A guide to reopening in the COVID-19 orange tier: what San Diegans need to know

As San Diego County this week enters one more part within the reopening of its pandemic-era economic system, the general public should navigate a mind-numbing set of recent guidelines and capability limits, whether or not it’s eating indoors at a restaurant, catching a brand new launch on the multiplex, or heading to Petco Park to observe the Padres.

Whereas California’s color-coded roadmap for safely easing again into one thing resembling a pre-COVID-19 life is about to fade by June 15, San Diegans nonetheless have two extra months to reside with a system that rewards each shoppers and companies when an infection, hospitalization and vaccination charges proceed to enhance.

Beneath the county’s extra relaxed orange tier — the second least restrictive in California’s reopening plan — some enterprise classes, like eating places and film theaters, are seeing their indoor occupancy limits double in a single day, providing some hope for a return to profitability following a 12 months of decimated revenues. In different situations, resembling attending an out of doors sporting occasion, capability ranges will improve considerably so long as all attendees present proof of a unfavourable coronavirus check or full vaccination in opposition to COVID-19.

And nonetheless extra new guidelines will go into impact April 15, when indoor reside occasions like concert events and theatrical performances will probably be allowed to renew, once more with prescribed capability limits.

As tantalizing because it all sounds, vital challenges stay. Eating places and theme parks are having a troublesome time hiring sufficient employees as all of them broaden their enterprise operations without delay. Additionally a puzzler for enterprise homeowners is how one can implement a verification course of for COVID-19 vaccinations and exams amongst their patrons.

After which there’s the ever-nagging concern of returning to the extra restrictive pink tier ought to COVID-19 hospitalization and transmission charges rise regionally the way in which they’ve in different elements of the U.S.

“We’ve been right here earlier than, and we’re nonetheless not utterly out of the clear,” stated longtime restaurant proprietor Brian Malarkey, whose three eating places at the moment are open indoors. A fourth, the extra informal Herb & Eatery, ceased working final 12 months as a result of pandemic. “I can’t assist however look over my shoulder and see rising numbers within the East Coast. “We’ve been placed on a yo-yo, and it’s exhausting for our staff and the purchasers. I simply hope we’re doing the proper factor and am excited to get again to as a lot as regular as we will.”

Within the curiosity of simplifying life beneath the orange tier, the Union-Tribune has assembled a information displaying what has and has not modified.

So how did San Diego qualify for the orange tier?

The county moved from pink to orange as a result of its case price has been beneath six instances per each 100,000 residents for the final two weeks since transferring to the pink tier March 17. That transfer turned somewhat simpler as soon as the state raised the qualifying case price threshold after assembly a aim to vaccinate greater than 4 million Californians dwelling in areas deemed to have the worst entry to well being care and different assets needed for wholesome dwelling.

What’s modified for eating out and consuming?

Indoor seating at eating places and bars that serve meals has expanded from 25 % capability to 50 %, or 200 folks most, whichever is fewer. And the ten p.m. to five a.m. curfew has been lifted. There aren’t any modifications for outside seating, which many eating places have expanded by transferring onto sidewalks and parking areas of streets.

Bars that supply no meals service can now open up outdoor, with modifications. Wineries, breweries and distilleries are permitted to function indoors after being restricted to outdoor-only within the pink tier. The capability restrict is 25 % or 100 folks most.

Understanding

Gyms and health facilities are additionally getting a rise in capability — from simply 10 % to 25 % — and indoor swimming pools can now open. Indoor scorching tubs, saunas and steam rooms are nonetheless off-limits.

Going to the flicks

Movie theaters can seat 50 % of their ordinary capability or 200 folks, whichever is fewer. Many theaters will proceed to make use of on-line reservations to regulate capability and make it simpler for moviegoers to socially distance themselves whereas they munch on popcorn and watch the newest flick on the massive display.

Whereas it’s not required, some film theaters are limiting concession gross sales within the theater foyer and as an alternative providing on-line ordering with treats delivered to the place individuals are sitting.

Retail areas, together with supermarkets, and buying facilities can reopen to full, pre-pandemic indoor capability in the event that they persist with public well being modifications resembling masking, usually cleansing surfaces and Plexiglass limitations at checkout stations. Within the pink tier, capability was set at 50 %. For malls, the capability limitations for eating places stay in place for meals courts.

