Solano and Alameda counties were released on Tuesday to enter the red level, the second most restrictive category in California’s reopening system, according to the state’s public health department.
On Wednesday, they will step out of the more restrictive purple layer in the state’s reopening plan, joining San Francisco, Santa Clara, Napa, Marin and San Mateo counties in red.
At the red level, internal meals can be resumed at 25% capacity or 100 people. Indoor activities in museums, zoos and aquariums may reopen. Indoor gyms, climbing walls and “soft” indoor exercises – like yoga and meditation – can reopen at up to 10% of capacity. Funerals can also be moved in at 25% capacity.
The continued reopening of the Bay Area comes with the 7-day positivity rate in California, an important measure, rising to 2.8% on Tuesday, from 2.2% in the previous week. Case numbers and hospitalizations across the state are also stagnant, with 2,614 new cases confirmed and 171 deaths reported on Tuesday. About 80% of the state’s population remains in counties that are in the purple layer, indicating widespread risk of infection.
Santa Cruz County will also move from purple to red on Wednesday.
California level assignments are based on daily county coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants, as well as their positive test rate. To move to a less restrictive level, counties must remain at their current level for at least three weeks, in addition to reporting positive test cases and rates that meet the criteria for the next level for two weeks.
Officials in Contra Costa and Sonoma, the last two of the nine counties in the region who are expected to remain at the highest risk level, can anticipate the change to red until the end of the week, based on a new vaccine equity metric issued by State.
California officials said last week that they would loosen the metrics required for counties to move from one level to another, linked to the number of low-income residents who received vaccines. The state has immunized about 1.8 million of that group so far. The relaxed criteria arise when the group reaches 2 million, which the authorities estimate may happen later this week, with another relaxation of the rules for 4 million people.
Internal purchases will continue to be permitted in areas trapped in the purple layer at 25% capacity, but most other commercial operations will continue to be external only until the change.
While most Bay Area County health departments have already imposed more restrictive measures than required by state guidelines, Solano County will align with state policies with the most recent movement.
“The drop in the number of cases is great news for our community as a whole, with local companies now able to expand their operations,” said Bela Matyas, the municipality’s health director, in a statement. “However, it is still essential that everyone continues to practice health and safety measures.”
While the red layer would allow museums to reopen, the Oakland Museum of California – which has been closed since March 12 last year – aims at spring or summer to allow visitors to return inside. Spokeswoman Lindsay Wright said the museum is undergoing a construction project in its gardens that would improve access to the Lake Merritt side of the property. It expects to open when it is complete.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned that states do not ease restrictions very quickly.
“There is so much critical in the next two months,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the agency, to the National League of Cities on Monday. “How quickly we vaccinate and whether we have another wave really depends on what happens in March and April.”
Chronicle team writers, Nora Mishanec and Michael Williams, contributed to this report.
Aidin Vaziri and Matthias Gafni are editors of the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] [email protected]