Coronavirus Toolkit
Visitor Impact of Coronavirus
Updated: March 2022
California and Napa County
California Department of Public Health issued new Guidance for the Use of Face Masks on February 28, 2022. Napa County will continue to follow the state guidance.
Effective March 1, 2022:
- Only unvaccinated persons are required to mask in all indoor public settings.
- The requirement that unvaccinated individuals mask in indoor public settings will move to a strong recommendation that all persons, regardless of vaccine status, continue indoor masking.
- Universal masking shall remain required in specified high-risk settings (such as on public transportation including taxis and ride shares).
- After March 11, 2022, the universal masking requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings will terminate. CDPH strongly recommends that individuals in these settings continue to mask in indoor settings when the universal masking requirement lifts.
For Napa County statistics, visit the Napa County COVID-19 data dashboard updated @ 1pm Monday - Friday. (Disponible en Español)
Health & Safety
Protocols
Additional Resources
- Lodging
- Cal OSHA - Covid-19 Guidance for Hotels & Lodging
- Covid-19 General Checklist for Hotels & Lodging Employers
- Restaurants
- Cal OSHA - Covid-19 Guidance for Restaurants, updated November 24, 2020
- National Restaurant Association - Ready to Reopen Guide for Restaurateurs
- Wineries
- Cal OSHA - Covid-19 Guidance for Wineries and Tasting Rooms that Do Not Serve Meals, updated November 24, 2020
- Napa Valley Vintners - Best Practice Guidelines for Napa County Wineries
- Bars, Breweries, and Distilleries
- Cal OSHA - Covid-19 Guidance for Bars, Breweries and Distilleries that Do Not Serve Meals, updated November 24, 2020
- Social Events and Meetings
- The California Department of Public Health’s ‘Beyond the Blueprint for Industry and Business Sectors (Including Mega Events)’
- Napa County also provided additional clarification on gathering guidance (page 18.)
- California Hotel and Lodging Association released its ‘Clean + Safe Guidance for Meetings + Events’
- COVID-19 Testing
- As the economy continues to move toward reopening, the companies below offer large quantity, and rapid, COVID-19 tests to keep your staff and visitors safe:
Research &
Analysis
Monthly Analysis
The Monthly Travel Recovery Data Report by U.S. Travel is a forward looking monthly summary of the latest economic, consumer and travel indicators, trends and analysis. Key December 2021 highlights include:
- Travel spending nearly reached pre-pandemic levels in December 2021. Total travel spending tallied $92 billion, which reflected a drop of just 2% below December 2019 levels. This was, by far, the strongest performance since the start of the pandemic
- For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, hotel room demand fully recovered back to 2019 levels in December
- There are now 10.6 million job openings in the United States—roughly one in seven, or 1.5 million, in L&H alone as of the end of November
- Despite the recent slowdown, confidence remains high as more than nine in 10 American travelers have travel plans in the next six months
- Close to eight in 10 U.S. companies (79%) plan to conduct business travel in the next 90 days as of January – on par with October before the omicron variant hit
- Overseas arrivals were ‘only’ 51% below 2019 levels in December—compared to -78% in October—following the relaxation of border restrictions
Consumer Sentiment
- Ketchum Transforming Travelers Study
- AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL Global Travel Trends Report
- iMeet Survey of Meeting Planners
- McKinsey & Company Rebooting customer experience to bring back the magic of travel
- STR Consumer Travel Insights: Market Summary
Talking
Points
The following suggested talking points outline the current masking guidance with a goal of prioritizing health and safety, while continuing to provide the warm, gracious hospitality that Napa Valley is known for.
Latest Guidance
California Department of Public Health issued a new Guidance for the Use of Face Masks on February 28, 2022.
Suggested Talking Points for Guests and Employees
- Napa Valley is open for business and ready to welcome you to discover our valley.
- The health and safety of our community, hospitality staff, and visitors is, and will continue to be, the number one priority in Napa Valley.
- Napa Valley’s rural, agricultural setting and spacious landscapes naturally allow for a safe experience while still enjoying all that Napa Valley has to offer.
- Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals may go without masks in most indoor and outdoor situations. The California Department of Public Health continues a strong recommendation that all persons, regardless of vaccine status, continue indoor masking.
- Universal masking is still required in specified settings; masks ARE required on public transit (buses, planes, trains, etc) as well as taxis, ride shares, and car services.
- Some businesses may continue to require masks indoors at their own discretion.
- Surgical masks or higher-level respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit are highly recommended.
- For indoor events of more than 1,000 people, verification of fully vaccinated status OR pre-entry negative test result is required of all attendees. For outdoor events of more than 10,000, full vaccination is recommended.
Operational
Best Practices
Welcoming Guests
Once you decide when to reopen your business and welcome guests, consider the following communication channels to share hours of operation; your reservation policy; as well as health and safety practices and sanitation protocols to mitigate guest concerns:
- On your website home and reservations pages
- On your main phone line
- Storefront signage (printed in an easy-to-read font, not handwritten)
- Signage in public areas
- Social Media Channels
Guest Reservations
Communicate health and safety protocols as part of the reservation process, including encouraging guests to bring and wear face coverings on public transit (including ride shares).
Guest Safety
- Clearly display health & safety requirements in multiple locations in all public areas
- Provide hand sanitizer stations in all public areas
- Utilize “contactless” payment methods if possible
- Disinfect areas after each guest experience (countertops; tables; chairs; etc.)
- Post CDC guidance on proper hand washing practices in all restrooms (consider posting this information in multiple languages to broaden guest communication)
Guest Experience
Set expectations about the guest arrival and be transparent about updates or revisions to the guest experience. For example:
- Will you take the temperature of the guests when they arrive? Will you ask for a vaccine card?
- Communicate that, as of February 16, 2022, those who are unvaccinated are required to wear a mask indoors in public settings.
- Will valet parking be available or will guests need to self-park?
For hotels and resorts:
- Will spa and Fitness Centers be available and if so, what will be the new protocol? Will in-room dining be offered?
- Will reservations be necessary to swim or sit at the pool?
- Will restaurant reservations be necessary?
- Will housekeeping services be provided/adjusted?
Key
Resources
For further information, we encourage you to visit official sources of public health information:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- California Department of Public Health
- Napa County Department of Health & Human Services
We also encourage you to refer to our tourism industry partners:
Relief
Resources
National/State Resources
- COVID-19 CARES Act relief resources
- Small Business Loans
- California Hotel and Lodging Association
- California Restaurant Association
- Restaurants Care
- California Travel Association
- California Rebuilding Fund
- California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program - Program is now closed
Local Resources
- Napa Valley Community Foundation
- Ready Napa County
- Napa Valley COAD
- Contact your local Chamber of Commerce chapter for additional resources
CDC
Information
View Frequently Asked Questions from the CDC, which includes:
- Coronavirus Disease Basics
- How it Spreads
- How to Protect Yourself
- Symptoms and Testing
View Five Facts from the CDC about Coronavirus, which includes:
- For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill is currently low
- Simple things to do to keep yourself and others healthy