Riverside County Will Open in the Purple Tier for COVID-19 Color Charts
Seeing data that shows ICU COVID-19 Hospitalization capacity going above 15% in the next four weeks, Governor Newsom immediately lifted the very restrictive “Stay-At-Home” order issued back in December. It is lifted for all of California. However, this “lift” simply shifts the reopening plan back to the previous color tier system. Riverside County having a positivity rate above 8% will open in the Purple Tier, meaning community spreading of the Coronavirus is widespread. As of Friday, Riverside County’s positivity rate was 23.5%.
The Purple Tier requires the following Reopening restrictions:
- Bars that serve food can open outdoors only
- Bars that do not serve food must remain closed
- Bookstores – open with 25% capacity
- Clothing and shoe stores – open with 25% capacity
- Concert venues – closed
- Convention Centers – closed
- Cultural ceremonies, Churches – can open outdoors only
- Dance studios – open outdoors only
- Family Entertainment Centers (Kart racing, batting cages, mini-golf) – open outdoors only
- Farmers markets – open
- Festivals – closed
- Grocery stores – open with 50% capacity
- Gyms and fitness centers – can open outdoors only
- Hair salons, barbershops and nail salons – open with modifications
- Home and furnishing stores – open with 25% capacity
- Hospitals and urgent care – open with modifications
- Hotels and lodging – open with modifications
- Indoor playgrounds – closed
- Libraries – open with 25% capacity
- Live theater – closed
- Massage therapy – can open outdoors only
- Movie theaters – can open outdoors only
- Museums – can open outdoors only
- Nightclubs – closed
- Offices (non-essential businesses) – work remotely
- Pet groomers – open with modifications
- Professional Sports – open without live audiences
- Restaurants – can open outdoors only
- Retailers – open with 25% capacity
- Saunas and steam rooms – closed
- Shopping malls – open with 25% capacity, close food courts, close common areas
- Swimming pools – open outdoors with modifications
- Theme parks – closed
- Weddings – only outdoor services with modifications
- Zoos – can open outdoor exhibits only
To find the latest information and/or other categories not listed, go to the Governor’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
Each of us plays a role in slowing the spread of the Coronavirus. Here are two tools in your toolbox to help prevent getting the coronavirus. First, are the preventative measures of:
- Wear a face mask when around others outside of your immediate household, even around extended family members
- If meeting others outside of your immediate household, try to meet outdoors.
- Social distance at least 6 feet away from others outside of your immediate household
- Limit your shopping in person to as few times each week as possible and avoid extended time inside a retail store, such as a grocery store. Take advantage of pre-ordering items and pick-up via curbside pick-up
- Wash your hands often throughout the day and especially before eating and drinking
- Disinfect often touched items like a smartphone that also touches your face
Secondly, if you are part of Phase 1a (all tiers) and Phase 1b (tier 1), then sign-up to receive the coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine is currently in limited supplies and appointment availability is sparse, but that will change as soon as more doses of the vaccine are shipped to Riverside County. More than 700,000 people are eligible to receive the vaccine in Riverside County which has a population of more than 2.5 million. However, Riverside County has only received 168,575 vaccine doses so far. Every person must receive two doses of the vaccine in order for it to be approximately 95% effective. If you receive the Pfizer vaccine, you must wait 21 days before receiving the second Pfizer shot. If you receive the Moderna vaccine, then you must wait 28 days before receiving the second Moderna shot. When making your second appointment after receiving your first shot, be sure the location offers the same type of shot you received as dose 1.
To schedule a vaccine appointment or learn the latest about the coronavirus vaccine, please go to https://www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine.
