San Mateo County On Track For Yellow Tier Move Next Week

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County is on track to move into the least restrictive tier in the state’s COVID-19 blueprint next week.

The county is currently in the orange tier but if recent metrics hold up through next week, it will move to the yellow tier. San Mateo County’s adjusted case rate per 100,000 residents is at 1.7, below the 2.0 threshold required for the yellow tier.

Last week, the county said its adjusted case rate had moved up to 2.5 cases per 100,000 residents, prompting officials to hold off on optimism that it would move into the yellow tier.

Though California plans to scrap its tier system and reopen most of its economy on June 15, counties are still currently bound by the system for at least the next couple of months. San Francisco County became the first Bay Area county to enter the yellow tier Tuesday.

San Mateo County is also making progress on vaccinations, with over 73 percent of eligible residents vaccinated as of Tuesday.

“We are glad to report the vaccine supply challenges have been resolved,” said Louise Rogers, San Mateo County Health Chief, during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. “There should be no barrier to anyone who lives or works in San Mateo County receiving a vaccine at this time.”

Moving to the yellow tier would allow bars to open indoors while gyms, movie theaters, conferences and other businesses will be allowed to increase their indoor capacity.

Bay City News contributed to this report.