Arcadia: County To Move To Orange Tier Beginning April 5, Furthering COVID Recovery

Press release from the City of Arcadia:

March 31, 2021

Los Angeles County’s declining COVID-19 metrics have met the threshold to move into the less-restrictive, orange tier this week, allowing for more business reopening beginning Monday, April 5.

California Department of Public Health officials released updated metrics Tuesday for the state’s blueprint for reopening, and as LA County has met all of the requirements for the orange tier for three straight weeks, it has been given the green light to transition into the orange tier.

The county’s seven-day average test positivity rate has dropped to 1.5%, while its seven-day average case rate is 3.8 per 100,000 residents per day, and its adjusted case rate is 3.1 per 100,000, which is adjusted depending on the county’s testing volume, according to the state data released Tuesday and based on results from the week ending March 20.

Under this tier, capacity restrictions are expected to be lifted for some businesses, such as retail and shopping centers (though food courts are still expected to operate at reduced capacity).

The county plans to align its order with the state’s orange tier guidelines, with additional modifications, including:

• Restaurants and movie theaters can increase indoor capacity from 25% or 100 people (whichever is fewer) to 50% capacity or 200 people (whichever is fewer).
• Bars are no longer are required to serve food and can resume outdoor operations with modifications, such as limited hours, no counter seating, and no live entertainment.
• Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can reopen indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people (whichever is fewer), with reservations required and a 90-minute time limit when seated indoors.
• Gyms and fitness centers can increase capacity from 10% to 25% and reopen indoor pools.
• Amusement parks can reopen Thursday at 25% capacity, rather than 15%, or 500 people (whichever is fewer), with reservations or advanced tickets required.
• Outdoor live events, such as live performances and sporting events, can increase capacity to 33% from 20%.
• Places of worship, museums, zoos, and aquariums can increase indoor capacity from 25% to 50%.
• Family entertainment centers, including bowling alleys, can resume indoor operations for naturally distanced activities at 25% capacity.
• Cardrooms and satellite wagering sites can reopen indoors at 25% capacity, while food and beverages are not allowed at tables.
• Offices in nonessential industries can also reopen, though state public health officials said workers should still be encouraged to work remotely.
• Indoor gatherings are strongly discouraged, but allowed, with a maximum of three households.

The state had previously said counties would be required to remain in each tier for three weeks before moving into a less-restrictive tier, which is why the county is waiting until Monday — the three-week mark – for additional reopening.

For more specific information on industry guidance, please visit publichealth.lacounty.gov.

This press release was produced by the City of Arcadia. The views expressed are the author's own.