San Mateo and Marin counties advanced on Tuesday into the second most restrictive category in the California reopening plan, according to the California Department of Public Health. Both left the purple layer, the category that imposes the strictest rules on coronavirus.
Currently, all the counties in the state, except 11, are in the purple layer. But Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday that coronavirus case rates continue to plummet in the Bay Area and across California, five counties are transitioning to red and he predicts that another eight will be able to loosen restrictions next week. – and “even more in two weeks.”
San Francisco, which remains on the purple belt for now, despite lowercase numbers and positive test rates than San Mateo and Marin counties, may be among those who advance.
Mayor London Breed, speaking on a Washington Post Live forum on Tuesday, said she “expects to make some announcements next week about some additional things that we can reopen,” which includes things like museums and people.
She also said that “restaurants could expand”, but gave no details.
Counties that fall under the red level may allow retail stores and malls to operate at 50% of internal capacity; internal museums, zoos, cinemas and restaurants with a 25% capacity; and gyms and fitness studios by 10%. Cultural ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals, are also allowed indoors with a 25% capacity or with 100 people, whichever is less.
“This is great news for our small businesses and our entire community,” said David Canepa, chairman of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
A day after the United States passed the 500,000 COVID-19 death mark, Newsom said the figures 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,” said Newsom.
The state’s color-coded level system has four levels: purple (generalized), red (substantial), orange (moderate) and yellow (minimum). Level assignment is based on three factors: new cases per 100,000 people, positive test rate, and a health equity metric set for the positive test rate in underserved communities.
Humboldt, Shasta and Yolo counties also went from purple to red on Tuesday; while Trinity County has dropped back from orange to red.
State metrics remain confused.
Four counties in the Bay Area – San Francisco, Napa, Santa Clara and San Mateo – reported data from the red layer on Monday, but only San Mateo County came out of the purple layer. Marin County has moved to the red level despite reporting adjusted case rates that are still at the purple level.
One explanation for the movement is the health equity score, which is the positive test rate for specific low-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods. The scoring goal is to measure how well counties are managing case and test rates in communities most affected by the pandemic.
According to the state’s reopening plan, counties can progress from purple to red if they report a health equity score of 5% or less for two consecutive weeks. San Mateo and Marin counties were the only counties in the Bay Area to meet these criteria.
“We focus on our hardest hit communities and it looks like it’s bearing fruit,” said Dr. Matt Willis, public health officer for Marin County, in a statement. “It is especially encouraging to see this progress as we move forward in vaccinating essential workers. Adding vaccine protection will help seal this progress for the entire community. ”
The transition to the red level also means that any Marin school that has not yet reopened for some form of face-to-face education will be eligible to do so starting March 1, county officials said.
San Mateo County officials noted that decisions to reopen public schools are made by school councils and the county education department.
Newsom also signed the pandemic aid legislation on Tuesday, providing direct payments of $ 600 to millions of low-income Californians and making small businesses eligible for billions of dollars in subsidies and tax deductions.
On Monday, the legislature overwhelmingly approved the package, which is different from the pending aid package in Washington.
“We have to recognize our responsibility to do more and better to help these small businesses in this difficult time,” said Newsom.
The $ 7.6 billion package will waive some commercial fees to help ease your financial situation. The package will increase to $ 10 billion in a few years, Newsom said.
Chronicle team writers 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]