San Mateo and Marin counties moved to the second most restrictive category in California’s reopening plan on Tuesday, according to the California Department of Public Health. Both graduated from the purple tier, the category that imposes the strictest coronavirus rules.
Currently, all but 11 counties in the state are in the purple level. But Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday that as rates of coronavirus cases continue to fall in the Bay Area and across California, five counties are turning red and he predicts eight more will be authorized. to ease restrictions next week – and “even more in two. weeks.”
San Francisco, which so far remains in the purple level despite lower case numbers and positive test rates than San Mateo and Marin counties, may be among those on the rise.
The Mayoress of London Breed, speaking at a Washington Post Live forum on Tuesday, said she “hopes to make announcements next week about some additional things we may reopen,” including things like museums and staff.
She also said that “restaurants will be able to expand”, but did not specify.
Counties that fall under the red level may allow retail stores to operate with 50% indoor capacity; indoor museums, zoos, cinemas and restaurants at 25% capacity; and indoor gymnasiums at 10%.
Newsom said the numbers across the state continue to move in the right direction with cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
“When we talk about light, I’m talking about bright light at the end of this tunnel,” Newsom said.
The state’s color-coded tier system has four tiers: purple (widespread), red (substantial), orange (moderate), and yellow (minimal). The level assignment is based on three factors: new cases per 100,000 people, the positive test rate and a measure of health equity related to the positive test rate in disadvantaged communities.
Humboldt, Shasta and Yolo counties also went from purple to red on Tuesday; while Trinity County fell back to red from the orange level.
The parameters of the state remain confused.
San Mateo County was just one of four Bay Area counties – including San Francisco, Napa, and Santa Clara – but the rest stuck in purple. Marin County has moved to the red level despite the purple level case rates (7.4 per 100,000).
All of the Bay Area counties are achieving red or better positive test rates and health equity scores.
“Marin and Shasta have been moved because of the master plan’s health equity measure,” the California Department of Public Health said in a statement.
Newsom also signed a pandemic aid law on Tuesday, providing direct payments of $ 600 to millions of low-income Californians and making small businesses eligible for billions of dollars in grants and tax deductions.
The legislature overwhelmingly approved the package on Monday, which is separate from the relief package pending in Washington.
“We need to recognize our responsibility to do more and do better to help these small businesses at this very difficult time,” Newsom said.
The $ 7.6 billion package will remove some trading fees to help improve their financial situation. The package will grow to $ 10 billion within a few years, Newsom said.
Chronicle editors Erin Allday, Michael Williams, Trisha Thadani, and Kellie Hwang contributed to this report.
Aidin Vaziri is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]
