SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – While there has been a lot of focus on the number of new COVID-19 cases in El Dorado County, two other measurements have quietly been falling into lower tier requirements.

As of February 23, El Dorado county has an adjusted case rate of 10.3, positivity rate of 4.6 percent and a health equity quartile positivity rate of 4.3 percent.

For purple tiers, or widespread infection, the adjusted case rate is 7 or above. This is the only purple tier metric El Dorado County is currently in. The other two metrics are in the orange, or moderate infection, tier.

Due to an error at the county-level, it was previously announced there was a possible move for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County to drop two tier levels by the end of next week. While change would occur, the area would only drop one tier to the Red Tier should the positivity rate and health equity quartile positivity rate stay where they are, or drop.

If South Lake Tahoe and the rest of El Dorado County remain in the orange tier on these two metrics through the end of next week (for a total of two weeks), the county moves completely into the red tier. The adjusted case rate will have no bearing on the move should the other two metrics remain in the orange tier spectrum.

This change reduces some restrictions on businesses and activities:

Bars (where no meals provided) – Closed
Clothing and shoe stores – Can open with modifications – Max 50% capacity
Dance studios – Can open indoors with modifications – – Max 10% capacity
Grocery stores – Can open with modifications – – Max 50% capacity
Gyms and fitness centers – Can open indoors with modifications – Max 10% capacity
Hotels and lodging – Can open with modifications – hotel fitness centers (+10%)
Movie theaters – Can open indoors with modifications – Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Restaurants (dine-in) – Can open indoors with modifications – Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Small private gatherings
Are allowed outdoors and indoors with modifications
– Masks and physical distancing required
– No more than 3 separate households attend (including the host’s)
– Gatherings should be 2 hours or less
– Those with symptoms must not attend
– Those at high risk of severe illness strongly encouraged not to attend
– Singing, shouting, chanting, cheering, or exercising strongly discouraged outdoors and not permitted indoors
Weddings (ceremonies only) – Indoors with modifications – Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Yoga studios – Can open indoors with modifications – Max 10% capacity

Nightclubs, concert venues and some other operations remain closed in the orange tier. For a full list, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/.