Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you are feeling sick, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center. Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you have deemed that you have an actual emergency. For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence to work for or obtain services at any health care provider, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical and scientific research facilities, laboratories, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, veterinary care providers, mental health providers, physical therapists and chiropractors, cannabis dispensaries with medicinal permits, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services, manufacturers and suppliers. Health care providers do not include exercise gyms and similar facilities.

To the extent possible, all health care visits that are not cancelled or rescheduled should be done remotely.

If you are feeling sick, please first call your primary care doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center before going to the hospital. Check online resources like the CDC website if you are worried that you or a loved one has the COVID-19 virus. Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you have deemed that you have an actual emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

If possible, walk or drive yourself to the hospital or medical provider. If someone else in your home is sick and can drop you off, that is another good option. If you have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like a surgical mask or N-95 mask, you can wear that to prevent exposing others. If you don’t have that, you could use a temporary method such as wrapping a clean scarf around your mouth and nose to try to reduce droplets when you cough and sneeze. Although this is not an approved method, it is something you can do to avoid exposing others.

Yes. Be sure that you protect them and you by following social distancing guidelines such as washing hands before and after, using hand sanitizer, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance when possible, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue.

Yes you can visit your loved one at a Long Term Care Facility. View the guidance here. Visitations to Skilled Nursing Facilities are not yet allowed by the state.

You are permitted to provide care or to help with getting supplies for loved ones. But don’t provide care or pick up supplies if you are sick and someone else can do it. If you are sick, please try to self-isolate or take other steps not to expose anyone else to your illness.

Yes, they can take place. All participants must be socially distanced and wear masks.

Click here to learn more about talking to your child about COVID-19.

Childcare facilities may only operate if they comply with the conditions of this Order as they related to child care. Among these conditions, children must be cared for in groups of 12 or fewer, groups of children may not mix with each other, and providers may not circulate between groups.

Yes.

Yes, school waiver applications are being accepted at this time for TK to 6th grade. View Public Health News Release

Yes, childcare is allowed. Childcare must follow the state issued childcare guidance. Childcare can be offered on school sites.

The state issued guidance for colleges and college sports on August 7 at the following link here.

Can I go swimming?

Yes, public pools and pools managed by HOA can be open. They must follow the following guidance:

• Public Pools
• HOA Pools

Are one-on-one swim lessons allowed?

One-on-one drowning prevention lessons are allowed for students of any age by Certified Swim Instructors only, provided necessary health and safety protocols are in place.

Can HOA pools be open?

Yes, they must follow the following guidance: (Click here for guidance).

Can Public Pools be open?

They must follow the following guidance: (Click here for guidance).

Public Pools

• Limited to 50% capacity
• Use a reservation system
• Follow County of Ventura Environmental Health guidance for pools

Yes, salons and barbershops can operate indoors following the state issued guidance.

Click here to learn more about safely reopening.

Please review the Business Guidance documents:

• What to do if an employee has COVID-19
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Businesses

No. Gatherings are not permitted. Private social clubs that are not otherwise open as a restaurant must be closed.

No they are not allowed.

No they cannot be open at this time.

• Must close indoor operations effective July 2, 2020

1. Outdoor wedding ceremonies may be performed with up to 100 persons present who can be safely physically distanced or a lesser number up to what the venue can safely support.
2. No indoor weddings are allowed at this time.
3. No reception or party permitted.

Gyms, Fitness Facilities, marital arts studios, yoga studios, Pilates studios, dance studios and similar facilities are only allowed to be open outdoors at this time following the Gyms and Fitness Center Guidance. Local cities may have additional restrictions regarding outdoor operations. Please check with your local city before starting any outdoor operations.

Businesses and organizations offering indoor physical activities such as yoga, dance studios, martial arts and other similar activities must follow the Gyms and Fitness Center Guidance. These businesses cannot follow Day Camp Guidance instead of Gyms and Fitness Center Guidance. Under the current orders, Gyms and Fitness Centers can only continue operations outdoors following the industry guidance and local orders. Group activities should only be offered if distancing requirements can be maintained. Businesses seeking to move operations outside must also comply with city/county codes for outdoor use.

1. Groups sizes are limited to a 10-1 or 10-2 ratio for each group (10 campers with one or two instructors).
2. Each group must be stable. The same campers and instructor stay together and do not mix with other groups, including from day to day.
3. Any camp activity must maintain 6-foot social distancing. Individual skills and drills can be done, but no group or contact sports such as a football or basketball games may be played.

• Must close indoor operations effective July 2, 2020

• Cardrooms, satellite wagering facilities, and/or racetracks with onsite wagering are not allowed to open at this time.

• Short-term rentals do not need to register at VCReopens.com. Attestation is included through permit issuance.

• No. Hotels need to follow the state issued guidance, and rooms do not need to be left vacant for 24 hours after a guest has departed.

1. RV parks at the beach are allowed at 2/3 capacity
2. RV parks and campgrounds not at the beach are allowed at 50% capacity

Bars, restaurants, barbershop, salons, gym, and personal care services operating outdoors can keep the restrooms open for client use. Clients must wear face coverings while indoors and only use restroom, no other services.

Yes.

• Must close indoor operations effective July 2, 2020

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should follow the guidance for office workspaces: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-office-workspaces--en.pdf. More information can be found at https://www.venturacountyfilm.com/permit/.

They are only allowed to be open outdoors at this time following the Gyms and Fitness Center Guidance. Local cities may have additional restrictions regarding outdoor operations. Please check with your local city before starting any outdoor operations.

