Although San Francisco is expected to be the first province in the Bay to enter the “Yellow” level next week for reopening – and return where it was for a brief period last fall in terms of declining COVID case numbers and hospitalizations – it does not happen is happening yet. But city officials on Thursday afternoon announced a few more rule changes for businesses that will make things a little more relaxed.
“It is not clear when we will reach the ‘Yellow’ level, because our case has not decreased as before,” said acting public health official, Dr. Susan Philip, said Thursday during the online presentation. Instead, she said, the city will move into an ‘extended Orange level’ next week.
San Francisco has had additional restrictions in the “Orange” level since the last change of status on March 24, which are not required by the state, and some of them will be lifted on April 15, Dr. Philip said.
The biggest change will be for restaurants, which no longer have to close at 11pm, and can offer larger outdoor parties. Indoors, things stay at 50%, with a maximum of six people at the table from up to three different households. But outdoors, from the 15th, group discussions of up to 25 people were allowed at tables of up to eight people – and the ban on people mixing between tables was lifted.
Also, pubs can seat people outside tables up to eight people according to the same rules.
Grocery stores will no longer have to offer special working hours for the elderly who have not been vaccinated from the 15th. And hotels may also offer limited private meetings, with the necessary face covering.
As we have already heard, live indoor events are also coming back next week, with a number of restrictions. The rule is a 35% capacity with face masks and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for all participants – and with the rules in place, the Chase Center will allow fans to watch the Warriors’ last nine games of to see the regular season, with a capacity limit of 6,300. And, as we already know, Oracle Park offers giant games with 9,200 fans in the stands, but concessions are only on the seat and fans will be separated from the fans.
Live outdoor events have a limit of 50 people, unless it is ticket events with allocated seats.
Governor Gavin Newsom boldly announced this week that most of these restrictions and capacity constraints will be lifted on June 15, assuming the COVID picture does not go sideways from time to time. Some experts are wary of making such statements – and some have expressed concern and caution this week until more of the Bay Area is vaccinated. But Newsom bets that things will remain stable and that California will not see a major boom again, otherwise his political future could be in jeopardy if he had to turn himself around.
Other restrictions to be lifted in San Francisco next week include allowing indoor conventions of up to 150 guests with face covers and seat cards, as well as negative COVID tests or proof of vaccination for attendees. And museums, zoos and aquariums will be able to open their auditoriums with all the rules for indoor performances.
San Francisco’s case numbers remain relatively low, although COVID cases in the hospital did increase this week. To be eligible for the “yellow” level status, SF will need to see an adjusted daily rate of less than 2 per 100,000 inhabitants, and a case-positive rate of less than 2%. As of April 6, San Francisco County was just at stake with an adjusted daily business rate of 2.0 per 100,000 residents, which is the lowest rate of any province in the Bay Area.
Previously: Eight of nine provinces in the Bay Area are now in the ‘Orange’ level
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