Long Beach Issues Revised Health Order, Moves Into State’s Orange Tier for Economic Reopening

Long Beach, CA - City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Department has issued an updated Health Order, effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 1, as Long Beach enters the Orange (Moderate) Tier, the third of four tiers outlined under the State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

'We're making significant progress in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and our move into the Orange Tier is a reflection of our efforts,' said Mayor Robert Garcia. 'As we expand additional business operations, it's our shared responsibility to continue to abide by the protocols and safety measures that keep us all safe.'

The below is an overview of the revised Health Order, pursuant to revised guidance issued by the State.

• Restaurants may increase indoor capacity from 25% to 50% of maximum occupancy, or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
  • Brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, craft distilleries and wineries without a City restaurant permit may operate indoors at the increased restaurant capacity only if the bar sells alcohol in the same transaction as a bona fide meal provided by a City-approved meal provider.
• Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries, where no meal service is provided, may operate indoors and outdoors without serving meals. Indoor capacity is limited to 25% of maximum occupancy, or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Bars, where no meal service is provided, may operate outdoors. Bars may operate indoors only if bona fide meals are served under restaurant protocols.
  • Indoor operations of bars that do not serve bona fide meals remain prohibited.
• Gyms and Fitness Centers may increase indoor capacity from 10% to 25% of maximum occupancy. Indoor pools may open, with modifications. Indoor hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms must remain closed.
• Retail Establishments, including shopping centers, malls and swap meets, may operate at normal capacity without restrictions. Shopping centers with restaurants and other food facilities may operate in accordance with the updated restaurant protocols.
• Public and Private K-12 Schools may offer in-person graduation and commencement ceremonies, provided adherence to State guidelines.
• Institutes of Higher Education may resume in-person instruction limited to 50% of maximum occupancy or 200 people per class, whichever is fewer. In-person graduation and commencement ceremonies may take place, provided adherence to State guidelines.
• Museums, Galleries, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens may operate indoors and outdoors with increased indoor capacity from 25% to 50% of maximum occupancy.
• In-Person Religious Services and Cultural Ceremonies may operate indoors with increased indoor capacity from 25% to 50%. Back office staff and management may operate in person.
• Movie Theaters may increase indoor capacity from 25% to 50% of maximum occupancy, or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
• Outdoor Live Events (sports and live performances) may operate, beginning April 1, under the following restrictions and other State requirements. Indoor events remain prohibited.
• • Capacity is limited to 33% of maximum occupancy.
  • Limited to in-state visitors only.
  • Venues may increase attendance capacity to 67% of maximum occupancy only if all guests provide a negative test result within 72 hours prior to attendance, or show proof of full vaccination.
• Non-Critical Office Worksites may open indoors with modifications. Telework is strongly encouraged.
• Youth and Adult Recreational Sports, including various outdoor low-, moderate-, and high-contact sports and indoor low-contact sports identified by the State, may resume with modifications.
• Family Entertainment Centers may operate indoors and outdoors. Indoor capacity is limited to 25% of maximum occupancy, with groups consisting of members of the same household only. Indoor operations are limited to naturally-distanced activities such as indoor bumper cars, indoor batting cages, bowling alleys, escape rooms, virtual reality and kiddie rides.
• Amusement and Theme Parks may resume indoor and outdoor operations, beginning April 1, with modifications, including total park occupancy of 25% for both indoor and outdoor operations, in addition to other State requirements.

Business owners can call the City's BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4BIZ (4249), weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for more information. Businesses operating under these revised protocols are required to understand the guidance and implement all safety measures. Read all revisions to the Health Order here.

The tiered system is based on three key metrics: the number of new cases per day (per 100,000 residents); the positivity rate (number of positive test results compared to all tests administered); and the health equity metric (testing positivity rate in the lowest-resourced areas). The color-coded tiers range from purple (widespread) to yellow (minimal).

The health equity metric is designed to address the disproportionate case rate of COVID-19 among certain populations. It is based on health equity indicators or conditions that impact public health, such as economic, social, education, transportation, housing and environmental factors. In order to move to a less restrictive tier, the lowest-resourced areas must meet a certain positivity threshold. The health equity metric ensures that individuals affected most by the pandemic are doing well enough that moving the county to the next tier is safe for everyone.

All of Los Angeles County, which includes Long Beach, was previously in the Red Tier. In order to move up to the next tier (Yellow), the County must be in the Orange Tier for a minimum of three weeks and maintain Yellow Tier numbers for two consecutive weeks. That would include a case rate of less than one new case (per 100k) daily, less than 2% positivity rate and less than 2.2% health equity metric.

The City reminds everyone to remain vigilant in practicing all health and safety protocols outlined in the Safer at Home Health Order, including wearing a face covering and maintaining proper physical distance from others, even if they have received COVID-19 vaccinations.

To date, there have been 52,213 COVID-19 cases in Long Beach, and 910 people have died from the virus. More than 205,000 vaccines have been administered, which includes 129,000 first doses and more than 76,000 second doses.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep its residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.