Orange County is expected to move out of the most restrictive “purple” COVID-19 tier, put in place by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and into the next “red” tier on Sept. 8.
If, and when, this occurs, it will mean fewer restrictions for Orange County businesses, such as new indoor operations and increased capacity.
Examples include:
• Restaurants, currently only open outdoors, can open indoors in the next tier with a max capacity of 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Shopping centers and retailers can up their capacity from 25% to 50%
• Nail and skin care salons, currently outdoors only, can open inside with modifications. Hair salons are currently able to open indoors.
• Gyms and fitness centers, currently only outdoors, will be allowed to open indoors with a max 10% capacity
• Movie theaters can open indoors with 25% capacity
• Schools, unable to open under the most restrictive tier, can open with 25% capacity in the new tier. The soonest local schools could open for in-person teaching is Sept. 22.
• Museums can open indoors with 25% capacity
• Non-essential offices must remain remote in the red tier
• Professional sports can open without live audiences and modifications
• Theme parks, like Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, were not included in the business sector guidance list for any tier. It is possible the parks could reopen some outdoor operations in stages, though indoor rides are unlikely to be permitted.
San Diego is currently in the red tier; Orange County is expected to also move into the red tier on Sept. 8 when the state will assess counties’ numbers for the first time.
Go here for a list of what is and isn’t open right now in Orange County.
Go here for more on how the OC business community is responding to COVID-19.
