Napa County Gets Green Light For Yellow Tier

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Napa County moved into the yellow tier of California's pandemic reopening system Tuesday, one week before the state lifts the tier system completely.

The move allows the county to expand indoor capacities for businesses such as restaurants and gyms and outdoor operating capacities for theme parks and large event venues.

"For example, wineries can expand indoor operations from 25 percent 50 percent or 200 people, whichever is fewer," the Napa County Office of Emergency Services said Tuesday.

The tier change and accompanying state guidelines take effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Alameda County is also moving into the yellow tier Wednesday, bringing the number of Bay Area counties in the least restrictive tier to eight. Only Solano, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties remain in the slightly more restrictive orange tier.

On Tuesday, June 15, the state is expected to lift the tier system — officially called the Blueprint for a Safer Economy — as COVID-19 test positivity and case rates continue to fall and nearly 70 percent of California residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In Napa County, the total number of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began stood at 9,951 Tuesday, including one new case since Monday, while the number of deaths was 82 and the number of vaccine doses administered reached 188,055.

State officials have said it may be necessary to re-implement some restrictions in the future depending on the proliferation of viral variants and another winter uptick in cases.

For instance, Napa County last week experienced its first death of a fully vaccinated person. The female resident who was older than 65 and had underlying medical conditions also tested positive for the B.1.1.7 — or UK— variant. As of Friday, state officials said California has seen at least 40 such deaths involving so-called "breakthrough cases."

For now, however, the state will move beyond the tier system for the first time since introducing it last August. Capacity and distancing restrictions will be lifted for most businesses and activities with the exception of large-scale indoor events which will require vaccination or negative test results through at least Oct. 1.

All California residents age 12 and up are eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine and are encouraged to contact their local health department or visit Myturn.ca.gov for information about local vaccination sites.

"Community members are reminded that COVID-19 is still present in our community and that the best way to protect yourselves and others is to get vaccinated," Napa County OES said. "Please continue to take protective measures, such as wearing a face covering, washing your hands frequently, and keeping a minimum of 6’ of distance from those outside your household, especially if you are going to businesses or events where other people’s vaccination status is unknown."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.