San Mateo County Moves Into Orange Tier, Loosening Restrictions

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA —San Mateo County moved into the orange tier in California's COVID-19 blueprint on Tuesday, becoming the first Bay Area county to shift into the even less restrictive tier since the winter surge.

Counties in the orange tier have "moderate" spread of the coronavirus, according to the blueprint.

Here's what is opening under the orange tier, according to the county:

• Restaurants indoors (max 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer)
• All retail indoors (open indoors with modifications)
• Shopping malls (open indoors with modifications. Closed common areas, reduced capacity food courts)
• Personal care services – hair and nail salons, barbershops (open with modifications)
• Offices - non-essential businesses (can open indoors with modifications, encourage working remotely)
• Museums, zoos and aquariums (indoors with max 50% capacity)
• Places of worship (max 50% capacity)
• Movie theaters indoors (max 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer)
• Gyms and fitness centers indoors (max 25% capacity, indoor pools and climbing walls allowed. Indoor hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms must close)
• Family entertainment centers (Can open indoors for naturally distanced activities, with modifications - capacity must be limited to 25%. Bowling alleys and escape rooms allowed. Can open outdoors with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini-golf and batting cages)
• Hotels, lodging and short-term rentals (can open with modifications)
• Bars/breweries where no meals are served (max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
• Youth and adult recreational sports: Follow this guidance for youth sports programs, including school-based, club and recreational programs, and adult recreational sports including limitations for competitions.

San Mateo County moved into the red tier on Feb. 24 after exiting the most restrictive, purple tier.