Napa County: Dine-in restaurants can open, schools can open next month

NAPA, Calif. - Shopping malls, swap meets, other retail stores, dine-in restaurants and schools can open or will be opening in Napa County amid the coronavirus crisis. 

Businesses can open immediately.

“I’m really excited I think it’s about time and I’m really looking forward to bringing business back into the city," said Patty Baring of Napa. "I feel terrible for our local businesses that have been suffering because of this situation." 

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution allowing restaurants to move tables outdoors. It’s to allow restaurants that don’t have the capacity to serve as many people indoors to do some of that service outdoors. 

Public schools have made it clear they will not open June 1, even though they were given the clearance to do so. 

Napa County doesn’t know what private schools will do yet, but it’s up to them. 

The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena said they hope to open for their summer school program after June 1. They have a specific set of standards that were submitted for state approval.

Office-based businesses can reopen if employees cannot work from home. Outdoor museums, residential cleaning and maintenance firms and childcare centers also can reopen. 

Wineries and tasting rooms are not allowed to open at this time, 
county officials said.

Rather, wineries and tasting rooms will be able to open when the county moves into stage three. 

Businesses that reopen are required at a minimum to meet the 
following statewide guidelines https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/. Businesses are also required to post a state, industry-specific checklist in their workplace. 

The checklist is meant to show that the business has reduced the risk for spreading COVID-19 and is open. 

Bay City News contributed to this report.