Governor Gavin Newsom introduced on Aug. 28 statewide coronavirus criteria, consisting of four tiers, outlining the process of reopening county businesses and locations based on COVID-19 case numbers.

At a minimum, counties must remain in a tier for at least three weeks before moving forward. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. If a county’s metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, it will be assigned a more restrictive tier.

The tiers and county risk levels are labeled as follows: Widespread, Substantial, Moderate and Minimal.

Tier 1: Widespread

The Widespread sector is defined as a county having more than seven new cases daily per 1,000 residents and more than eight percent of tested cases confirmed as positive for COVID-19.

In this tier, all non-essential indoor operations are to be closed. Outdoor operations with modifications, such as mandatory mask-wearing and physical distancing, are allowed. Essential businesses are permitted to operate indoors with the required health and safety adjustments.

All retail can be open indoors with modifications and 25 percent capacity. Hair salons and barbershops are open indoors with modifications. Museums, zoos, aquariums, places of worship, personal care services, movie theaters, restaurants, wineries, gyms and fitness centers are outdoor only with modifications.

Hotels and lodging are open with modifications. Bars, breweries and distilleries are closed, offices are remote and professional sports are open but without live audiences and with modifications.

Shopping centers such as malls, destination centers and swap meets can be open indoors with modifications and 25 percent max capacity. Common areas and food courts are closed.

Family entertainment centers are permitted to operate outdoors only with modifications, including kart racing, mini-golf, and batting cages.

Los Angeles County, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, is currently considered to be in the Widespread tier.

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles County

Tier 2: Substantial

The Substantial tier requires a county have four to seven daily new cases per 1,000 residents and five to eight percent of cases testing positive. Some non-essential in-door operations are closed and some can reopen indoors with modifications and a 25 percent maximum capacity.

All retail and personal care services are open indoors with 50 percent capacity and modifications. Museums, zoos, aquariums are open indoors with 25 percent max capacity with modifications.

Places of worship, movie theaters, and restaurants are open indoors with 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer and with modifications. Gyms and fitness centers can open indoors with 10 percent capacity and modifications. Officers, professional sports, family entertainment centers, bars and breweries, and wineries are the same in this tier as the previous tier.

Shopping centers can be open with a 50 percent max capacity, closed common areas and reduced capacity food courts (see restaurants.)

Tier 3: Moderate

Tier three is Moderate, requiring a 1 to 3.9 daily new cases per 1,000 residents and 2 to 4.9 percent of cases testing positive. In this sector, some indoor businesses are open and able to operate at 50 percent capacity.

All retail, hair salons and barbers and personal care services can be open indoors with modifications. Museums, zoos, and aquariums can open indoors with 50 percent capacity and modifications.

Places of worship, restaurants and movie theaters can open indoors with 50 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer, and with modifications. Wineries open indoors with 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Bars and breweries can open outdoors with modifications. Offices can open indoors. Professional sports are the same as the previous tiers.

Shopping centers are open indoors with closed common areas and reduced food court capacity (see restaurants.)

Gyms and fitness centers can open indoors with 25 percent capacity and open indoor pools. Hotels and lodging can open their indoor pools and fitness centers with 25 percent capacity.

Family entertainment centers can open indoors with modifications and 25 percent capacity, including bowling alleys and climbing walls.

Tier 4: Minimal

The final tier, Minimal requires less than one daily new case per 1,000 and less than two percent of cases testing positive. Here, most indoor operations are open with safety requirements.

All retail, hair salons and barbershops, personal care services, museums, zoos and aquariums and offices are open with modifications. Places of worship, movie theaters, restaurants, bars, breweries and distilleries can be open indoors at 50 percent capacity and with modifications. Wineries can open indoors at 50 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer and with modifications. Professional sports remain the same as previous tiers.

Shopping centers can be open indoors with modifications and reduced capacity for food courts (see restaurants.)

Hotels and lodging can open fitness centers at 50 percent max capacity and spa facilities. Gyms and fitness centers can open at 50 percent capacity with modifications and open their spas, saunas, and steam rooms.

Family entertainment centers can open indoors at 50 percent capacity with modifications, including arcade games, ice and roller skating and indoor playgrounds.

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