You should still try to maintain a least six feet between you and others. When that isn’t possible for short periods, do your best to keep the duration short. Be sure when you are in line that you don’t sneeze or cough onto people. If needed, cough or sneeze into your shirt or into an elbow with clothing on.

Schools, soup kitchens, food banks, and other entities that provide free or reduced priced food goods or meals to students or other members of the public are encouraged to continue providing these services. However, food provided by these establishments to the public may not be eaten on the premises but must instead be delivered or taken away for consumption.

No. You will continue to be able to purchase these items whenever you need them, as stores selling necessary items like grocery stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores will remain open. Please continue to buy normal quantities of these items on the same schedule you normally do. This will ensure that there is enough for everyone.

Yes. Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, water retailers, produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and similar food retail establishments are encouraged to remain open to provide food and pet supplies to the public. When visiting these establishments, please help retailers maintain at least six feet minimum distance between patrons, including by providing ample space while shopping and waiting in line.

To either continue or resume operation, the non-profit must complete the Business Attestation process online at https://www.vcemergency.com/business-attestation, utilizing the Workplace Type “Non-Profit.”

Yes.

Yes. Please call first to determine if there are any restrictions in place.

Yes.

Yes, but avoid unnecessary trips.

Bicycle stores can remain open. This includes the sales of bicycles, parts and supplies as well as the repair of bicycles. Bicycle rentals are allowed.

Yes. Because cannabis may be used for medicinal purposes, cannabis stores qualify as a “Healthcare Operation” under the broad definition of that term in the current health officer order and therefore are allowed to continue to operate, subject to the restrictions generally applicable to all Essential Businesses under the current health officer order and all otherwise applicable laws.

To report a business operating in violation of this order, you may call the COVID Business Compliance line at 805-202-1805 or email CovidCompliance@ventura.org.

Florists are now permitted to operate under the guidelines of the Stay Well VC Order.

Yes, dog groomers are permitted to operate. They must register and follow the guidelines at www.vcreopens.com

Yes. With the elimination of the essential business model in the local health order, and reliance on the State health order model for critical infrastructure, the Sheriff and local health officer have determined that the gun stores may fully open to the public provided they implement and register site-specific prevention plans as described www.vcreopens.com. 

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Churches can only operate outdoors. Indoor services are not permitted per the State of California.

No you cannot play bingo. Gatherings are prohibited.

Yes, malls can open indoors as of August 31. They must follow the state issued sector guidance and register at www.vcreopens.com.

The California Department of Public Health has issued Youth Sports Guidance. Youth sports training, conditioning and physical education is now permitted in Ventura County when those activities include continuous physical distancing of at least six feet and a stable cohort, i.e. the same children at each meeting. Teams, classes, and other youth sports activities that involve contact, competitive or team play are not permitted.

The State guidance document may be found at COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Youth Sports.

Any team or entity conducting youth sports training must register under Youth Sports at www.vcreopens.com and follow the state issued guidance.

Please note that physical distancing must be maintained under the guidance, which precludes scrimmages, games, and team drills from being performed at this time. Further, all outdoor and indoor sporting events, assemblies, and other activities that require close contact or promote congregating are prohibited, including tournaments, events, or competitions and regardless of whether teams are from the same school or from different schools, counties, or states.

Since Ventura County is currently on the state’s monitoring list due to elevated case rates of COVID-19 all sports activities including conditioning, training and physical education must be conducted outdoors.

While youth sports conditioning and training is now allowed under certain conditions, adult, amateur (non-professional) team sports are not permitted in the state at this time. The state indicates that guidance for adult sports will be forthcoming.

Yes, you can go to the store to buy food, drinks and goods for yourself, for those in your home, and for anyone else that needs help. This also includes medical supplies at a pharmacy and supplies at a hardware store.

Public transit will continue to operate on a limited basis. When using public transit, maintain at least six feet of distance from others.

Yes. All retail stores are open. However, you should minimize unnecessary trips.

Yes. The mail and other delivery services to your home can continue to function, as can food delivery services.

Yes. The Order identifies businesses that deliver goods or services directly to residences may continue to operate.

Only for essential travel. You should avoid being in a vehicle with many other people. In circumstances under which such transportation is needed, you must practice social distancing, cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands before and after rides. Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers, like Uber and Lyft, providing transportation services necessary for essential activities and other purposes are expressly authorized in the “Stay Well at Home” Order.

No dine-in options are closed per the State of California. You can only dine outdoors or take your food to go.

Yes, local stores are open for indoor shopping but malls are closed for indoor shopping per the state of California.

Yes, they can be open.

Yes. Anyone is allowed to use a golf cart on the course. These are limited to use by members of the same household.

Yes, beaches are open. You can sit on the beach. Bathrooms and parking are open.

No. You can only gather with members of your household at this time. You can only play a game at a park with the people that you live with.

You can only play these types of games with members of your household. You cannot play these games with those who do not live in your household.

Yes, you can play games with members of your household. You cannot play a game with people who do not live in your household.

Outdoor Photography is permitted. Outdoor photography, including professional family photos or portraits, must adhere to social distancing protocols. All subjects being photographed must be members of the same household. Indoor photography sessions including individuals not of the same household are not permitted. Commercial photo shoots must obtain a permit by the local permitting agency, such as a city. Commercial photo shoots fall under the guidelines for “Music, Film, and Television,” and must meet additional requirements which can be viewed at www.venturacountyfilm.com.