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Contra Costa Moves to Orange Tier


Contra Costa County took another step towards reopening, as the State of California reassigned the county to the less-restrictive orange tier of their Blueprint for a Safer Economy. In the orange tier, more businesses and community activities can reopen beginning today.  Counties in the orange tier can allow:

 

• Worship services and other cultural activities indoors at 50% occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer;
• Indoor dining at 50% occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer;
• Indoor swimming pools;
• Bars and other businesses that sell alcohol without meals to open for outdoor operation;
• Family entertainment centers to open indoors for “naturally distanced” activities, such as bowling alleys, escape rooms and climbing-wall gyms, at 25% occupancy;
• Cardrooms to open indoors at 25% occupancy;
• Small amusement parks to open at 25% of occupancy or 500 people, whichever is fewer;
• Professional sports venues to open at 20% occupancy;
• Live entertainment to open with no more than 50 people, if approved by the Health Officer.

 
The county will remain in the orange tier for at least two weeks.  If the county’s average daily case rate continues to go down, it could be reclassified to the least restrictive yellow tier at that time.  To be in the yellow tier, the county would have to have less than 1.0 daily new cases per 100k residents and less than 2% positive case rate. 
 
Despite this positive change to the county’s status, the community is urged to continue following the county health order guidelines with respect to face coverings, social distancing, no large gatherings, etc.
 
 
 Council Examines Ways to Further Help Businesses
 
At a Tuesday October 27, 2020 study session, the Danville Town Council worked with staff on ways for the town to expand on assistance being provided to Danville businesses struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Based on the discussion, staff has been directed to begin work on a new grant program that would make $250,000 available for town businesses. The grant would run concurrently with the program started in the spring. Under the proposed program, the Town would fund grants for local businesses that would focus on four primary areas:
 

1. Enhancing online presence and ability to sell online
2. Advertising on multiple platforms
3. Signage and improvements to draw in additional customers
4. Capital expenditures such as tents and heaters for use in the winter months

 
Town staff was directed to develop program recommendations to be considered further and acted upon by the Town Council, at their November 4, 2020 meeting.   This will include recommendations on eligibility, grant categories, and funding limits. 

 
The council also discussed recent concerns expressed around the closure of Hartz Avenue on the weekend between Diablo Road and Prospect Avenue. Due to ongoing public safety issues, and concerns expressed by other business owners along Hartz Avenue, council directed staff to discontinue the weekend closure.