Purple, red, orange, yellow: How do California's new COVID-19 tiers work?

Melissa Daniels
Palm Springs Desert Sun
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The path to allowing more Californians to congregate indoors during the coronavirus pandemic is now determined by a county's position in one of four color-coded tiers. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom in August announced a new framework for reopening businesses based on the local spread of coronavirus in counties using two key metrics: testing positivity rate and the growth of cases. The framework was updated in mid-November amid a surge in cases.

Most counties, including Riverside and San Bernardino are currently on the lowest tier of the state's new four-tier system. That's the purple tier, which restricts the most business activity and has the most capacity restrictions. Red, orange and yellow tiers have more open businesses or increased capacity.

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The state's mandatory mask order is still in effect regardless of tier, and people are encouraged to maintain distance from those who do not live with them, according to the governor's announcement

California isn't the first state to have a color-coded system to communicate what level of activity can happen in a county or region, as such systems were used by Pennsylvania and New York. 

To find out what color tier your county is in, the state developed a new website at covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy

So, how does it work?

The state determines which tier a county is in based on two metrics. The first is the case rate, or the number of new cases per 100,000 residents, based on a seven-day average. The second is the testing rate, or the number of coronavirus tests coming back positive.

Originally, a county had to remain in a tier for a minimum of three weeks before being able to advance to a less-restrictive tier, although there was a slight exception for purple counties: By Sept. 8, those counties only needed to meet criteria for one more week to move to the red tier.

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The state said if a county’s metrics got worse for two consecutive weeks, the county would be rolled back to a more restrictive tier. Additionally, the state could step in with an "emergency brake" if hospitalizations began to surge.

To move forward, counties had to prove to the state that they can meet certain health equity measures. This will apply to aspects of pandemic response like data collection, testing access, contact tracing, supportive isolation and outreach to the most impacted communities within a county.

New rules announced Nov. 16 dictate that:

  • Counties will now move tiers after one week of increased COVID-19 cases instead of waiting two weeks.
  • Some counties could move back multiple tiers if they are experiencing a significant increase.
  • Businesses must shut down within 24 hours, instead of 72 hours, when their county moves to a more restrictive tier.
  • The state will announce tier changes in tiers twice a week, instead of once a week. The announcements will not come every Tuesday, but in real time as necessary.

What are the criteria?

The California Department of Public Health says that the list of activities and sectors affected will be based on risk-based criteria. In other words, the lower the risk of the activity or venue, the sooner something can reopen. 

Risk-based criteria include the ability to allow face coverings, and the ability to physically distance from others. It also is based on the ability to optimize ventilation (such as indoor versus outdoor), and the ability to limit activities that will involve people from different households and communities mixing. 

Each tier has its own specifications on what is and is not allowed to be open, or to be indoors. Counties can enact restrictions that go beyond what's allowed in the tiers, but they can't be less restrictive. 

What's open in the purple tier

This is the tier for counties with widespread cases, where the most indoor operations are closed. It represents counties with a case rate of greater than than seven cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 8% or higher. 

This tier limits indoor operations for many non-essential sectors, including restaurants. But spaces including retail stores, malls and libraries can open with 25% capacity.

All hair salons and barber shops are able to do indoor operations, which wasn't the case prior to this new tiered framework. 

Museums, zoos and aquariums can only operate outdoor facilities. Same with movie theaters, houses of worship and gyms. Bars are closed, unless food is served, then they follow the rules for restaurants (outdoor service only). Amusement parks are closed.

What's open in the red tier

In this tier, which indicates substantial spread, case loads are between four and seven new cases per 100,000 residents, with a testing positivity rate between 5% and 8%.

Retail operations go up from 25% capacity to 50% capacity, while mall food courts can begin to operate with reduced capacity. Museums, which previously were closed to outdoor operations, can open indoors with modifications at 25% capacity.

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Personal services like body waxing salons and tattoo parlors can open indoors with modifications. Cultural ceremonies also can take place with 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

Schools can open for in-person instruction when a county remains in this tier for two weeks.

But nightclubs and bars that don't serve food remain closed, as do saunas and steam rooms.

What's open in the orange tier

Counties reach this stage of "moderate" spread when their case rate is between one and 3.9 new cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate between 2% and 4.9%.

This is the stage when bars and other places that serve alcoholic beverages without meals can open to outdoor operations.

Cardrooms, which were previously outdoor only, can move indoors with 25% capacity. Family entertainment centers can open indoors for "naturally" distanced activities, like bowling alleys and climbing walls, with modifications and at maximum of 25% capacity.

Cultural ceremonies can grow in size to 50% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

What's open in the yellow tier

This stage, which indicates "minimal" cases, is in effect for counties with fewer than one new case per 100,000 residents per day, and a testing rate of under 2% a day.

Most indoor operations can be open with modifications during this stage. Places like saunas and steam rooms can open with modifications and 50% capacity.

But it doesn't mean that everything is open with unlimited movement like before the pandemic. There are still capacity restrictions for this stage, and large-scale operations like conventions, festivals and concert venues remain closed.

Melissa Daniels covers economic development, hospitality and local business in the Coachella Valley. She can be reached at (760)-567-8458, melissa.daniels@desertsun.com, or on Twitter @melissamdaniels.

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