On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department (the “Department”) is expected to issue a new Public Health Officer order to officially move into the least restrictive “yellow tier” of California’s color-coded reopening system. The criteria for entering the yellow tier is less than 2% positivity and fewer than 1 daily new case per 100,000 county residents. The Order would be effective on Thursday, May 6, 2021.
On April 30, 2021, the Department made some modifications to the Public Health Order, lifting hours limitations on bars, breweries and wineries, and allowing indoor arcades and indoor playgrounds to open at 25% maximum indoor capacity.
Under the statewide yellow tier guidelines the following guidelines apply:
- Restaurants are open indoors at 50% capacity
- Bars may be open indoors at a maximum 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
- Wineries, breweries and distilleries are open indoors with a maximum of 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
- Retail may be fully open indoors with safety modifications
- Fitness centers are able to increase indoor attendance to 50% maximum capacity
- Large outdoor venues can increase capacity to 67%, up from 33%
- Private outdoor gatherings are allowed with a maximum of 100 people
- Private indoor gatherings are discouraged but allowed at 50 people or less, with a maximum 50% capacity
However, Los Angeles County may make some modifications to its own order that are stricter than the statewide guidelines.
