Orders & Guidance
Health officer orders have changed throughout the pandemic based on the level of transmission in our communities. See the latest orders currently in effect, as well as the latest guidance and best practices for staying safe.
Subscribe to SLO County COVID-19 email updates to receive updates regarding new local orders, and subscribe to CDPH COVID-19 Policy Alerts for updates to California state public health officer orders and public health mandates related to COVID-19.
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Health Officer Orders
Guidance has changed throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. See the latest local and state health officer orders below.
Current Local Orders
There are not currently any local health officer orders for SLO County related to COVID-19.
Current State Orders
For an overview of all State orders and guidance related to COVID-19, visit the California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Guidance Hub. This hub includes State Health Officer Orders, workplace guidance, health care guidance, education guidance, archived/historic documents, and more.
Guidance and Best Practices
Guidance has changed throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. See current guidance and best practices below.
Face masks: Guidance for the Use of Face Masks in California is now based on recommendations, not requirements in most settings. An important exception is that masking is generally required in the workplace for 10 days if you have COVID-19 (after leaving isolation). Specific businesses and workplaces may also have their own more protective requirements. Masking also provides important protection against COVID-19, particularly in crowded indoor settings. | |
Events & Gatherings: | |
| Indoor Settings at High Risk for Transmission of COVID-19: See local guidance summarizing requirements, recommendations and best practices for settings at high risk for transmission of COVID-19 (updated July 2024). Such settings include long-term care settings and adult and senior care facilities (including day programs that serve their residents), homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling and heating centers, and state and local correctional facilities and detention centers. In addition, managers of certain other settings may be aware of characteristics of their environment or participants that lead them to consider the setting to be high-risk. |
| Vaccination: The updated 2024-25 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone ages six months and older. Healthcare workers are strongly encouraged to receive the updated 2024-25 influenza and COVID19 vaccines by the beginning of the influenza season, defined as November 1 to April 30 of the following year. See recommendations for healthcare workers. | |
Travelers: Follow CDC recommendations. |
Additional restrictions and required precautions may apply to specific industries and settings, including health care, congregate care, correctional, and youth settings (including schools and childcare).
See AFL 21-08.9 and more detailed guidance above.
For best practice information, see these CDC recommendations on How to Protect Yourself and Others.