Warning Alert
Officials in California, US, update restrictions in certain counties based on changes in coronavirus disease activity as of Oct. 7.
Alert Begins 07 Oct 2020 11:04 PM UTC
Alert Expires 14 Oct 2020 11:59 PM UTC
- Incident: COVID-19 restrictions
- Location(s): California (map)
- Time Frame: Indefinite
- Impact: Business disruptions
Summary
As of Oct. 7, authorities in California have eased coronavirus (COVID-19)-related restrictions in eight of the state's 58 counties due to decreases in disease activity, while tightening restrictions in two others in response to increased infection rates. Humboldt, Inyo, Merced, Plumas, Siskiyou, Trinity, Ventura, and Yuba counties all saw drops in COVID-19 activity, with Shasta and Tehama counties experiencing increases.
California is continuing to use its four-tier color-coded system for tracking COVID-19 and applying restrictions based on local infection rates. The classification system ranges from the minimal-risk or "yellow" level, denoting low COVID-19 activity and minimal restrictions, to the high-risk or "purple" level, which denotes high levels of COVID-19 activity and the tightest restrictions. Counties must spend at least 21 days in one level before moving to a less restrictive one.
Across the state, some businesses, such as concert venues, convention centers, live theaters, theme parks, and nightclubs, remain closed. Events such as music festivals remain banned. Children's playgrounds have reopened. At the minimal or yellow risk level, most businesses can operate. Bars, gyms, fitness centers, indoor playgrounds, family entertainment centers, movie theaters, and indoor dine-in services at restaurants can open at 50-percent capacity. As of Oct. 7, Humboldt, Plumas, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties have joined Alpine, Mariposa, and Modoc counties in the minimal risk level.
At the moderate or orange risk level, movie theaters, museums, places of worship, and indoor services at restaurants can open at 50-percent capacity. Gyms, indoor playgrounds, and family entertainment centers can open at 25-percent capacity. Inyo county has moved into the moderate risk level as of Oct. 7, joining Amador, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Lassen, Mono, Nevada, San Francisco, Sierra, and Tuolumne.
At the substantial or red risk level, movie theaters, places of worship, museums, zoos, and indoor services at restaurants may open at 25-percent capacity. Cultural ceremonies are permitted at 25-percent capacity. Stores and shopping malls may resume operations at 50-percent capacity. As of Oct. 7, Merced, Shasta, Ventura, and Yuba counties have moved to the substantial risk level, joining Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Lake, Marin, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Yolo counties.
At the widespread or purple risk level, some personal care businesses, such as tattoo parlors, must remain closed, while numerous others, including family entertainment centers, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, places of worship, zoos, dine-in services at restaurants, and some personal care businesses such as nail salons, can only open outdoors. Retail stores, shopping malls, and libraries can open at 25-percent capacity. As of Oct. 7, Tehama county has moved to the widespread or purple level, joining, Colusa, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, Monterey, San Benito, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, and Tulare counties.
All businesses must comply with certain requirements aimed at preventing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, such as enhancing sanitation procedures, closing off areas where people might gather, and observing social distancing standards, among other things. Additionally, the use of protective facemasks is mandatory while in indoor facilities, in line to obtain services, or riding public transportation, as well as when in public and social distancing is not possible.
Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.
Advice
Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.
Location(s) affected by this alert
- California - Monterey*
- California - Mammoth Lakes*
- California - Pleasanton*
- California - Pleasant Hill*
- California - Burbank*
- California - Anaheim*
- California - Fresno*
- California - Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura*
- California - San Bernardino*
- California - Fremont*
- California - Santa Barbara*
- California - Carlsbad*
- California - Oceanside (Camp Pendleton)*
- California - Sacramento
- California - Long Beach*
- California - Taft-McKittrick*
- California - San Ramon*
- California - Redding*
- California - San Jose
- California - Palo Alto*
- California - San Luis Obispo*
- California - Palm Springs*
- California - Ontario*
- California - Santa Clara*
- California - Lancaster*
- California - Santa Rosa*
- California - Oakland
- California - Eureka*
- California - Lake Tahoe*
- California - Chico*
- California - Napa*
- California - Los Angeles
- California - Visalia*
- California - Bakersfield*
- California - Merced*
- California - Antelope Valley*
- California - Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine*
- California - San Diego
- California - Modesto*
- California - San Francisco
- California - Santa Maria*