PALM SPRINGS — Anticipating Riverside County Supervisors’ potential Friday vote, the City Council voted 5-0 on Thursday night to fill the gaps left by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ removal of County health orders.

The City Council anticipated correctly. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Friday at a special board meeting to direct the rescission of most local health orders to align with the Gov. Gavin Newson’s statewide stay-at-home order.

Starting today, Saturday, May 9, face coverings and six feet of social distancing will be strongly recommended whenever practical and within reason. Limitations on short-term rentals and golf course operations will be rescinded and in alignment with state orders.

Following the County’s vote, residents and businesses within Palm Springs will now be governed by the State’s Stay at Home health orders, as well as several emergency orders issued by the city of Palm Springs.

The health orders include the following rules:

  • Residents are to stay at home, unless they are engaging in essential activities, such as working at an essential business or going to the grocery store or drug store.
  • Residents are generally encouraged to engage in outdoor recreational activities, such as going for walks or taking their dogs for walks.
  • Residents must wear face coverings in public settings, unless they are able to maintain social distancing.
  • While in public settings, residents are required to engage in social distancing with those who are not members of their household.
  • Only “essential” businesses (as defined by the State) and “lower risk workplaces” (such as retail with curbside pickup, manufacturing and logistics) can remain open.
  • Golf, tennis and pickle ball have been allowed to re-open, subject to strict safety protocols.
  • Private community swimming pools within HOAs and apartments will not be closed by the City, as long as appropriate social distancing, (which does not apply to members of the same household) and sanitation practices are maintained.
  • A strong recommendation is made that all persons who are 65 years or older, have a chronic underlying health condition, or have a compromised immune system self-quarantine themselves at home.
  • All stores designated as “essential” that provide in-person shopping will be required to implement worker and customer safety measures that were previously required only of grocery and drug stores.

In a joint statement, Mayor Geoff Kors and David H. Ready, Palm Springs City Manager/Emergency Services Director, said, “The City Council is committed to implementing the state’s public safety orders and, as necessary, issuing its own emergency orders, in order to protect the health and safety of our residents, so our economy can rebound as quickly as possible.”

For more information, please call (760) 323-8159 or visit the City’s COVID-19 webpage by clicking here.

Image Sources

  • Pandemic: Pixaby