Solano moves to Tier 2 for COVID framework

Businesses allowed to reopen some indoor activities with modifications

Vallejo, Benicia now able to have indoor restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores open at limited capacities.

The California Department of Public Health announced Tuesday afternoon that Solano County has been moved into the red tier ( Tier 2) on the state’s COVID-19 response framework, allowing for more local businesses and activities to resume some additional indoor activities, with modifications.

“Solano Count y ha s made progress in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County Health Officer Bela T. Matyas in a press release. “As more businesses reopen, we all need to do our part to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19 infection, and our best defense is to continue with the safety protocols—wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands.”

Before the move on Tuesday, the State had placed Solano County in the most restrictive tier —Tier 1, the purple tier — where COVID-19 infection rates are considered “widespread,” and many indoor businesses operations remained closed or with limited capacity. The transition into Tier 2, the red tier, allows for more business with indoor operations to increase capacity. Businesses need to continue to adhere to the State’s Industry Guidance for social distancing best practices to help protect employees, customers and the community to continue to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 infection.

Moving into Tier 2 allows the following …

• Restaurants indoor dining (maximum 25 percent capacity of facility or 100 people, whichever is fewer).

• All retail indoors (maximum 50 percent capacity of facility).

• Shopping centers, swap meets indoors (maximum 50 percent capacity of facility, closed common areas).

• Personal care services — hair and nail salons, barbershops (open with modifications).

• Museums, zoos and aquariums (maximum 25 percent capacity of facility).

• Places of worship (maximum 25 percent capacity of facility or 100 people, whichever is fewer).

• Movie theaters indoors (maximum 25 percent capacity of facility or 100 people, whichever is fewer).

• Gyms and fitness centers indoors (maximum 10 percent capacity of facility).

Prior to opening under Tier 2, all businesses must review the Solano County Health Order, complete a State COVID-19 general checklist and ensure a written plan is on file and available for public review. Information and resources on Guidance for Industries is available on the Solano County website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19.

The news was met with optimism on Tuesday and Wednesday in Vallejo.

“Great news! Solano County has met the criteria for two consecutive weeks to move from Purple Tier ( Widespread) to Red Tier (Substantial),” City of Vallejo Senior Community Development Analyst Annette Taylor said. “This means more businesses may reopen indoors with modifications. Our restaurants, movie theaters, museums, places of worship, as examples, may open with modifications. Nail salons may open indoors.

“We are able to reopen more businesses due to wearing masks, physical distancing, washing hands, and minimizing mixing,” Taylor continued. “Let’s keep up the good work and move to the next tier in the near future. Together we will get through this!”

In Vallejo, Cinemark Theatres announced it will be reopening with new guidelines on Friday. Movies showing that day include the new Christopher Nolan film, “Tenet” as well as a film on Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a 40th anniversary showing of “The Empire Strikes Back.”

On Vallejo Happenings Facebook’s page, Kisha Smith was thrilled to finally announce the Grand Opening of Bath and Body works on Wednesday morning in Gateway Plaza.

Scotty’s Restaurant announced it will be opening on Monday, but to just 25 percent of capacity. Denise Serrano seemed excited that Olive Garden would finally be reopening for dining.

Nicole Hodge of Provisions was a little more hesitant to open up indoors.

“While indoor dining is now allowed, we will be an outdoor only restaurant until I know I can keep my staff, my customers and myself safe,” Hodge said online. “In the meantime I’m working on getting the patio warmer and covered. Stay safe y’all.”

If Solano County continues to make progress in preventing COVID-19 transmission, additional business sectors and indoor activities can progressively begin to open, with modifications, within the next three weeks, per the State’s Industry Guidelines. If the County’s COVID-19 metrics worsen, the County would be directed to revert to a more restrictive tier as soon as two weeks from today. Per state regulations, K-12 schools can reopen to classroom-based learning with COVID-19 modifications after two weeks of the County in Tier 2, providing there is no new surge in COVID-19 infections.