San Luis Obispo County meets ‘Orange Tier’ requirements
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. - San Luis Obispo County has hit the necessary metrics to move into the next tier of the state's reopening plan. The county will move into the less-restrictive Orange Tier on Wednesday.
The Orange Tier allows for greater freedom to operate indoors with some modifications. Restaurants can have 50 percent capacity indoors, wineries and tasting rooms can move inside at 25 percent capacity and restrictions on capacity on retail stores will be lifted.
"This is fantastic news!" said Jocelyn Brennan, South County Chambers of Commerce President/CEO. "We weren't sure if we were going to be moving into the Orange Tier any time soon. It was starting to seem like we wouldn't, and so the businesses are very happy to hear this news. They are getting ready to open up tomorrow, some of them for the first time indoors, others to increase their capacity."
Local businesses should consult state guidance for specific instructions, San Luis Obispo County Public Health said.
“We are grateful to see things moving in the right direction,” said San Luis Obispo County Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein. “We cannot lose sight of the end goal. To fully restore health to our community, we must remain vigilant: get vaccinated against COVID-19, maintain personal safety measures, and get tested if you have symptoms so we can beat this thing.”
COVID-19 case rates in SLO County have remained stable and are not declining as quickly as other surrounding counties, the public health department said. Santa Barbara County moved into the Orange Tier last week and Ventura County was eligible at the end of last month.
The county requested state data to include a portion of Cal Poly tests to be added to the county's total testing volume, which has helped the county meet the necessary metrics to move into the Orange Tier.
"Dr. Borenstein submitted a request to the State to have that reevaluated and to look at our testing numbers that go into the adjusted case rate," said Michelle Shoresman, Public Health Department spokeswoman. "That adjudication request was reviewed by the State, and they found, yes, that in fact we did have a high enough testing rate that our adjusted case rate should have been lower, and that gave us our second week of meeting the Orange Tier criteria."
Some of the activities now allowed under the Orange Tier include:
- Restaurants: Indoor seating increases to 50% capacity or 200 people maximum.
- Gyms and Fitness Centers: 25% capacity indoors; indoor pools can open.
- Wineries and Breweries: 25% or 100 people indoors maximum
- Movie Theaters: 50% or 200 people maximum.
- Museums, Zoos and Aquariums: 50% capacity for indoor activities.
- Places of Worship: 50% capacity indoor activities.
- Bars with no food service: Open outdoors with modifications.
- Gatherings and events: View the County’s checklists for capacity limits and restrictions.
The move to the Orange Tier becomes official at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
