10 CA Counties Allowed To Reopen And Expand Businesses

CALIFORNIA — California downgraded 10 counties into lower tiers of the state's four-tiered COVID-19 risk blueprint Tuesday, California Department of Public Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly announced in an afternoon news conference.

While Ghaly mentioned that hospitalizations were up, cases overall were still on the decline as the state reported a record low 2.8 percent positivity rate over a 14 day period, and reported that test results were being processed faster with most receiving results in just over one day.

Ghaly announced 2,162 cases reported Tuesday and about 128,693 COVID-19 tests administered on a daily average.

Seven counties, Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara and Yolo, were moved into the red tier or substantial tier, below the worst tier, the widespread purple tier.

This means that the state will allow these counties to expand and open more businesses, should the county health department approve.

Most notably, counties that remain in the red tier for two weeks may consider reopening schools for in-person instruction, pending approval from the region's health department.

Restaurants will be allowed to resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity and so will personal services such as nail salons and aestheticians, museums, zoos and movie theaters. Gyms and fitness centers will reopen indoors at 10 percent of their capacity.

Indoor shopping centers and libraries can expand their indoor capacity to 50 percent. Places of worship will also be allowed to resume indoor services at 25 percent capacity.

Hair salons and barbershops are also allowed to reopen previously with some restrictions in place.

Ghaly said Los Angeles County met the criteria for the red tier last week but missed it this week. Ventura County found itself in a similar situation.

Amador, Calavaras and San Francisco counties have moved into the orange tier, which allows schools to reopen fully for in-person instruction and restaurants may open indoors at 50 percent capacity or host 200 people — whichever is fewer.

Mariposa county moved last week to the yellow tier, minimal risk and is one of just three counties in the minimal tier. Within this tier, restaurants bars can open indoors at 50 percent capacity, schools may fully reopen and fitness centers may reopen at 50 percent capacity.

Ghaly repeatedly emphasized yet again that the "slow and stringent approach," was necessary to keep the state on a steady downward trajectory.

"Our whole approach with slow and stringent comes from the lessons we learned in early spring and summer when businesses had just reopened, but were forced to close their doors..." he said.

As for any updates on opening theme parks and the upcoming Halloween holiday, Ghaly said that guidelines were coming.

Statewide, outdoor playgrounds were reopened to the public Monday following guidelines for local officials and visitors. Ghaly announced last week that Nail salons would be able to reopen indoors after months of closure and in some cases, offering manicures outdoors.

Ghaly also warned of the upcoming flu season mixing with the presence of the common cold in the fall. He warned that those who fall ill to normal seasonal viruses may become confused and believe they have coronavirus. To combat this, Ghaly urged Californians to get a flu shot and continue wearing a mask in social situations.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Bay Area was already seeing influenza cases.