COUNTY CHANGES BARED

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly held a news conference Tuesday where he gave an update on county changes in California's new color-coded, tiered reopening system, according to KCRA 3 News.

El Dorado, Lassen and Nevada counties have moved into the state's orange tier, meaning that the COVID-19 risk is considered "moderate" in those areas. Under the orange tier, some businesses are allowed to increase activities and have more patrons.

• Restaurants: Can open indoors up to 50% capacity or 200 people (whichever if fewer) with modifications.

• Retail: Can open with modifications. No capacity limits.

• Movie theaters: Can open indoors up to 50% capacity or 200 people (whichever if fewer) with modifications.

• Gyms and fitness centers: Can open indoors up to 25% capacity with modifications. Indoor pools are included with modifications.

• Family entertainment centers: Can open indoors up to 25% capacity with modifications for naturally distanced activities including bowling alleys and climbing walls.

• Places of worship: Can open indoors up to 50% capacity or 200 people (whichever if fewer) with modifications.

• Bars and breweries: Can open outdoors only with modifications and without food.

• Wineries: Can open indoors up to 25% capacity or 100 people (whichever is fewer) with modifications.

“Moving to the Orange tier should not be seen as a green light to stop wearing a face covering, keeping at least 6 feet from others, minimizing mixing with non-household members and washing your hands regularly,” Dr. Nancy Williams, El Dorado County’s Public Health officer, said in a prepared statement. “It’s critical, with this positive move forward, to continue to exercise our personal responsibility to ensure we keep our case level and test positivity rate low.”

California's new reopening framework uses COVID-19 test positivity and adjusted case rates to determine which tier a county is in.

Under the new guidelines, counties have to remain in a tier for at least three weeks. Counties then have to meet the next tier's requirements for two consecutive weeks before they can move into the next tier.

If, however, a county's data worsens for two weeks, that county will be moved into a more restrictive tier, according to the California Department of Public Health.

COVID-19 is from the coronavirus family, which includes the common cold but also more serious illnesses like SARS and MERS.

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