El Dorado County moves to next reopening tier Sept 21 if COVID-19 cases remain low

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County will be able to move to the next colored tier on September 21 if COVID-19 cases remain under four cases per day average and test positivity stays below five percent for two consecutive seven-day periods.

The County started off the new color-tiered reopening plan in the Red/Substantial tier due to data from the weeks of August 5-11 and August 12-18.

"The State requires that a County remain in the assigned tier for three weeks

before moving to a less restrictive tier and as long as the number of cases and test positivity percentage meet that less restrictive tier’s requirement during the most recent two weeks," said El Dorado County Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams.

El Dorado County, including the Lake Tahoe region, will move to the Orange/Moderate tier in the week of September 21 if data shows the desired numbers.

“El Dorado County’s numbers in the two criteria the State is currently using to determine reopening have been trending relatively lower over the last two weeks," said Williams. "The best and easiest way to help ensure we move to the Orange tier in the week of September 21st is for residents and visitors to continue to follow the State’s mandates for face coverings, avoid gatherings with and remain at least six feet from others outside your household and wash your hands.”

Opening restrictions in Red/Substantial Tier:

Hair salons and barbershops - Open indoors with modifications
Retail - Open Indoors with modifications • Max 50% capacity
Shopping Centers - Open indoors with modifications • Max 50% capacity • Closed common areas • Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)
Personal Care Services - Open indoors with modifications
Museums, zoos and aquariums - Open indoors with modifications • Indoor activities max 25% capacity
Places of worship - Open indoors with modifications • Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Movie theaters - Open Indoors with modifications • Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Hotels and lodging - Open with modifications • +Fitness centers (+10%)
Gyms and fitness centers - Open indoors with modifications • Max 10% capacity
Restaurants - Open indoors with modifications • Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Wineries - Outdoor Only with modifications
Bars, breweries and distilleries (where no meal provided)- Closed. If meal, follows restaurant guidelines.
Family entertainment centers - Outdoor Only with modifications e.g. • Kart Racing
• Mini Golf • Batting Cages
Offices - Remote
Professional sports - Open • Without live audiences • With modifications

What can open in Orange/Moderate Tier:

Hair salons and barbershops - Open indoors with modifications
Retail - Open Indoors with modifications
Shopping Centers - Open indoors with modifications • Closed common areas • Reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants)
Personal Care Services - Open indoors with modifications
Museums, zoos and aquariums - Open indoors with modifications • Indoor activities max 50% capacity
Places of worship - Open indoors with modifications • Max 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
Movie theaters - Open indoors with modifications • Max 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
Hotels and lodging - Open with modifications • +Fitness centers (+25%) • +Indoor pools
Gyms and fitness centers - Open indoors with modifications • Max 25% capacity • +indoor pools
Restaurants - Open indoors with modifications • Max 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
Wineries - Open indoors with modifications • Max 25% capacity indoors, or 100 people, whichever is fewer
Bars, breweries and distilleries (where no meal provided)- Open Outdoors with modifications. If meal, follows restaurant guidelines.
Family entertainment centers - Open Indoors for naturally distanced activities
with modifications • Max 25% capacity • Bowling Alleys • Climbing Walls
Offices - Open indoors with modifications • Encourage telework
Professional sports - Open • Without live audiences • With modifications

If a county's adjusted case rate and/or test positivity has been within a more restrictive tier for two consecutive weekly periods, the county must revert to the more restrictive tier. Also, at any time, state and county public health officials may work together to determine targeted interventions or county wide modifications necessary to address impacted hospital capacity and drivers of disease transmission, as needed. Counties will have three days to implement any sector changes or closures unless extreme circumstances merit immediate action.

For information about El Dorado County’s tier status, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/, start typing ‘El Dorado’ in the County box and select it from the drop-down list. Then, either click on ‘GET LATEST STATUS’ to see restrictions on the full list of activities, or enter a specific type of business or activity of interest in the ‘Activity’ box. Finally, either scroll down for the entire list or click on the ‘Get Latest Status’ button. Learn more about the tiers at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID19/COVID19CountyMonitoringOverview.aspx.