Santa Cruz County Moves To Red Tier

From City of Watsonville:

September 9, 2020

Beginning September 8th, personal care services such as waxing, nails and massage, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, along with museums, zoos and aquariums will be able to open indoors with modifications.

Governor Newsom announced yesterday that Santa Cruz County has now moved to the Red Tier, lessening some economic restrictions. Beginning September 8, 2020, personal care services such as waxing, nails and massage, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, along with museums, zoos and aquariums will be able to open indoors with modifications to protect the health and safety of staff and the public.

Although moving to the Red Tier is a step in the right direction, the community should be aware that another surge in COVID-19 cases is anticipated. Evacuations due to the CZU Lightning Complex Fires resulted in many people mixing with others from outside their household. If the case rate goes up, Santa Cruz County could return to the Purple Tier in 14 days.

School openings for in-person instruction can only be considered once a county has been in the Red Tier for 14 days and are subject to decisions by local school boards and administrators. No County schools may open for in-person instruction at this time.

For more information on the State framework, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/.

For local information on COVID-19, go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call (831) 454-4242 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. School openings for in-person instruction can only be considered once a county has been in the Red Tier for 14 days and are subject to decisions by local school boards and administrators. No County schools may open for in-person instruction at this time. For more information on the State framework, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/.

Find the status of activities in the county by clicking here.

This press release was produced by City of Watsonville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.