Community Corner
San Mateo County Moves To Most Restrictive Purple Tier 1
It went into effect November 21 and will remain in place until December 21.
November 28, 2020
The State of California announced today (Saturday, November 28, 2020) that San Mateo County has fallen to the most restrictive purple Tier 1 on the State’s COVID-19 reopening plan following an increase in coronavirus cases. These new restrictions are effective tomorrow (Sunday, November 29, 2020).
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A new stay-at-home order – prohibiting residents from leaving their homes to gather with other households from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. – also takes effect at 10 p.m. Monday, December 30, 2020.
The new stay at home order, announced by the state Nov. 19, is more limited than the spring “Shelter in Place” order and applies only to counties in the purple Tier 1. It went into effect November 21 and will remain in place until December 21.
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Residents can still go outside alone or with members of their own household “as long as they do not engage in any interaction” with members of other households or to work at essential jobs, such as in grocery stores.
The order requires all nonessential businesses and restaurants – even if operating outdoors – to cease operations by 10 p.m.
Under purple Tier 1 restrictions, businesses and activities that may have been operating indoors – including places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and museums – must move outdoors or close. Shopping malls and all retail must operate at no more than 25 percent capacity.
Indoor gatherings among members of different households are banned and outdoor gatherings can include people from only three households outside of the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. restrictions. During those hours, no gatherings are allowed among households, with certain exemptions.
State officials said restrictions are necessary to control a recent surge in coronavirus cases across the Bay Area and State.
San Mateo County Health reported an approximately 85 percent spike in new COVID-19 cases from October to November. The rollback to purple is due to the county’s new adjusted case rate of 7.6 per 100,000 population.
Tier 1 (Purple) restricts include:
- Restaurants – outdoors only with modifications, takeout and delivery open with modifications
- All retail and shopping centers – indoors with modifications, closed common areas, max 25% capacity
- Hair Salons, Barbershops, Personal Care Services – open with modifications
- Movie Theaters, Gyms and Fitness Centers, Museums, Zoos and Aquariums – outdoor only with modifications
- Places of Worship – outdoor only with modifications
- Offices for Non-Essential Workers – remote only
Businesses allowed operations must follow industry-specific guidelines for health and safety, face covering requirements and social distancing. Learn more about operational guidelines at https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/.
This press release was produced by the City of Millbrae. The views expressed here are the author’s own.