San Mateo County Closes to Red Tier Status Immediately

South San Francisco, CA   November 16, 2020

Gov. Newsom just announced that San Mateo County has been moved back to the “Red Tier” of COVID-19. San Mateo County is one of 40 counties being moved back today.

What this means:

• Close indoor Pools: P&R must close the pool, effective tomorrow

– Family entertainment centers: Outdoor only; close indoor activities

– Schools: May reopen for in-person instruction. Local school officials will decide whether and when that will occur

– Retail: May open with only 50% capacity

• Malls: May open, with modifications such as closed common areas and reduced capacity at food courts, at maximum 50% capacity

• Museums/zoos: Back to 25% capacity, from 50% capacity

– Hotels and Lodging: open with modifications, but close indoor pools, indoor hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms; 10% capacity at fitness centers

• Restaurants, places of worship & movie theaters: Back to 25% indoor capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer (bars and breweries can still only open outdoors, unless a meal is provided and they are classified as a restaurant)

• Gyms & fitness centers: can open indoors at max 10% capacity, down from 25% capacity

– Non-essential offices should work remotely

Many counties were moved from Orange to Purple, bypassing Red altogether, meaning total shutdown for those counties. Forty-one counties are now in the Purple Tier. Moving to the most restrictive Purple Tier is still possible for San Mateo County if case metrics continue to decline. Remaining diligent is necessary.

The county must remain in the Red tier for at least three consecutive weeks before potentially moving into back to the Orange Tier. In the Bay Area, every county is in the Purple Tier except San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties.

The State is also requesting a 14 day quarantine from anyone traveling to California, and encouraging everyone to “stay local.”