Good evening everyone,

Today Mayor London N. Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax announced the next step in the City’s measured plan to safely reopen San Francisco by releasing guidelines for businesses in the city that are eligible for curbside or storefront pickup. As long as San Francisco continues making progress on reducing the spread of COVID-19, the City will amend the Stay Home Order that was issued on April 29th to allow most retail businesses to resume operations with storefront pickup as soon as 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18th.
Click to read entire press release.

Under the amended Health Order, any retail store in San Francisco that faces the street will be able to operate under the following conditions:

  • Storefront, curbside, or outside pickup only. Customers may not enter the store.

  • No more than 10 personnel (staff) may be on site in the retail facility at any time. Smaller stores may need to limit personnel to fewer than 10, to allow for required social distancing.

  • Stores must have access to an adjacent curbside adjacent sidewalk, street, alley, or parking lot for pickup by customers using any form of permitted travel. The pickup area must not block pedestrians, or cause pedestrian or vehicle congestion.

  • Retail stores in an enclosed indoor shopping center may not reopen at this time, except to the extent that the store has a separate entrance to an exterior sidewalk.

Note: We have received poster and flyers that you will need to post at entry way along with a completed Social Distancing Protocol (see below). JCBD staff will be in Japantown on Monday. If your business needs poster/flyers, please contact us at info@jtowncbd.org so that we can drop off a set to you.

Please continue to stay safe & healthy,
JCBD Staff
 

LISC Small Business Relief Grant
LISC’s Rapid Relief & Recovery Fund Small Business Relief Grants application period is now open. Click here to apply.
Application must be completed by Wednesday, May 20th, 11:59 p.m. ET. 
 

Requirements for All Open Businesses

Many of you have contacted the JCBD letting us know that you are preparing to reopen for businesses. Businesses MUST complete and have ready the following 3 items before reopening.

  1. * NEW * Post a Health and Safety Plan per new industry-specific guidance provided under Health Officer Order No. C19-07c. This Directive goes into effect immediately upon issuance but provides for an implementation grace period requiring compliance by 11:59 PM on May 15, 2020.
    Download fillable Health and Safety Plan forms by industry:

  2. Post a Social Distancing Protocol per the Shelter in Place Order. A fillable version can be downloaded here.

  3. Follow the Face Covering Order by instituting policies to 1) inform customers about the new requirement, 2) take reasonable steps to only give access to those with face coverings, and 3) refuse service to anyone not following the order.

The above SF Dept. of Health posters/flyers must be posted at the entry way of your business along with a completed the Health & Safety Plan and Social Distancing Protocol.

Also make sure to mark your entry way so that customers stay 6 feet apart. It can be as simple as taping colored tape on the ground/floor.
 

New Health Order directives released May 8 include new Health and Safety Plan for businesses, setting the stage for a safe reopening.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health has released new directives for some types of essential businesses to help maintain progress against the coronavirus and set the stage for opening up more parts of society. 

These new directives make clear what is required for businesses to remain open.

Each directive has specific mandatory guidance for that industry.

Effective dates
The directives take effect immediately but include a grace period for complying with the requirements. Business need to comply with the requirements starting at 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020. The directives will remain in effect until the Health Officer changes them or determines they are no longer needed.

Things that are new:

Health and Safety Plan
Business must create and follow a Health and Safety Plan in addition to their Social Distancing Protocol. The Health and Safety Plan is a written policy for sanitizing, ensuring sick workers stay home, and educating personnel and employees about safety.

Face coverings and hand sanitizer for staff
Businesses must provide face coverings and hand sanitizer to their personnel, including contractors and those not classified as employees, like “gig-economy” drivers. Workers may still bring their own if they choose. 

Staff who have symptoms
Anyone allowed to work outside the home who comes down with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 cannot return to work until they get tested. San Francisco offers free testing for anyone working outside the home through CityTestSF.
 

Updated list on the 39 Essential Businesses that are Open (or soon to open) in Japantown. Please help us spread the word and share on your social media/website.

Please note the changes in operating hours for the Japan Center Garage. Please share this information with your staff and customers.