San Francisco has moved into the least restrictive yellow reopening tier, the first in the Bay Area since the deadly winter surge and the only county in the region to be yellow at any point in the pandemic.
For the second week in a row, Marin County did not meet expectations that it would turn yellow. Every other Bay Area county remains at orange except for Solano, which is still in the red tier.
The changes today mean that San Francisco can loosen rules to a level not seen since November. And for the first time, bars will be able to reopen at 25% capacity indoors without needing to serve meals, giving hope to the struggling bar and nightlife industry.
Indoor restaurant capacity will remain capped at 50%.
Amusement parks can open at 35%, movie theaters and bowling alleys at 50% or greater if guests show proof of vaccination or negative tests and churches can expand their indoor capacity. Gyms can reopen indoor pools, steam rooms and saunas.
Conferences, which have not taken place in the city for more than a year, can also return with limited capacity and sporting events and live concerts can expand capacity.
New tier restrictions will take effect on Friday.
Los Angeles County, which has been one of the hardest hit in California, has also moved into the yellow tier. The milestone demonstrates just how low virus transmission has fallen in much of the state.
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