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Certain businesses allowed to reopen under new state guidelines
Gov. Gavin Newsom today unveiled a four-tier, color-coded system that will use daily coronavirus case numbers and positivity rates to guide counties' ability to reopen businesses, a process he said will take a slow and more stringent approach to economic reopening.
LOS ANGELES - It depends, is the best answer.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday unveiled a new rating system for counties battling COVID-19. Purple, red, orange, and yellow are the colors of the future of California — as far as reopening.
Counties will now be rated on the number of cases and percentage of positive tests - rather than hospitalizations or hospital capacity, which will make it more difficult for counties in the purple, with the most restrictions, to get to yellow, the least restrictive.
But Newsom did relax some of the limitations, allowing hair salons, barbershops, malls and non-essential retail to reopen at 25% capacity, even if they are in counties in the purple level — unless their county health departments don’t allow it.
RELATED: California governor announces new, slower reopening plan amid COVID-19 pandemic
Counties are authorized to enact stricter health regulations than the state, should they choose to do so. So far, Orange, Riverside and Ventura counties say they will follow the governor’s recommendations and begin to reopen malls, barbers and hair salons.
Los Angeles County has chosen to remain more restrictive, and will not allow hair salons or barbershop, malls or non-essential retail to reopen inside their stores, at least for now.
RELATED: LA County says hair salons, barbershops must remain closed despite Newsom's announcement
So for example, the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside will open Monday morning, but the Original Pancake House in Norco can only serve people in an outside patio, while the barbershop down the street can cut hair inside.
Confusing? Most people seem to think so, but Newsom says this is the best set of guidelines for the coming months if the state has to reopen. Remember, even with allowing people inside, there will be mandates to wear a mask and social distance.
Make sure you check with the location you are going to.
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