You can go back to the office if you can’t telework, California Gov. Gavin Newsom says

California office employees can now return to work if they need to, as long as their employers adhere to a strict set of modifications.

“If you cannot telework, we will allow for office modifications and office openings on a statewide basis,” California Gov Gavin Newsom said during his Tuesday coronavirus press conference.

Though the state is still recommending that office workers telecommute if possible, the state website covid19.ca.gov lays out the guidelines for how office workers can return.

“This acknowledges that there are some offices where teleworking is not possible and given them precautions that allow them to reopen,” said Kate Folmar, spokeswoman for the California Health and Human Services Agency.

The Democratic governor also announced a small number of other changes statewide, including the reopening of car washes and pet grooming facilities.

In addition, Newsom laid out guidelines for how counties can achieve a variance from the statewide order, in order to allow restaurants to resume dine-in services.

“This would allow patrons to start coming back in (to restaurants in) these counties that have conditions that can afford this,” Newsom said.

Two counties have already filed an attestation that they have met the criteria to allow them to push past the first part of Phase 2: Butte County and El Dorado County.

Newsom said that he has been in contact with 27 counties that are seeking guidance on how to comply with the state requirements, and that two counties were on the verge of joining Butte and El Dorado counties in that category.

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 1:50 PM.