State releases guidance for small private gatherings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION) The California Department of Public Health has released updated guidance for those gathering with people outside their household in a private setting.

The guidance applies to private gatherings only and not those covered by sector guidance. The gatherings are defined as social situations that include people from different households at the same time in the same place.

According to the CDPH, gatherings should not include more than three households, and warns that they are safer with fewer people. It is recommended that the households people interact with stay the same over time, and hosts are asked to collect names and contact information of attendees in case it is needed for contact tracing later.

State health officials said outdoor gatherings are much safer than indoor ones, so all gatherings should be held outside. Attendees can go inside to use restrooms if they are sanitized often. The CDPH said umbrellas, canopies and other shade structures can be used, but at least three sides should be open to the outdoors.

When gathering, the state says people should continue to wear face coverings, but they may remove them briefly to eat or drink if they are 6 feet away from others.

According to the guidelines, gatherings should be two hours or less, and singing, chanting and shouting are discouraged because of the increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. Anyone who does sing, chant or shout is asked to wear a face covering.

Anyone who is sick or in a high-risk group is asked to stay home and not contact anyone outside their household. People are also asked to continue practicing physical distancing and hand hygiene at gatherings.

Local health departments may be more restrictive.

Read the full guidance for private gatherings here.