Marin events set to return

New rules mean outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed

Gatherings of up to 50 people outside or 25 people inside can immediately resume in Marin County as new coronavirus cases continue to decline, health officials announced this week.

Restrictions on social gatherings were relaxed throughout California this week and are tied to each county’s status in the state’s four-tiered reopening plan.

Masks and social distancing are required at all gatherings, according to a Marin County announcement.

“These changes signal how our approach is shifting,” said Dr. Matt Willis, the county’s public health officer. “We’re placing more emphasis on personal choice as we reopen. With more opportunities to gather together, we’ll rely more and more on each other to limit our risk as a community.”

Health officials said indoor gatherings remain “strongly discouraged,” but are allowed if windows and doors are open for ventilation. The size of such events is capped at 25% of a building’s capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer.

The size limits correspond to Marin’s status in

the “orange” tier of California’s reopening blueprint, which is the second-least restrictive. If the county advances into the least-restrictive “yellow” tier, the maximum size for gatherings can increase to 100 people outside. Inside gatherings can expand to 50 people or 50% of a building’s capacity, whichever is fewer.

Marin could move into the yellow tier as soon as next week, according to Willis. In order to reach the least-restrictive tier, a county’s adjusted coronavirus case rate must stay below two cases per 100,000 residents for two weeks. Marin met that mark this week, but by only a slim margin, Willis said. If the rate jumps

up slightly, the county will remain at the orange level.

“It’s too close to call at this point,” Willis said. “We’re right on the border between orange and yellow.”

The state has also released new guidelines for live events, such as concerts, performances and conferences. The rules allow more people to attend events if guests show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours or full vaccination.

For the orange tier, outdoor events can expand to 300 people outdoors and 150 indoors if attendees are tested or vaccinated. For the yellow tier, outdoor events can expand to 400 tested or vaccinated guests outdoors and 200 indoors.

California Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón has said that the state does

not plan to help event organizers verify whether people are vaccinated, but there are private companies that provide verification services. He also said “most people will be honest because the vaccines are freely available and the barriers getting vaccinated are coming down,” with all people 16 and older now eligible.

For seated live events, only in-state visitors will be allowed for counties in both the orange and yellow tiers. Workers must be tested weekly, tickets must be electronic and purchased in advance, eating and drinking will only be allowed in designated areas rather than in seats, and venues will be limited to 25% capacity.

Small venues with capacity for up to 1,500 can allow 15% capacity or 200 people

in the orange tier and 25% capacity or 300 people in the yellow tier. If guests are tested or vaccinated, venues can have 35% capacity in the orange and 50% in the yellow tiers.

For venues of more than 1,500 seats 10% capacity or up to 2,000 people will be allowed for counties in the orange and yellow tiers with no eating or drinking allowed. But if guests are tested or vaccinated, they can have 35% of capacity in the orange and 50% in the yellow tiers.

“We are looking forward to resuming activities and events within Marin County in a safe and controlled environment as per COVID-19 protocol,” said Mark Essman, president and CEO of the Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau, in a statement. “Our industry has been severely affected by the

virus, so any movement forward to a normal routine is a welcome opportunity and benefit for everyone.”

The looser rules come as the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Marin continues to snowball. Roughly half of the county’s residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Among those who are eligible for shots — a pool of people that expanded on Thursday to include everyone age 16 and older — 70% have received at least one dose.

Half of eligible residents have been fully vaccinated, meaning they have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to county data.

The Bay Area News Group contributed to this report.