Santa Cruz County is moving to the red tier of the state’s Covid-19 reopening plan starting Wednesday, as predicted last week.
That means several indoor business operations can reopen starting Wednesday, including indoor dining, aquariums, museums, dance studios, gyms and movie theaters, all of which have been shuttered by state restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
With the move to the red tier, outdoor amusement parks in Santa Cruz County will be allowed to welcome back customers next month thanks to recent updates to state guidance. Outdoor events, including sports and performances, will also be allowed to return with capacity limits.
The move to the red tier also means that middle and high schools can start to welcome students back to the classroom. Schools in counties that have met the criteria for school reopening have a three-week period to open, even if the county stops meeting the criterion during that window.
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel announced in a press release today that she is removing local orders restricting visitors at skilled nursing facilities and other congregate living settings.
“This change is a sign of our community’s commitment to health and to each other. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. I urge everyone to get a vaccine once they become eligible so that we may continue on this path to recovery,” Newel said in the press release.
Learn more about what’s open and closed in the red tier here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
