|
This video shares an overview of Red Tier openings in the county
County Moves into Less-Restrictive Red Tier on Sunday
County officials are reporting welcome news: with vaccination rates rising and COVID-19 cases declining, San Bernardino County will transition from the State’s most restrictive Purple Tier, where it has been since last August, to the more open Red Tier on Sunday, March 14.
“People throughout our county have worked relentlessly over the past year to protect each other’s health and safety,” said Board of Supervisor’s Chairman Curt Hagman. “This has been a community-wide effort involving everyone from healthcare professionals and essential workers to businesses and residents following strict public health protocols. Our diligence is now beginning to pay off.”
Corwin Porter, the County’s public health director, noted that the county saw 47 new positive cases on March 9, compared to 5,421 new cases on January 4 — a 99% decrease. The County’s current case rate is 5.2 cases per 100,000 residents, its positivity rate is 2.8% and its equity positivity rate is 3.2%.
“We have seen a steady decline in all the key metrics, including hospitalizations, and that decline should persist as we continue vaccinating more and more residents every week,” Porter said.
The move into the Red Tier means numerous local businesses, including gyms, restaurants, movie theaters and museums, can open for indoor services with modifications. Further details on activity and business tiers can be found here.
- Gyms will be allowed to open indoors at 10% capacity
- Retailers and malls can operate at 50% capacity
- Hair and nail salons can continue to operate indoors with modifications
- Restaurants can operate indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
- Movie theaters can reopen at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
- Museums, zoos, and aquariums can reopen indoors at 25% capacity
- Libraries can open at 50% capacity
- Outdoor live events can resume at 20% capacity (effective April 1)
- Amusement parks can reopen at 15% capacity and small group restrictions (effective April 1)
- Schools may reopen fully for in-person instruction following re-opening guidance. Local school officials will decide whether and when that will occur.
Porter emphasized that, while improving numbers are allowing the County to proceed into the Red Tier, residents should not let up on the behaviors that have helped us achieve this success. “We encourage you to enjoy the additional opportunities created by our move to the red tier, but please remember to keep wearing face coverings, washing your hands, maintaining physical distance from others, and avoiding large social gatherings,” he said. “We’ve made huge progress but we’re not out of the woods yet.”
Other new guidelines announced
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has also updated public health guidance in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy to allow for additional safe and sustainable reopening activities in the state.
Specifically there are new guidelines governing breweries, wineries and distilleries, allowing these businesses that do not serve meals to open outdoors with conditions. Also, it was announced sleep-away camps will be allowed to open for counties in the orange tier.
State Expands Categories of Essential Workers Eligible for Vaccine
Public transit workers, utility workers, foster parents, social workers, those who serve the homeless, airport workers, and janitors are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in San Bernardino County and throughout the state.
“These dedicated, hard-working people have put themselves at risk throughout the pandemic keeping our society functioning and moving forward,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “The County is very pleased that the State has added them to the vaccine eligibility list.”
Thursday afternoon, the State of California updated its list of essential workers in the Vaccination Roadmap Phase 1A and Phase 1B categories. Under the new guidelines, “emergency service” workers will now include:
- Utility workers (electricity, gas, water and waste water, solid waste, roads/highways),
- Disaster Service Workers (DSWs) if they are at risk of occupational exposure once activated for emergency response, including those working in temporary non-congregate shelters,
- Social workers who respond to the abuse and neglect of children, elders and dependent adults; including all front-line social workers and staff required to enter the homes of individuals at risk.
Public transit employees, airport workers, homeless shelter workers, and janitors in non-emergency settings were also added by the State, and foster parents were included as part of childcare worker eligibility.
As previously reported, persons age 16-64 with serious underlying medical conditions or disabilities become eligible for vaccination on Monday, March 15, joining frontline health care workers, long-term care residents, teachers and school support staff, and food and agriculture workers.
|
