The San Mateo and Marin counties on Tuesday reached the second narrowest category in California’s reopening plan, according to the California Department of Public Health. They both left the purple layer, the category that prescribes the strictest coronavirus rules.
Currently, all but 11 counties in the state are purple. But Governor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that while the number of coronavirus cases continues to plummet in the Gulf and California, five counties have turned red and expect eight more to be allowed restrictions next week – and “even more in two weeks. “
San Francisco, which remains purple for the time being, despite lower case numbers and a positive test rate than both San Mateo and Marin counties, could move forward.
Mayor London Breed said at the Washington Post Live Tuesday forum that he “hopes to make announcements next week about some more things we can reopen,” which includes museums and personal items, among other things.
He also said “restaurants can expand” but did not detail it.
Counties below the red level may allow retail stores to operate at 50% indoor capacity; indoor museums, zoos, movie theaters and dining options with a capacity of 25%; and indoor gyms by 10%.
According to Newsom, the numbers across the state continue to move in the right direction with cases, hospital care and deaths.
“When we talk about light, I’m talking about the strong light at the end of the tunnel,” Newsom said.
The state’s color-coded level system has four levels: purple (common), red (significant), orange (moderate), and yellow (minimal). Level assignment is based on three factors: new cases per 100,000 people, a positive test rate, and a key health equity indicator for a positive test rate in disadvantaged communities.
Humboldt, Shasta, and Yolo counties also moved from purple to red on Tuesday; while Trinity County fell back to red from the orange level.
State indicators remain confusing.
San Mateo County was just one of four counties in the Bay Area — including San Francisco, Napa, and Santa Clara — but the others remained purple. Marin County has moved to the red level despite reporting a proportion of purple cases (7.4 / 100K).
All counties in the Bay Area region meet red level or better positive test rates and health scores.
“Marin and Shasta have moved because of the plan’s health equity index,” the California Department of Public Health said in a statement.
Newsom also signed legislation on epidemiological aid on Tuesday, which provides $ 600 in direct payments to millions of low-income California people and entitles small businesses to billions of dollars in subsidies and tax deductions.
The legislature overwhelmingly approved a package on Monday that is different from the aid package underway in Washington.
“We need to recognize our responsibility to do more and better to help these small businesses during this very trying period,” Newsom said.
The $ 7.6 billion package exempts certain business fees to ease their financial situation. The package will grow to $ 10 billion in a few years, Newsom said.
Erin Allday, Michael Williams, Trisha Thadani and Kellie Hwang of the chronicle contributed to the report.
Aidin Vaziri is a fellow at the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]
