On Monday, November 16, the County of Orange announced the backward movement to the more restrictive Widespread Purple Tier in the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The move is due a modification announced by Gov. Newsom on November 16, that moves counties back to a more restrictive tier if COVID-19 case rates, test positivity rates, and health equity quartile data has tracked within a more restrictive tier for just one week.
Therefore, effective November 16, all retail and shopping centers must retreat to operations at maximum 25% capacity, and certain business sectors, including restaurants may only operate outdoors with modifications. Industry changes must be made urgently, with new modifications implemented by November 17. View the status of activities within each county, or view more information below:
All Retail – including critical infrastructure, except standalone grocers
- Open indoors with modifications
- Maximum 25% capacity
Shopping Centers – including Malls, Destinations Centers, Swap Meets
- Open indoors with modifications
- Maximum 25% capacity
- Closed common areas
- Closed food courts
Restaurants
- Outdoor only with modifications
Gatherings
- Outdoor gatherings only with modifications
- Maximum three households
Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums
- Outdoor only with modifications
Places of Worship
- Outdoor only with modifications
Movie Theaters
- Outdoor only with modifications
Gyms and Fitness Centers
- Outdoor only with modifications
Tier metrics are based on cases per 100,000 residents, positive COVID-19 test results per 100,000 tests, and the county’s Health equity quartile. The state of California will reassess tier status multiple times during a week, and Orange County must remain in the assigned tier for a minimum of three weeks.
Additionally, indoor exhibitions at the Irvine Fine Arts Center and the Great Park Gallery will close, indoor activity at the Artist Studio at the Great Park will be suspended, and Hangar 244 will close. Please note that indoor classes and camps offered by the City are still open based on existing guidance for camps and cohorts. Playgrounds remain open with specific guidelines in place regarding maintaining social distancing and wearing of masks. City athletic fields also remain open for drop-in use by individuals, groups, and families with social distancing precautions - no more than 10 people in a gathering, no more than 20 people to a field, and no more than two groups to a field. For more information visit cityofirvine.org/covid19.
Schools that have already re-opened in the Red tier do not have to close. However, if a school had not already reopened for in person instruction, it may not reopen until Orange County advances to the Red Tier for 14 days.
For more information, visit the State’s COVID-19 website at covid19.ca.gov.