Sacramento County Allowed To Reopen Under Red Tier Guidelines

Kat Schuster
·4 min read

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA — Sacramento County met the requirements for two consecutive weeks to move from the purple to the red tier on California's COVID-19 risk assessing blueprint Tuesday. The county recorded a 4.6 percent positivity rate over a week-long period and will now move forward with reopening.

“I’m grateful to all of our public health professionals and especially the people of Sacramento County for heeding all the necessary directives to ensure we slow the virus and save lives together,” said Board Chairman and First District Supervisor Phil Serna in a statement Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, Sacramento County had a daily case rate of 6.6 per 100,000 and positivity rate of 4.6 percent for the second consecutive week.

If the county can remain in the red tier for two weeks, elementary and secondary schools can reopen for in-person instruction.

The following sectors are now permitted for outdoor operations:

  • Family Entertainment Centers (e.g. bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades)

  • Cardrooms, satellite wagering

  • Wineries

  • Bars, pubs, brewpubs, breweries and distilleries may operate outdoors, only if they offer sit-down, outdoor meals

Indoor operations may expand in these businesses and services:

  • Gyms and fitness centers (maximum 10% capacity)

  • Hair salons and barbershops

  • Movie theaters (maximum 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)

  • Museums, zoos, aquariums (maximum 25 percent capacity)

  • Nail salons and physician-ordered electrolysis operations

  • Personal care services (e.g. body waxing, estheticians)

  • Places of worship (maximum 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)

  • Professional sports (without live audiences)

  • Restaurants (maximum 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer) (Sacramento County Recommends: Only members of a household should eat together inside a restaurant)

  • Shopping centers (e.g. malls, destination centers, swap meets, excluding food courts and common areas) (maximum 50 percent capacity)

Across California

The state moved 10 counties total 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 statewide 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.

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.

This article originally appeared on the Sacramento Patch