PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Effective Friday, May 8, 2020, the City of Long Beach will allow retail businesses, with modified operations and proper sanitizing and physical distancing protocols in place, to reopen for curbside pickup and delivery services only. This comes one day after the City’s first reopening announcement and is being done in an effort to align with the reopening direction set forth by Governor Newsom. 

“Our decisions to slowly reopen our economy are based on state guidelines, health indicators and data,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I am hopeful that with the community’s support and cooperation, we will continue to stay healthy and physical distance.”

In addition, trails and their associated parking lots will reopen, golf courses may open, and car dealership showrooms may open, pending adherence to the City’s recommendations and safety protocols. 

Non-Essential Retailers:
Non-essential retail businesses authorized to reopen include but are not limited to the following, per Governor Newsom’s direction:

• Bookstores
• Jewelry stores
• Toy stores
• Clothing stores
• Shoe stores
• Home and furnishing stores
• Sporting goods stores
• Antique stores
• Music stores
• Florists

Non-essential retailers must adhere to the following to reopen:

• Allow for curbside pickup and/or deliveries only.
• Implement a Retail Physical Distancing Protocol prior to reopening.
• Prohibit customers from entering the business facility.
• Ensure the right-of-way and/or Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility on sidewalks and surrounding areas during pickups is unimpeded.
• Prioritize worker and customer safety, including:
• Providing face coverings and gloves to workers, and training on their use. Face coverings and gloves are required during pickups and deliveries.
• Requiring, and permitting adequate time for, employees to wash or sanitize their hands at least every 30 minutes, or as needed if gloves are provided.
• Require customers to wear face coverings during pickups.
• Encourage payment by phone or online in advance of pickups.
• Provide adequate security or staffing to implement any necessary crowd control and to prevent queuing.

Automobile Dealerships:

• May open showrooms to the public.
• Required to implement a Physical Distancing Protocol prior to opening.

Business owners or workers may call 562.570.4BIZ (4249) for more information.

Trails:
Individuals visiting Long Beach trails must adhere to the following:

• Stay at least six feet from others, who are not members of your household, at all times. This might make some trails better to use than others.
• Avoid crowded areas.
• Face coverings are required when in close contact with other people but are not required while engaging in physically-distanced exercise.
• Provide adequate physical distancing when passing others. Step off trail to allow others to pass as needed, where safely possible.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Do not gather in groups or linger at any one location except as needed for brief rests. 
• Do not share food or water while out on the trails.

Golf Courses:
Long Beach golf courses may open and must adhere to the following:

• Required to implement Golf Distancing Protocols prior to opening.
• Clubhouses are to remain closed.
• Pro shops may open for curbside pickup only.
• Restaurants and concessions may open for takeout only.
• It is anticipated that City golf courses will reopen on Saturday, May 9, to ensure proper safety protocols and modified business operations are in place. City golf courses include: Recreation Park, Heartwell Park, Skylinks and El Dorado Park.

Please refer to the complete Health Order for additional details and information.

On Monday, May 11, additional recreational opportunities will reopen to the public. More information will be provided at a later date.

All existing and future amendments to the City Health Officer’s “Safer at Home” Order, previously set to expire May 15, will remain in effect until further notice or amendment. The City will continue to update the Order as needed to protect public health.

This action was put in place by the City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, and in accordance with the Emergency Powers granted to the City Manager through the Proclamation of Local Emergency.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.