SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Last night, the Santa Monica City Council adopted a resolution to extend its local emergency through May 15, 2020, including its eleven emergency supplements and public space and facility closures. This extension aligns with Los Angeles County and the State of California and their public health authorities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

“By extending these orders, we continue to take the County and State orders seriously and ask everyone to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said City Manager and Emergency Director Rick Cole. “While Santa Monica cases are not as high as in some communities, we are not out of the woods and must be vigilant by staying at home, staying at least 6 feet apart, and using face coverings during essential trips.”

Since its last meeting on April 8, a second revised First Supplement on the temporary eviction moratorium as well as the Eleventh Supplement on face coverings for businesses was issued. City Council has ratified and extended the following emergency orders:

This order is effective through May 15, 2020. The temporary eviction moratorium goes through May 31 while all other orders extend through May 15.

In coordination with the State of California and County of LA, the City of Santa Monica anticipates that ending the safer at home order will happen in stages to ensure proactive measures are in place to prioritize the community’s health and safety and eliminate the future spread of COVID-19. Six key health and scientific indicators will be considered before modifying the state stay-at-home order. More information is available at www.covid19.ca.gov.

As part of the LA County Department of Public Health Stay at Home Order, essential businesses open to the public in Santa Monica—excluding clinical settings within Healthcare Operations—are now required to create and publicly post LA County Social Distancing Protocol by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. The protocol asks essential businesses to address public health requirements, including:

Facility capacity

Facility capacity Physical distancing

Physical distancing Cleaning and disinfection including providing hand sanitizer, soap and water, or disinfectant

Cleaning and disinfection including providing hand sanitizer, soap and water, or disinfectant Restroom accessibility

Restroom accessibility Directing the public to not enter if they are experiencing respiratory illness symptoms

Directing the public to not enter if they are experiencing respiratory illness symptoms Use of face coverings by employees, contracted workers, and members of the public

Use of face coverings by employees, contracted workers, and members of the public Communicable disease control recommendations

The County and State orders are effective in Santa Monica and are enforceable by the Santa Monica Police Department.

For information on COVID-19 in Santa Monica, visit santamonica.gov/coronavirus or call the City of Santa Monica’s coronavirus hotline: (310) 458-8400. Get Santa Monica emergency alerts by texting SMCOVID to 888-777 and sign up for daily COVID-19 updates at santamonica.gov/newsletter.

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