Tattoos, haircuts and pedicures

Barbershops and private care providers, which embrace tattoo parlors, nail salons and different locations you go for grooming and pampering, have been open indoors with out capability limits because the purple tier and can keep open. That’s as a result of there’s no proof these settings play a serious position within the unfold of the coronavirus.

Living proof: In a report printed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention final July, two hair stylists with COVID-19 who saved their masks on whereas working with 139 purchasers didn’t get any of their clients sick.

Museums, zoos and aquariums

These venues can now function at 50 % of their indoor capability. They’ve been capable of function outdoor because the purple tier however had been beforehand restricted to 25 % indoor capability within the pink tier. The orange tier most likely received’t change a lot for guests to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, as each parks are largely outdoor.

A return to curler coasters

Theme parks had been solely allowed to reopen somewhat greater than per week in the past, and with San Diego now within the orange tier, the general capability restrict goes from 15 % to 25 %. That very same restriction applies to any a part of the park that’s indoors.

Belmont Park in Mission Seaside opened up its rides April 1, and Legoland, which had been closed for greater than a 12 months, additionally reopened that very same day, with a wider reopening deliberate for April 15. On Monday, SeaWorld, which has been permitting friends beneath guidelines for accredited zoos since early February, will now reopen lots of its rides. Extra situations, together with required reservations and a prohibition of out-of-state guests stay the identical, whatever the tier stage.

Household leisure facilities

For the primary time beneath the tier system, such venues — assume bowling alleys, escape rooms and trampoline parks — can open indoors. The capability restrict is 25 %, though that goes as much as 50 % if all clients are examined for COVID-19 or present proof of full vaccination. Masking is required aside from meals and beverage service at such places.

Padres video games and different outside reside occasions

The most important change is extra beneficiant limits on total capability, which has gone from 25 % to 33 % within the orange tier. That restrict, nevertheless, rises dramatically — to 67 % — if attendees can present proof of a unfavourable check for COVID-19 or proof that they’ve been absolutely vaccinated. Upfront of the Padres’ subsequent homestand, the group has despatched out a survey to its season ticket holders querying them about their seating preferences, noting that it might be potential to permit 67 % capability in sure sections of Petco Park for many who have supplied proof of COVID exams or vaccinations.

Group spokesman Craig Hughner stated the Padres are nonetheless awaiting clarification on pointers to see if they may permit for bigger capacities in designated seating sections.

Motels

Motels have been open because the purple tier, however the transfer to orange signifies that on-site health facilities can use 25 % of their capability. And if sweating on a treadmill isn’t your fashion, you possibly can take a dip within the indoor resort pool, which was closed within the pink tier.

These are incremental modifications. What’s arguably extra vital is that, beginning April 15, accommodations can host personal conferences, resembling conferences and marriage ceremony receptions. Within the orange tier, these occasions can maintain 100 folks outdoor. If all friends can present that they’ve been vaccinated or lately examined unfavourable in opposition to the coronavirus, then accommodations can host 300 folks outdoor or 150 folks indoors.

Some hoteliers have welcomed the information, whereas others have stated the capability limits are too strict for them to make a revenue — a typical chorus amongst enterprise homeowners pissed off with the state’s tiered reopening system. No resolution has been made but by the state on massive conventions, a sector that has been moribund because the begin of the pandemic.

Concert events and different reside occasions

Just like the upcoming modifications for resort conferences, there will probably be expanded alternatives for indoor performances beginning April 15. For venues with a capability of as much as 1,500 folks, the cap will probably be 15 % or 200 folks, and can improve to 35 % if all friends are examined or absolutely vaccinated. For bigger capability venues capable of accommodate greater than 1,500 folks, the cap for the orange tier is 10 % or 2,000 folks, whichever is fewer, although it may improve to 50 % if all these attending are examined or absolutely vaccinated.

Workplaces

The transfer to the orange tier now permits places of work to be open indoors, though working remotely is inspired.

Locations of worship

Just like many indoor enterprise actions, locations of worship get a bump up of their indoor capability from 25 % to 50 %. These settings embrace church buildings, mosques and synagogues, in addition to places the place weddings and funerals happen.