 Gov. Newsom Announces New Color-Coded Reopening Plan for Counties; Hair Salons, Barbers, Retail and Malls Can Resume Indoor Operations on Monday
Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced a move from the existing state Monitoring List to a four-tier, color-coded system that governs the ability of counties to reopen businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic. The new system is more gradual than before to guard against loosening restrictions too quickly and subsequent case surges.
Counties will move through the new, four-tier system based on two specific metrics: case rates and the percentage of positive tests.
San Bernardino County’s status would be unchanged in the new system, where we fall into the Purple Tier along with 37 other counties in the state, representing 87% of the state’s population. In this tier, the virus is considered “widespread” with more than 8 percent of tests coming back positive and more than 7 new cases daily per 100,000. The County’s current dashboard, which looks at cases over 14 days, does not yet reflect these new criteria.
Hair salons and barbers can reopen, along with indoor malls
Adding some positive news, the governor also announced an easing of restrictions on hair salons and barbers, allowing these businesses throughout the state to reopen indoors beginning Monday, August 31, with modifications. This applies to counties in all tiers, including purple.
“We will take a few days to sort out what the new tier system and updated criteria means for San Bernardino County, but we are still optimistic knowing that in recent weeks we have been on a consistent, positive trend to lowering our case and positivity rates,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “What is exciting, however, is that our county’s hair salons and barbers can now reopen indoors and bring in patrons who have been waiting patiently to visit their favorite stylist or barber.”
Business owners should review and follow the posted guidelines for hair salons and barbers, to ensure they are operating within COVID-compliant business practices. To be clear, the announcement today specifically says these business may open with restrictions, which include face mask requirements, social distancing between stations, and specific cleaning protocols.
Also able to open Monday are all indoor retail, shopping centers and malls, at maximum 25% capacity. Until this announcement, only retail stores with outside facing entrances were allowed to be open.
Latest Stats
46,892 Confirmed Cases (up 1% from the previous day)
716 Deaths (up 0.1% from the previous day)
353,756 Tested (up 1% from the previous day)
For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
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