Santa Clara County – the Silicon Valley region where cities like Palo Alto, San Jose and Campbell are home – is open for outdoor dining on Monday, January 25th. So does the city of Berkeley, located in Alameda County, its own health department. These are the two youngest counties in the Bay Area that announced the resumption of outdoor dining, the same day that Gov. Newsom shocked the state of California by announcing that despite worrying developments such as a new variant of COVID-19 and continued challenges with vaccination efforts, the seven-week regional home series order has been lifted, which could resume activities such as sitting.
Marin County was one of the first to announce that he would end his weeks of exceptional meals, and that he would be able to eat outside immediately. At a news conference Monday, San Francisco announced that it will also be eating out – but only on Thursday, January 28, and only under strict restrictions, including a ten-day quarantine for travelers, and an evening clock from 10pm to 5am: 00 for the whole city.
According to Berkeleyside, while Alameda County has not yet made an official announcement, Berkeley City spokesman Matthai Chakko said Berkeley will not impose any additional restrictions on activities or businesses allowed below the press level. ‘In other words, outdoor dining can start again immediately, without the kinds of additional restrictions that San Francisco applies. Like the rest of the Bay, Berkeley and Santa Clara are currently in the press (“widespread risk”) level of the state’s color code reopening plan, which requires bars to remain closed without food and ban indoor dining, but allow activities such as tourism and dining room outside to resume.
In a press release sent Monday afternoon, officials in Santa Clara Country also said that “outdoor meals can be resumed”, and it does not appear that its own rules have been added around the activity. Like San Francisco, Santa Clara has a mandatory travel order that remains in effect, officials say, which means anyone traveling 150 miles to or from the region must be quarantined for ten days.
Like her associates of health officials, Santa Clara County Health Officer and Director of Public Health Sarah Cody showed a measured tone regarding the reopening. “Santa Clara County is still experiencing very high COVID-19 transmission,” Cody said. “I encourage all residents to be vigilant, wear a mask when leaving your home, keep a distance of at least 6 feet from everyone outside your household and be vaccinated if it is your turn.”