Tourism, recreational lodging prohibited during three-week Regional Stay at Home order

The California Department of Public Health late yesterday issued the following clarification to the State’s Stay At Home Order relative to in-state and out-of-state nonessential travel and lodging:

When any California region is under a Regional Stay Home Order, no hotel or lodging entity in California can accept or honor out of state reservations for non-essential travel, unless the reservation is for at least the minimum time period required for quarantine and the persons identified in the reservation will quarantine in the hotel or lodging entity until after that time period has expired.

Additionally, hotels and lodging entities in a county under a Regional Stay Home Order cannot accept or honor in-state reservations for non-essential travel.

Hotels or other commercial and residential buildings may offer lodging for essential functions and travel including COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, treatment measures, accommodation for essential workers, or housing solutions, including measures to protect homeless populations.

“At a time of year whose hallmark is traveling and gathering with family and friends, we understand the frustration this Regional Stay At Home Order presents, particularly in light of the Lake Tahoe region being part of our County and a globally sought-after destination,” said Carla Hass, El Dorado County Communications Director. “Further complicating things for those who want to follow the Order is the different set of rules just across the border in Nevada.”

“While we are experiencing this new surge of cases and hospitalizations, it’s important to recognize that the COVID-19 virus is all around us now and activities that were considered by experts as safe just weeks ago, have a different tint to them today,” Hass said.

“Now more than ever, personal responsibility is key to getting to the other side of this three-week shutdown and back to a more normal way of life.”

A Frequently Asked Questions document developed by the State which addresses travel, lodging,  schools, essential services and more is available here.