News from Riverside County
Riverside, CA: The California Department of Public Health today moved Riverside County into the red tier of the state’s reopening framework, allowing for more businesses to resume indoor operations. The move is based on the county’s steadily declining coronavirus cases (6.1 case rate), percentage of positive tests (3.3%) and health equity metric (3.7%).
Effective Wednesday (March 17), restaurants and movie theaters may return to indoor operations up to 25 percent capacity or 100 people (whichever is fewer). Museums, zoos and aquariums may return indoors up to 25 percent capacity. Gyms and fitness centers may return indoors up to 10 percent capacity. In addition, retail stores and shopping malls may increase capacity to 50 percent.
“We’ve waited a long time for more of our local businesses to increase operations or return to serving more customers indoors. Many businesses were negatively impacted beyond what we thought possible,” said Board Chair Karen Spiegel, Second District Supervisor. “Today’s news about moving into the red tier is a positive and hopeful sign of more great things to come. If we continue to work together, we can keep this momentum going. We can reopen safely and continue to see our numbers fall, if we all do our part to keep coronavirus at bay.”
Moving into the red tier also allows intermediate and high schools to return to in-person instruction with approved safety plans in place.
Riverside County will need to remain in the red tier for a minimum of three weeks and meet the orange tier metrics for two of those weeks before advancing further. Visit the state’s blueprint website for more information at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/.
To continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and advance into future reopening tiers, all residents are urged to get tested and wear a mask. Visit GetTested.ruhealth.org to make an appointment. Other testing options can be found online at: https://covid19.ca.gov/get-tested/.
For more information on business industry guidance to reopen safely, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/.
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
Additionally, effective March 13th, California’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries that do not serve meals received news that they can re-open outdoors in the Red and Purple Tiers under new updates by the State.
Guidance for Wineries/Breweries
- Outdoor only with modifications
- Reservations required
- 90-minute time limit
- Seating/tables only
- Limited hours (service for on-site consumption close by 8:00 pm)
In the Red Tier, other previously closed businesses such as movie theaters and gym/fitness centers will be allowed to operate with less restriction:
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is less
Guidance for Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Indoor with modifications
- Capacity must be limited to 10%
- Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
- Drowning prevention classes, including swim lessons with certified instructors, are permitted in indoor and outdoor swimming pools in all tiers, as they are deemed essential
Guidance for Museums, Zoos & Aquariums
- Indoor with modifications
- Indoor activities must be limited to 25% of capacity
Guidance for Places of Worship
- Indoor with modifications
- Indoor activities must be limited to 25% of capacity
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