The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that Solano County is moving back to the Purple Tier (widespread) – the state’s most restrictive tier – effective immediately due to a recent, unprecedented surge in cases across the state. Solano County joins 40 other Counties in the Purple Tier. The recent surge is the fastest increase that the State has seen since the beginning of the pandemic. In response, the State has made several changes to the tier assignment of the ‘Blueprint for a Safer Economy’ framework to expedite movement of counties into more restrictive tiers. The state’s decision to move Solano County into the Purple Tier means that some indoor business operations and activities must close or reduce capacity. A return to the Purple Tier will adversely impact small businesses throughout Solano County, including those who have been able to provide indoor services in the Red Tier for the past several weeks after having their operations restricted over the course of the pandemic. Effective November 17, the following businesses and activities will have these restrictions: ◼ Gatherings: Maximum of three households ◼ Gyms and fitness centers: Outdoors only with modifications ◼ Movie theaters: Outdoors only with modifications ◼ Museums, zoos and aquariums: Outdoors only with modifications ◼ Places of worship: Outdoors only with modifications ◼ Restaurants: Outdoors only with modifications ◼ Family entertainment centers: Outdoors only with modifications ◼ Retail: Open indoors with a maximum of 25% occupancy ◼ Shopping centers: Open indoors with a maximum of 25% occupancy Schools that have opened while the County was in the Red Tier can remain open; however, any schools that have not yet opened are no longer able to open except under the elementary school waiver. “We urge residents to continue to be very careful about getting or spreading COVID-19, especially coming into the holidays. Maintain 6-feet distance, wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick,” said Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Health Officer.
CDPH also encourages everyone to consider these practices: ◼ Stay home if you have symptoms of illness or are high-risk ◼ Maintain six feet of distance or more from those not in your household ◼ Wear face coverings ◼ Practice healthy hygiene habits ◼ Organize small gatherings outdoors with limited number of guests ◼ Stay local as much as possible ◼ Get tested through your healthcare provider or at community testing sites if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have COVID-19-like symptoms For more information about the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy and to find the reopening status of businesses in Solano County, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy. For the most recent local COVID-19 health information, including the number of COVID-19 cases in Solano County, visit the Solano County website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19 and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH (@SolanoCountyPH).
