2 weeks to stay in Tier 2

County to residents: Stay safe in hopes of keeping less-restrictive status

OROVILLE » Butte County has two weeks to keep its COVID-19 numbers down in order to stay on the less restrictive Tier 2 under California’smonitoring systemfor reopening businesses.

The county currently has a seven- day positivity rate of 2.6% and five cases per 100,000, according to the California Department of Public Health’s latest data set released Tuesday. Both of those figures are below the thresholds for Tier 1, the most restrictive of the four tiers used in California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which removed Butte County from this tier.

During Butte County Public Health’s Thursdaymorning press briefing, officials discussed what this changemeans for the county and what residents can expect moving forward.

There are a number of businesses now allowed to move operations back indoors in a limited capacity. Restaurants, for example, can have up to 25% of capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Gyms are limited to a maximum of 10% capacity. Wineries are allowed outdoors only, while bars, breweries, and distilleries are to remain closed entirely.

A full list of business and industr y- specific guidelines can be found online at tinyurl.com/CATierFramework.

“While moving into Tier 2 is very exciting for Butte County, we must remember that in order to stay in this tier, or even better continue, moving into the next, less-restrictive tier, we have to keep our case and test positivity rates low,” said Danette York, Butte County Public Health director.

Individuals are asked to continue following health guidelines, including wearing masks or face coverings when out in public. Anyone over six months old is recommended to get a flu shot, York said, with the flu season on the horizon. And lastly, businesses are asked to follow the aforementioned guidelines in order to keep employees and customers safe.

“We really want to remind everyone that this doesn’t mean that businesses are going to reopen the way they looked prior to March,” said Casey Hatcher, Butte County deputy administrative officer. “It means they’re going to reopen indoors with limited capacity, it means they’re going to have significant measures in place to slow the spread of the virus for those residents in our community taking part in those business activities.”

Elementary school waivers

As of Thursday, Butte County Public Health had approved a total of six elementary school waiver applications, allowing those schools to reopen for inperson instruction.

St. Thomas the Apostle and Feather River Adventist School, both in Oroville, as well as Paradise Adventist Elementary, have been granted approval through the waiver process.

Over the prior week, Chico Oaks Adventist Elementary School, Notre Dame School (Chico) and Oroville Christian School all were approved to reopen. A list of schools’ applications and their current status can be found at www.buttecounty.net/ ph/COVID19/schools.

Under the county’s current Tier 2 status, all other schools in Butte County could open as early as Oct. 13, if current trends hold in place.