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Outdoor dining and Indoor Haircuts are back with the January 13 Public Health Order

On Jan. 12, the State of California announced that the Greater Sacramento region is permitted to exit the State’s Regional Stay at Home Order with a four-week ICU availability projection of greater than 15 percent. Counties in the Greater Sacramento region can resume operating under the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy tier structure. Based on the State’s tier criteria, Sacramento County will be in Purple/Tier 1 Widespread. 

Effective immediately, Sacramento County’s Jan. 13 Health Order aligns with Purple/Tier 1 Widespread to reopen some indoor and outdoor operations under reduced operational capacity and supersedes the Dec. 9, 2020, Order.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are permitted for OUTDOOR operations only with social distancing, face covering and sanitization: 

  • Cardrooms, satellite wagering
  • Family Entertainment Centers (e.g. bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, kart racing, skating rinks and arcades)
  • Gyms and fitness centers 
  • Movie theaters (maximum 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
  • Museums, zoos, aquariums
  • Places of worship (maximum 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
  • Playgrounds, dog parks, skate parks and recreational facilities
  • Restaurants 
  • Wineries

Bars, pubs, breweries and distilleries offering sit-down meals may operate outdoors conducted under a tent, canopy or other shelter as long as no more than two sides are enclosed with non-permeable walls and is classified as “outdoor” using CDPH outdoor business structure criteria.
In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are open for INDOOR operations with social distancing, face covering, sanitization and *specific modifications:

  • All retail (*maximum 25% capacity; grocery stores 50% capacity)
  • Critical infrastructure 
  • Entertainment production, studios, broadcast
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Hotels and lodging
  • Libraries (*maximum 25% capacity)
  • Nail salons and electrolysis operations
  • Personal care services (e.g. body waxing, estheticians, tattoo, massage)
  • Professional sports (*without live audiences)
  • Shopping centers (e.g. malls, destination centers, swap meets, excluding food courts and common areas) (*maximum 25% capacity)

Bars, pubs, breweries and distilleries are prohibited from operating except when serving sit-down, outdoor meals.
SchoolsIn alignment with CDPH requirements, schools (all grade levels) that have reopened for in-person instruction, either under a waiver or while Sacramento County was in Red Tier 2 (Sep. 29 – Nov. 10, 2020), are permitted to continue to conduct in-person instruction with mitigation measures in compliance with CDPH and Sacramento County Public Health.  Schools that had not reopened must wait until they are eligible again, either when Sacramento County returns to Red Tier 2 for at least two weeks or through State of California approved processes for school reopening. All organized youth and adult recreational sports, including school- and community-sponsored programs, and privately-organized clubs and leagues must abide by CDPH youth and adult sports requirements and guidance and must maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, sanitization, cohorts).  In alignment with Purple Tier 1, only outdoor low-contact sports are permitted.  Inter-team competitions are not permitted until authorized by the State of California. 

This Order will take effect immediately and will be in effect until it is rescinded, superseded or amended in writing by the Health Officer of Sacramento County.

In addition, the California Department of Public Health issued Curfew is still in effect, which was put into effect on Nov. 19, for all counties in Purple Tier 1. This Order requires that all gatherings with members of other households cease between 10 p.m. – 5 a.m., except for critical infrastructure activities.

Please review the California Department of Public Health updated face covering mandate, which requires all people in California to wear face coverings when they are outside of the home, with specific exemptions.  As part of the Sacramento County Health Order, it continues to align the County face covering Order with the State mandate.

“Although the Purple Tier 1 is less restrictive, we still have widespread transmission of COVI​D-19 in Sacramento County. We need to continue to stay at home as much as possible, comply with the cautious reopening of business sectors and maintain social distancing, limit gatherings with non-household members, and always wear a mask in public spaces. The COVID-19 vaccine distribution has started, but it will take several weeks for the full protection to develop in our communities – until then, we must continue to protect ourselves and others from exposure to this deadly virus.”

SACRAMENTO COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER DR. OLIVIA KASIRYE

Review the differences between the Regional Order and Purple Tier 1

For questions about the Public Health Order, call the Public Health hotline at (916) 875-2400. For complaints about unsafe practices at businesses (e.g. face coverings, social distancing), or violations of the Health Order, dial 3-1-1 or visit to the Sacramento County 311 Connect website, or email, SacCo311@custhelp.com.​