Shopping malls, restaurants, places of worship can operate at higher capacity, additional restrictions eased
The state of California today announced the easing of certain restrictions on businesses, indoor and outdoor gatherings and other activities in San Mateo County. The changes take effect at 12:01 on Wednesday morning.
With the risk from coronavirus now officially declared “moderate,” the county moves into the less-restrictive orange Tier 3 in the state’s four-tier, color-coded plan for reducing COVID-19 with criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.
The move allows indoor family entertainment centers, bars and breweries not serving food, indoor climbing walls and certain other businesses and activities to open with capacity restrictions. Dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, places of worship and additional businesses can boost their indoor capacities as well.
The county met the orange Tier 3 status with a test positivity rate of 1.6 percent per 100,000 population, an adjusted case rate of 3.0 percent per 100,000 population and a health equity test positivity rate of 3.7 percent per 100,000 population
With the move to orange Tier 3, the following is now allowed:
Shopping malls: Can open indoors with modifications
- Closed common areas
- Reduced capacity food courts
Places of worship: Can open indoors with modifications
- Open at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
Dine-in restaurants: Can open indoors with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is fewer
Offices (non-essential businesses): Can open indoors with modifications
- Encourage working remotely
Bars/Breweries (where no meal provided): Can open outdoors only with modifications
Movie theaters: Can open indoors with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less
Gyms & fitness centers, including indoor pools: Can open indoors with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25%
- Indoor pools can open
- Indoor hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms must close
Family entertainment centers:
- Can open indoors for naturally distanced activities, with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25%
- Bowling alleys and escape rooms allowed
- Can open outdoors with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini golf, batting cages
Hotels, lodging and short-term lodging rentals:
- Open with modifications
- Fitness centers can open to 25% capacity
- Indoor pools can open
- Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
Museums: Can open indoors with modifications
- Indoor activities limited to 50% capacity
Small private gatherings: allowed outdoors with modifications
- Masks and physical distancing required
- No more than 3 separate households attend (including the hosts)
- Gatherings should be 2 hours or less
- Those with symptoms must not attend
- Those at high risk of severe illness strongly encouraged not to attend
- Singing, shouting, chanting, or exercising strongly discouraged
- See guidance for gatherings and holidays.
For further information by industry sector, visit the state’s Industry Guidance website.
Read the County of San Mateo’s full press release here.