As the rate of COVID-19 infections continue to fall around Southern California, Los Angeles and Orange Counties are being allowed to advance to the less-restrictive red tier of the state's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy." But what does this mean for you and your family?
First off, widespread indoor dining has returned to Southern California! The move to the red tier means restaurants are limited to 25% capacity for indoor dining and will need to keep eight feet of distance between all tables. Parties will be restricted to a maximum of six people from the same household and restaurants will be required to increase ventilation to the "maximum extent possible." Health officials are also recommending that servers begin wearing higher-grade N95 masks or a combination of double-masking and wearing a face shield while at work as well as seek out vaccinations when they can.
Other businesses allowed to reopen include:
- Museums, zoos and aquariums can open their indoor locations at 25% of capacity.
- Gyms and other types of fitness centers can open indoors with 10% capacity. Masks required.
- Movie theaters are also allowed to open at 25% capacity. Reserved seating will also be required to provide at least six feet of distance between movie-goers.
- Retail and personal care businesses will be allowed to increase their indoor capacity to 50%.
- Indoor shopping malls will be allowed to reopen at 50% of capacity. Common areas will remain closed, however, food courts will once again be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity so long as they also adhere to the other requirements placed on indoor restaurants.
- Theme parks, such as Disneyland and Universal Studios, will also be allowed to reopen as early as April 1 at 15% of capacity. Disney has announced that they will allow only in-state residents to attend when they reopen by late April.
- Activities at higher education institutes will be allowed to resume.
- In-person instruction for students in grades 7-12.
- Private indoor gatherings of people from up to three different households will be allowed to resume. Masks and physical distancing are required. Those people who have been vaccinated are allowed to gather in small groups indoors without the need for social distancing or masks.
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