San Francisco might move into yellow tier next week: what to expect

(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

By Sri Ravipati

(SAN FRANCISCO) San Francisco might move from the orange tier to the less restrictive yellow tier next week.

After improving two consecutive weeks of case rates and positivity rates needed to advance, the San Francisco Department of Public Health on Tuesday said the state is going to green light moving to the yellow tier on May 4.

San Francisco entered the orange tier on March 24.

Mayor London Breed said Wednesday that 70% of San Franciscans older than 16 have received at least a first vaccine shot.

“That’s 15% higher than the rest of the nation,” she tweeted, adding that only 0.7% of the city’s coronavirus tests are coming back positive. “We’re nearing the end of this pandemic and we’re going to keep up the pace until we get there.”

Additionally, Marin County might join San Francisco in becoming the first cities in the Bay Area to enter the yellow tier.

The San Francisco Public Health Department expects the city’s changes will take effect on May 7.

Here's what to expect in the yellow tier

Small gatherings

• People can gather up to 50% capacity iwith no more than 50 people maximum while gathering indoors. Social distancing and face coverings are required while food and beverages are prohibited.
• People can remove their masks for indoor groups of fully vaccinated people or those at low risk in residences or other private settings.
• Outdoor gatherings are expanded with no more than 75 people as long as everyone keeps a distance. Face coverings are not required, and food and drink service is permitted. Unvaccinated people are urged to wear face coverings.

Large gatherings (i.e. conventions, meetings, graduations)

• Indoors, these events can have up to 200 guests with face coverings and distance between people of different households — but that’s only without food and drink service.
• All guests must have purchased tickets or the host needs to maintain a defined guest list. A seating chart or assigned seating is mandatory.
• All guests age 12 and up must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before the event.
• Outdoor gatherings can have up to 200 guests with distancing between different households.
• Or up to 400 guests if proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours. If all vaccine-eligible guests are fully vaccinated, then social distancing is not required.
• A seating chart or assigned seating is required. All guests must have purchased tickets or the host needs to maintain a guest list.
• For groups that are between 201 and 400 people in size, people must show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test.

Bars

• Bars, breweries, distilleries and wineries can open indoors for the first time since March 2020 up to 25% capacity or 100 people.
• De-factor meals are no longer required.
• Outdoor bars no longer require face masks if there is enough distance between tables, but they’re recommended for unvaccinated people.

Dining

• Like the orange tier, restaurants can serve at 50% capacity indoors. However, the 200-person maximum is lifted.
• The three-household limit per table is lifted. Tables can have up to eight people.
• Buffets and self-service options are allowed, but a metering system must be in place to ensure social distancing.
• Outdoor dining no longer will require face masks if tables can maintain at least 6 feet of distance. Masks are still recommended for the unvaccinated.

Nonessential offices

• Offices can open to 50% capacity. Fully vaccinated workers do not count toward the capacity limit.
• Employee breakrooms are capped at 50% as well, with employees eating indoors following the same rules as indoor dining.
• Telework is still encouraged.

Retail and grocery stores

• Eating or drinking in stores is allowed per the rules for indoor dining.
• Indoor and outdoor shopping malls must enforce face-covering requirements in common areas and social distancing.
• Food courts can open up to 50% capacity with approved ventilation measures and monitoring systems.

Fitness classes and indoor gyms

• Gyms need to have one of the Department of Public Health-approved ventilation measures in place.
• These can open to 50% capacity based on guests only (not including staff).
• Group fitness classes can open at 50% or up to 200 maximum participants, with everyone wearing face coverings at all times and maintaining at least six feet of distance between households.
• Stationary equipment must be 6 feet apart minimum.
• Sauna, steam rooms and indoor hot tubs are open at 25% capacity with distancing between households. And here, face coverings are optional.
• Indoor swimming pools can open to 50% capacity.

Entertainment venues for live events and professional sports games

• These indoor arenas can open at 50% capacity with social distancing rules enforced.
• Guests in any section or suites where everyone is fully vaccinated count against the overall capacity limit.
• Proof of a negative test or vaccination is not required for events with less than 300 people or up to 25% capacity (whichever is fewer), if they wear face coverings at all times (without food or beverage service). Those events also don’t need a health and safety plan.
• With food or beverage service, proof of a negative test or vaccination is required for events with fewer than 200 people.
• These events can also have fully vaccinated sections at 100% capacity as long as they’re located at least six feet from any sections.

Large outdoor events (i.e. Giants games, outdoor concerts, graduation events)

• For these events, capacity can scale up to 67% with proper social distancing.
• People in fully vaccinated sections or suites count against the overall capacity limit.
• Vaccination or testing proof is not required if the event has fewer than 4,000 people in the audience and everyone wears face coverings at all times (without food or beverage service). With food and beverage service included, that cap lowers to 300 people.
• Fully vaccinated sections can have 100% capacity as long as the sections themselves are six feet away from non-vaccinated seating.

Arts, music and theater performances

• Outdoors, these events can have up to 100 people with face coverings worn at all times, and social distance between households. But distancing isn’t required if all vaccine-eligible guests are fully vaccinated.

Hotels and lodging

• Limited-size meetings, conferences and receptions are allowed indoors per the capacity limits.
• Indoor gyms and fitness centers may open up to 50% capacity with hotel personnel on hand to ensure safety compliance.
• Buffet and self-service dining where distancing is possible are allowed with a metering system in place.

Libraries

• Libraries can open at 50% capacity.
• Guests can use computers for internet access, but this is subject to distancing and capacity limits and shared equipment must be regularly cleaned.
• The San Francisco Public Library is the only public library with in-person services at the Main Library (at Civic Center) and some branch libraries. For the rest of the city's libraries, curbside pickup and drop-off services remain.

Movie theaters

• Indoor movie theaters can open at 50% capacity or up to 500 people maximum.
• The three-household limit for groups is lifted. The maximum size of the group is eight people.
• Live performances related to showing motion pictures are allowed.

Indoor family entertainment centers

• Open up to 50% capacity for bowling alleys, billiard halls and indoor mini-golf.
• In moving from 25% to 50% capacity, these venues no longer face the requirement for vaccination or testing proof.
• Indoor arcade game centers, ice and roller skating rinks and indoor playgrounds can open.

Adult daycare programs

• Indoor adult daycare programs such as nursing homes are allowed up to 50% capacity, with no more than 50 people maximum.
• Serving a high-risk group, face coverings are required and food and beverage service is not allowed.
• Distancing and ventilation measures are encouraged.

Film and media production

• Production is allowed up to 300 people outside or less than 200 inside at one location. Testing and protocols in place and an approved health and safety plan are required for production.

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