specify requirements for businesses and activities:

Executive Summary for May 18, 2021 Order

PDF

On May 18, 2021, the County Health Officer issued a new order establishing focused safety measures designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Many of the previous restrictions are no longer necessary  because there is widespread vaccination and fewer cases of COVID-19 in the community.  However, it is critical that more people get vaccinated and that unvaccinated people continue to take appropriate safety measures.  Therefore, the new Order requires employers to determine who in a workplace has been fully vaccinated in order to comply with current and anticipated County and State rules related to COVID-19 safety in the workplace.  The new Order goes into effect on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, when the county enters into the Yellow Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. 

The new Order replaces the October 5, 2020 Revised Risk Reduction Order and retires many of its requirements, including the following:

  • Maximizing telework is no longer required:  Businesses are no longer required to maximize the number of people who work remotely. 
  • Social Distancing Protocols are no longer required: Businesses and governmental entities are no longer required to submit Social Distancing Protocols to the County Public Health Department.  Instead, they must comply with any State rules applicable to their business, including the Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Prevention Regulations applicable to most businesses.
  • The local Mandatory Directive on Capacity Limitations has been eliminated: There are no local rules related to capacity.  For information on what is allowed in counties in the Yellow Tier, see the State Blueprint for a Safer Economy and the State’s Industry Guidance to Reduce Risk webpage.

The new order replaces the prior restrictions on activities with a few focused requirements related to vaccination, face coverings, and case reporting.  They include:

 

New Order Issued January 7, 2021

The Health Officer issued a new Order regarding COVID-19 Vaccination Information and Plans. This Order will go into effect on January 7, 2021.

  • Health Officer COVID-19 Vaccination Order (PDF): | English​ |

     

    Public health Orders are legal orders issued under the authority of California law. Learn more about the enforcement of County and State Public Health Orders​. Violations of these orders are punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.​

    Back to Top ▲

     

    Testing Order Issued September 16, 2020

    The Health Officer issued an amended Order regarding Testing on September 16, 2020. This new order enhances testing access by expanding the number of Essential Workers entitled to testing, makes sure access to testing is easy and quick, and ensures that healthcare providers inform their patients about how to access testing. This Order will go into effect on September 25, 2020.

     

    New Order Issued September 4, 2020

    The Health Officer issued a new Order regarding influenza vaccinations on September 4, 2020. This Order will go into effect on September 8, 2020.

    ​​Back to Top ▲

    Public Health Order Archive

    Quick Links

    COVID-19 Resource Directory COVID-19 Testing Sites COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions and Ask a Question Healthcare Provider Information Provider Case Report Form COVID-19 Flyer and Poster Library Home Isolation and Quarantine Guidance COVID-19 and Schools/Education County Services During COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Information Share a Concern Subscribe to Our Public Health Newsletter

    ©2021 County of Santa Clara. All rights reserved.