Santa Clara County has issued some important revisions to its stay-at-home order, including some that affect businesses.

The changes come as county officials extended the stay-at-home order through May 3. The order was originally scheduled to end April 7, but it is being lengthened to further help slow the spread of COVID-19. While health officials acknowledged some progress in the fight, they said more restrictions are needed to ensure hospital capacity for a future surge in patients and to save lives.

The changes announced March 31 are designed to clarify the rules, ensure greater workplace safety and encourage stronger social distancing, officials said. Here are some key points for business:

• All “essential” businesses that remain open (such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations) must prepare, post, and implement a “Social Distancing Protocol” and health checklist by 11:59 p.m. April 2. The County has developed sample protocol documents you can download and customize, and they are available in English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese. Essential stores must also provide hand sanitizer and limit the number of people in a store at one time.
• Most construction must cease. Under the previous order, residential construction of all kinds was allowed. Now, construction is limited to affordable housing only, as well as several exceptions necessary to health care and public works. (Developers of affected projects can perform work on the site only to ensure it is safe and secure while it is shut down in compliance with this Order.)
• A new category of “essential business” has been created: Service providers that enable residential transactions (including rentals, leases, and home sales), including, but not limited to, real estate agents, escrow agents, notaries, and title companies. Restrictions on in-person viewings and appointments apply; read the Order for more details.
• The exception for “stores that sell products to allow workers to work from home” has been eliminated.

Read more about the changes and new requirements in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. There’s also an extensive list of frequently asked questions,  which has been updated.

At a news conference on March 31, Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody referenced that larger goal as she thanked businesses for their sacrifice.

“The goal is to decrease the average number of contacts that each of us has with each other every day,” she said. “Every unnecessary contact with another person increases the chance that the virus spreads… Every revision in the order is guided by that goal.”

Please check our main COVID-19 website for updated information on resources, including new loan programs from the Small Business Administration and other tools to support your business.