From salons to movie theaters: Everything we know about the opening of California businesses

A woman in a face mask walks by a sign posted on a boarded up restaurant in San Francisco on April, 1, 2020, during the novel coronavirus outbreak. A woman in a face mask walks by a sign posted on a boarded up restaurant in San Francisco on April, 1, 2020, during the novel coronavirus outbreak. Photo: JOSH EDELSON/AFP Via Getty Images Photo: JOSH EDELSON/AFP Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 49 Caption Close From salons to movie theaters: Everything we know about the opening of California businesses 1 / 49 Back to Gallery

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom presented a four-stage plan this week for reopening the state's economy "with a phased and thoughtful approach" to modifying the shelter-in-place order that promotes social distancing.

Newsom didn't present a specific timeline for implementing his plan, but said the state is currently in Stage 1, with all residents except essential workers staying at home. He said moving to Stage 2, when businesses with a lower risk of spreading COVID-19 will reopen, is weeks away. Stage 4, with the return of large gathering at concert venues and convention centers, is months away, Newsom said.

The governor's outlook is promising, but leaves many questions unanswered. While many business sectors are clearly assigned to a specific stage (i.e., hair salons are in Stage 3), some major industries are completely left out. Which stage do restaurants fall under, for example?

Adding to the hope that the end to the confusion is near, a six-county consortium in the Bay Area — Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara — unveiled Wednesday a new stay-at-home order that goes into effect on May 4 and runs through May 31. This details some modifications to the current order. For example, golf courses will be allowed to reopen.

With all of this new information, many California residents have questions about what's going to open when. Below is everything we know so far.

Bars

Expected opening: TBD

Currently, bars can only sell sealed bottles of alcohol, such as crowlers of beer or closed wine, for takeout, but not mixed drinks. Although Alcoholic Beverage Control recently relaxed its rules to allow for cocktails to-go, the caveat has been that mixed alcoholic beverages can only be sold in tandem with food (beer and wine in manufacturer-sealed containers can be sold without food, however, ABC clarified).

Newsom hasn't addressed when they can invite customers to step inside or which stage bars falls under. When bars do open, they will most likely be required to follow certain social-distancing requirements.

Churches

Expected opening: TBD

Churches can open and in-person religious services resume under social-distancing guidelines in Stage 3. A timeline hasn't been provided for this phase in the reopening of the economy that Newsom has said will be gradual.

Concert venues

Expected opening: Months away

Convention centers

Expected opening: Months away

Newsom has said these will open in Stage 4, which marks the end of the stay-at-home order. This stage is months away, he said.

Golf courses

Expected opening: Some have already opened; six Bay Area counties opening courses on May 4

In recent weeks, many jurisdictions — such as Napa, Ventura, Riverside and Orange counties — have allowed courses to reopen as long as social-distancing protocols are followed. San Diego plans to relax restrictions on courses in May. Officials in the six-county consortium in the Bay Area —Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara — have said courses can open May 4 under social-distancing restrictions.

Gyms

Expected opening: TBD

Gyms are among a group of businesses considered by the state as high-risk for spreading the virus, and will be allowed to reopen in Stage 3. A timeline hasn't been provided for this phase.

Hair and nail salons

Expected opening: TBD

Salons are also considered a high-risk environment and will be allowed to reopen in Stage 3. Newsom hasn't given any indication for when Stage 3 may begin.

"The third phase is personal care," Newsom said in a Tuesday press conferences. "It’s the areas around, well a lot of discussion around gyms and spas, and nail salons, and people wanting to get haircuts."

Hotels

Expected opening: some are open; it's unknown when non-essential travel will be allowed

Many hotels are currently open and some jurisdictions have enacted local ordinances requiring properties to only accept COVID-related guests. Some hotels have closed due to lack of demand. It's unknown when the state will allow non-essential travel, providing the opportunity for residents to visit other parts of the state and stay in hotels

Movie theaters

Expected opening: TBD

Newsom said these can open under social-distancing guidelines in Stage 3. It has been suggested that theaters may only sell select seats to promote social distancing.

Offices

Expected opening: May–June

Offices where teleworking isn't possible will open in Stage 2, which Newsom said is weeks away. Offices will be required to implement social-distancing measures. Consulting and public-relations firms have been used as examples of offices that will be allowed to open.

Open spaces

Expected opening: May–June

Open spaces, outdoor areas, parks and trails will reopen in Stage 2. In some counties, these are already reopening.

Recreational facilities

Expected opening: May–June

Some recreational facilities, such as skate parks where equipment isn't shared, will be allowed to open May 4 in the six-county consortium in the Bay Area — Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. Facilities that involve physical equipment or shared equipment such as playgrounds will remain closed.

Restaurants

Expected opening: TBD

Restaurants are currently allowed to only offer takeout, and Newsom hasn't addressed when they can open for sit-down dining and which stage this falls under. He has said when restaurants welcome diners back into their spaces, they may be required to operate with fewer tables to provide physical distancing between diners. Servers could be wearing masks and gloves, and may offer diners disposable menus, but the state has yet to release any official guidelines.

Retail

Expected opening: May–June

Newsom said retail, including clothing, furniture and bookstores, will open with curbside pickup in Stage 2, which is weeks away. In six Bay Area counties — Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara — outdoor retail, mainly plant nurseries, will be allowed to reopen May 4.

Schools

Expected opening: Late July–August

The idea of the next school year starting in late July or early August is being tossed around by the state. "We are considering the prospect of an even earlier school year into the fall — as early as late July or early August," Newsom said in his Tuesday press briefing. "We might want to consider getting that school year moved up a bit."

"Our kids have lost a lot with this disruptions," he added.

Newsom has also said the school experience could be drastically different for students and families. The challenge will be to establish guidelines that allow students to physically distance themselves from one another in order to ensure "kids aren’t going to school, getting infected and then infecting grandma and grandpa," he said.

Students might not all start school at the same time, with some arriving earlier and others later under staggered schedules designed to promote physical distancing. Newsom said these schedules will need to be worked out with districts, educators and unions in the coming weeks.

In the new framework, students might no longer have recess and lunch time with large groups of their peers, and assemblies are unlikely. Newsom also said school administrators will need to rethink physical education with activities that allow for social distancing.

Summer programs for children

Expected opening: May-June-July

Summer programs may be allowed to resume in Stage 2 under certain guidelines to promote social distancing.

Sports

Expected opening: TBD

Sporting events will resume in two phases under the state plan. In Stage 3, they'll be allowed without live audiences, and in Stage 4, fans will be welcomed back to the stands. Newsom hasn't said when Stage 3 is likely to occur, but he has said the state is months away from Stage 4.

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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.