Page 14 •
march 8, 2021
The Bay Area Review • Online: www.thebayareareview.com
Down Graded
Red Tier Indoor Dining and More Starting today -- March 3rd, 2021 -- our County is now in the State’s Red Tier which permits modified indoor dining and indoor gatherings. This is welcome news for our numerous businesses. The new relaxed restrictions are thanks to the continued progress in vaccinations and improving COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations in Santa Clara County. The County’s previous Risk Reduction Order, which requires everyone to follow all State orders and guidance, maintain distance, and wear face coverings as much as possible, will remain in effect. The Order also requires all businesses and other entities to maximize telework, post a Social Distancing Protocol outlining specific COVID-19 safety plans, and promptly report any cases to the Public Health Department. All activities authorized under the State’s Red Tier, including indoor dining, can resume in accordance with State capacity limits and safety protocols, including: Indoor dining at max-
imum 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer; Retail stores at maximum 50% capacity; Gyms and fitness centers at maximum 10% capacity; Movie theaters at maximum 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer; Zoos, museums, and aquariums at 25% maximum indoor capacity. Sector and activity-specific local directives will no longer be in effect. The Mandatory Directive on Travel will no longer be in effect. Each year, the President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors delivers a “State of the County Address,” which I delivered virtually on Monday, February 22nd during which I spoke to the effects of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic on our region’s collective health and economy. I expressed my desire for 2021 to be a year of healing and restoration of normalcy – the key to which is vaccinations. I explained the challenges of state and federal systems and policies that have
been restricting the funds and vaccines. As always, I expressed my gratitude for the healthcare workers who put the County’s collective health before their own. I called on our community to work together to create a thriving and healthy post-pandemic era and to get vaccinated as soon as eligible. The number one comment I hear from residents is, “I just want things to get back to normal.” I understand. Kids need classroom learning and activities, businesses need to operate, healthcare workers need relief. The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our world like a destructive wildfire. We all want to return to some sort of normalcy in Santa Clara County. And you can help make it happen: Call your family members, neighbors and friends who are eligible to be vaccinated. Groups like older adults and non-English speakers may not be getting information quickly or are having trouble signing up. Simply call and ask them if they have been vaccinated or if they need help making an appointment. The sooner we all reach out to our
networks and increase the number of people vaccinated, the sooner we can help our community heal and return to some sense of normalcy. The County’s goal is to vaccinate at least 85 percent of residents age 16 or older by August. As of March 1, 2021, 355,252 people have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in our county, and 155,482 people have also received their second dose. Approximately half of county residents age 65 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine. We continue to focus on ensuring equitable access to vaccinations for the communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Gilroy is one of the most impacted communities in Santa Clara County, with more than 1 in 10 residents
having contracted the virus. We have opened vaccination sites in Gilroy and East San Jose and have also partnered with the SF 49ers to open the largest vaccination site in California to help address disparities and reach our goals. Please visit www.sccfreevax.org for information on how to get vaccinated.