San Mateo County Downgraded To Red Tier, State Says

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA—The state has downgraded San Mateo County into the second tier of the state's four-tiered, color-coded COVID-19 risk system.

Previously, San Mateo County was in tier one, or the purple tier, indicating widespread risk. Tier two, or the red tier, represents substantial risk.

San Mateo County was one of several in California that progressed to the red tier, the state health department's website indicated Tuesday morning. This means that the state will allow more San Mateo County businesses to reopen, should the county health department approve.

Counties that remain in the red tier for two weeks may consider reopening schools for in-person instruction.

Though San Mateo County may choose to be more restrictive, the state permits counties in the red tier to reopen the following businesses and services indoors, with modifications:

• shopping centers (50 percent capacity; closed common areas and reduced-capacity food courts)
• restaurants (25 percent capacity)
• fitness centers (10 percent capacity)
• places of worship (25 percent capacity or 100 people — whichever is fewer)
• nail salons
• massage facilities
• museums (25 percent capacity)
• zoos (25 percent capacity)
• aquariums (25 percent capacity)
• movie theaters (25 percent capacity or 100 people — whichever is fewer)

As of noon Tuesday, there have been 9,625 cases of the coronavirus in San Mateo County, statistics show. There have been 144 COVID-19-related deaths.