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Declining Cases and Hospitalizations are a Hopeful Sign; Progress on Vaccinations Continues Despite Supply Challenges
Ventura, CA – The State of California announced today that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6 the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7 at 12:01 am. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.
“This brings hope that we are headed in a better direction. We appreciate how our community has helped to make this happen,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers. “The Orange Tier allows for many of our businesses to expand operations and even allows for outdoor live events. This is exciting for our community members and our recovery efforts.”
Should the State of California reach the goal of 4 million vaccine doses administered in the most impacted communities in the State, the County could move to Orange within 48 hours of that milestone.
“We all must continue to follow the guidance so that we can keep moving forward,” said Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas. “In some places cases have spiked once more reopening occurred. We must stay vigilant in wearing masks, social distancing and limiting gatherings so that the case rate does not go back up.”
All activities authorized under the State’s Orange Tier can resume in accordance with State capacity limits and safety protocols, including:
- Amusement parks: smaller parks can open outdoors with 25% max occupancy or 500 people, whichever is fewer; there must be reservations or advanced ticket sales and only local attendees are allowed (from the same county as the park’s location)
- Bars (where no meal is served): open outdoors with modifications
- Cardrooms and satellite wagering: open indoors with 25% max occupancy
- Family entertainment centers: open indoors for naturally distanced activities like bowling alleys and escape rooms; kart racing, mini golf and batting cages are outdoors only with modifications
- Fitness centers and gyms: open indoors with 25% max occupancy; indoor pools open at 25% occupancy
- Hotels and lodging: fitness centers can now open indoors with 25% max occupancy; indoor pools open at 25% occupancy
- Movie theaters: open indoors with 50% max occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer
- Museums, zoos, and aquariums: open indoors with 50% max occupancy
- Offices: open indoors with modifications though telework is still encouraged
- Outdoor live events: open at 20% capacity; reservations required with assigned seating only; regional attendees only (120-mile radius of venue).
- Retail(including standalone grocers): open indoors at full capacity with modifications
- Restaurantsopen indoors with 50% max occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer; only members of same household may share a table
- Shopping centers(including swap meets and indoor malls): open indoors at full capacity with modifications; common areas must remain closed and food courts are at reduced capacity
- Wineries, breweries and distilleries: open indoors with 25% max occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer; only members of same household may share a table
- Youth sports: competitions between two teams are allowed in certain sports according to the State’sYouth Sports Guidance
The State has also issued new guidance for the following activities:
- Outdoor live audience events including ballparks and stadiums
- Guidance for commencement and graduation ceremonies
After reaching the Orange Tier the County would need to remain in the Orange Tier for 3-consecutive weeks to be able to progress to the less restrictive Yellow Tier.
“We appreciate the community commitment to testing. This has tremendously helped to lower case and positivity rates and support further reopening. We encourage all community members to continue using this valuable tool to help keep spikes from occurring as we further reopen,” added Mike Powers.
For more information on what the State allows in the Orange Tier, please visit covid19.ca.gov.
For further information by industry sector, visit the State’s Industry Guidance website.
