Week of March 12, 2021

Orange County Moves to Red Tier This Sunday

Today the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to Californians in some of the state’s hardest-hit communities, increasing immunity where the state's transmission rates and disease burden have been the highest during the pandemic. With this equity metric met, and because vaccines slow the spread of disease and serious illness, the previously announced update to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy to account for progress with vaccine administration goes into effect. Effective Sunday, March 14, Orange County will move into the Red Tier the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy after having met Red Tier metrics.

As a result, many local businesses and activities in Orange County will either be allowed to expand capacity or resume operations. Please visit the State’s website, and enter “Orange" in the County field and business or activity of interest in the Activity field and click the Get Latest Risk Levels button to view its status under the Red Tier. 

>>View a matrix of what can operate in each tier.

Orange County Continues Vaccine Distribution

Regarding vaccine distribution in Orange County, the County continues to operate three Super Point of Dispensing (POD) sites at the Disneyland Resort, Soka University, and the Anaheim Convention Center, along with smaller POD sites and mobile clinics. The County’s Soka University and Disneyland Super POD sites are offering ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) vehicle lanes for in-car vaccinations for eligible individuals with disabilities and appointments, who are displaying vehicle placards or license plates. In following Governor Newsom’s vaccine equity metric to set aside 40 percent of vaccines for the hardest-hit communities, the Santa Ana College POD is dispensing vaccines for those in underserved communities in targeted zip codes within Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Anaheim. On Wednesday, the County opened a COVID-19 mobile clinic vaccination site at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove. Christ Cathedral will be open on Wednesdays by appointment only, for those living in the hardest-hit communities in targeted zip codes.

As a reminder, the County PODs and mobile clinics are not the only options for folks wanting to receive a vaccine. Other health care providers are approved to dispense vaccines, including hospitals, pharmacies, and health clinics, and they play an essential role in vaccinating Orange County's population. Large retail pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid received their vaccine allocation directly from the Federal Government.

Amusement Parks and Sports Stadiums to Re-Open with Modifications

The Director of the California Department of Public Health unveiled new guidance that will allow for the limited reopening of theme parks and sports stadiums beginning April 1. Amusement parks located in counties in the Red Tier will be allowed to open, at 15% capacity, for in-state visitors only.  The capacity will increase to 25% once a county progresses to the Orange Tier and 35% at the Yellow Tier. Additional restrictions are still being developed, but will include no indoor dining and limits on indoor rides.
 
Outdoor sports and live performances will also be allowed to resume on April 1.  Advance reservations will be required and there will be no concession or concourse sales.  For counties in the Red Tier, capacity will be limited to 20% in-state visitors with primarily in-seat concession sales. For counties in the Orange Tier, capacity will be limited to 33% in-state visitors.  For counties in the Yellow Tier, capacity will be limited to 67% in-state visitors.

Wineries and Breweries May Open Outdoors with Modifications

The California Department of Public Health announced that beginning on Saturday, March 13, breweries, wineries and distilleries that do not serve meals may open outdoors only with modifications in the Purple and Red Tiers. The modifications include ensuring that patrons have reservations and patrons observe a 90-minute time limit. Service for on-site consumption must end by 8 p.m. The updated guidance does not apply to breweries, wineries and distilleries that provide meals. Those establishments should continue to follow the restaurant guidance. However, bars that do not serve meals must remain closed in the Purple and Red Tiers.

Supervisor Chaffee’s Small Business Grant Relief Program 

Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee continues to accept applications for the Small Business Grant Relief Program. These grants will support small businesses and nonprofit organizations within the Fourth Supervisorial District (excluding the cities of  Anaheim and Placentia who have their own programs) impacted by COVID-19. The program will provide $5,000 awards to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Awardees will be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred from November 2020-present (as long as other relief program funds were not received for the same expense). 

>>Click here for more information on this opportunity.