Riverside County Nail Salons, Schools, Indoor Dining, Gyms, Places of worship can reopen

Riverside County is one of several in California that progressed Tuesday in the state’s color-coded four-tier system that was implemented last month to curtail the coronavirus spread.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Schools, along with sectors like indoor dining, gyms and places of worship can reopen — with some restrictions — in Riverside County, updated state data revealed Tuesday.

The county is one of several in California that progressed Tuesday in the state’s color-coded four-tier system that was implemented last month to curtail the coronavirus spread. Riverside County moved from the most restrictive “purple tier” to the “red tier,” indicating that COVID-19 spread has improved from being “widespread” to “substantial.”

The following additional sectors can reopen in Riverside County under the red-tier guidelines:

• Indoor retail (at 50 percent maximum capacity)
• Indoor and outdoor malls, destination centers, swap meets (at 50 percent maximum capacity with food courts allowed to reopen at reduced capacity; common areas would remain closed)
• Indoor personal care services
• Indoor museums, zoos and aquariums (at 25 percent maximum capacity)
• Indoor places of worship (at 25 percent maximum capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
• Indoor gyms, fitness centers (at 10 percent capacity)
• Indoor restaurants (at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
• Schools can reopen on a widespread basis (without a waiver)

Hair salons and barbershops were allowed to reopen previously with some restrictions in place.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly delivered a formal announcement at noon.

Riverside County public health spokesperson Jose Arballo said Tuesday that although all schools may reopen for in-person instruction, they must wait two weeks before doing so unless a waiver is in place. No public school districts are on the list.)

While Arballo said the move into the red tier was good news for the local economy, he urged residents and businesses to remain vigilant in protecting against coronavirus spread.

Community adherence to the safety protocols of face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand washing “are the reasons we got where we are at,” in terms of reopening more businesses, Arballo said.

“We can’t forget that,” he continued.

What pushed the county into the red tier was its improved case rate and positivity rate. State data released Tuesday showed the county with a 5.8 percent positivity rate and a 6.7 case rate.

Riverside County will now eye a move into the orange tier. Once that happens, the following industry sectors may reopen:

• All indoor retail (no limitations on capacity but safety guidelines will be in place)
• Indoor malls, shopping centers, destination centers, swap meets (with modifications including closed common areas, reduced capacity in food courts)
• Indoor museums, zoos and aquariums (modifications include 50 percent indoor capacity)
• Indoor places of worship (modifications include maximum 50 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer)
• Indoor movie theaters (modifications include maximum 50 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer)
• Hotels and lodging (modifications include onsite fitness centers can open to maximum 25 percent capacity; indoor pools may reopen)
• Indoor gyms and fitness centers (modifications include maximum 25 percent capacity; indoor pools may reopen)
• Indoor restaurant dining (modifications include maximum 50 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer)
• Indoor wineries (modifications include maximu 25 capacity indoors, or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
• Bars, breweries and distilleries (modifications include open outdoors only)
• Family entertainment centers (with modifications including open indoors for naturally distanced activities; maximum 25 percent capacity; bowling alleys and climbing activities allowed)
• Indoor card rooms, satellite wagering (modifications include 25 percent capacity)
• Indoor offices (although indoor offices may open, telecommuting is preferred)

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