On Oct. 5, the County of Santa Clara Public Health Officer has issued a Revised Risk Reduction Order, which will go into effect when the County moves into the State’s Tier 3 (the Orange Tier). Under the Revised Risk Reduction Order, all businesses in the County will be allowed to operate so long as the State order allows them to operate, including indoor dining and indoor gatherings.
The fact that an activity is allowed does not mean it is safe. COVID-19 continues to pose a serious risk to our residents. This is why we urge all residents to be cautious, stay home when possible, minimize interaction with anyone outside their household, maintain social distance, wear a face covering, and move activities outdoors when possible.
“It is imperative that we all continue to practice the precautions that have made our COVID-19 numbers move in the right direction,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Health Officer and Director of Public Health for the County of Santa Clara. “The fact that you are able to do something doesn’t mean that you should. The public’s commitment, both businesses and our residents, to wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing and testing is what will help us move forward to the next tier in the state’s COVID-19 blueprint.”
The Revised Risk Reduction Order allows for greater consistency and uniformity with the State’s Orange Tier framework. Unless otherwise indicated in the order, all County businesses and activities are allowed to resume to the extent allowed under the Orange tier. The following business and activities are now allowed to resume:
- Outdoor gatherings of up to 200 people and indoor gatherings of up to 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
- Indoor dining up to 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
- To ensure alignment with the State’s Orange Tier, the Health Officer will issue further modifications to various other directives before the County moves into the Orange Tier.
More information on the order is available in the Executive Summary and Revised Risk Reduction Order.
“Now is the time for our community to work together to make this new order work safely so our residents can remain healthy,” said Cindy Chavez, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. “Our community has sacrificed a lot and been patient and now we look forward to the successful return of activities allowed under the new order. These activities will only be able to stay open if we each take responsibility for wearing a mask and social distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus.”
Santa Clara County is currently in the State of California’s Red Tier (Tier 2). If current trends continue, the State could assign the County to the less restrictive Orange Tier as early as October 13th. For more information about the State framework, visit covid19.ca.gov. For more information on the local public health order and directives, please visit www.sccgov.org/coronavirus.