Today (June 1), Riverside County, along with the rest of California, is reopening with capacity limits and physical distancing requirements removed for most businesses and events. However, the county is still on the state's watch list and needs approval to reopen under a new schedule proposed for September. An analysis by The Desert Sun revealed that at least 49% of California counties have already been given the green light to quickly reopen businesses in May without meeting any of the state-mandated reopening criteria. In an effort to reduce the burden on residents from job losses to poor mental health, Riverside County has sent a letter to the California Department of Public Health requesting approval to reopen several business sectors in September.
The county has also released a Reopening Safety Plan (PDF) which outlines how it plans to comply with the California Department of Public Health Cohort Guidance (CDPH) for school settings in the reopening of student programs in the Programs and Services divisions for Students and Early Learning Services. The California Department of Public Health has recently moved Riverside County to the red level of the state's reopening framework, allowing more businesses to resume indoor operations.
