Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, most of the Bay Area was in sync with shelter-in-place and other health mandates. But as counties began reopening, they’ve taken divergent paths, especially smaller areas and those with fewer cases, which were able to reopen businesses earlier and more quickly.
But a surge in cases statewide has led some counties to halt or even reverse their reopening plans in hopes of quelling the outbreaks. In a news conference Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the percentage of positive coronavirus test results in California has increased to 6.8%, and hospitalizations increased by 50%.
The state’s coronavirus watch list now has 23 counties listed, including three in the Bay Area: Contra Costa, Marin and Solano. Santa Clara County was removed Monday. The state places counties with significant infection rates and concerning virus trends on the list, helping them develop action plans to address the issues.
To help you navigate the fluid situation, The Chronicle’s Reopening Tracker provides a detailed county-by-county breakdown of what is and isn’t allowed in the Bay Area, and where each of the nine counties stands in the reopening process. It also explains the phases of reopening in California, details how progress is measured, and maps the current stage of all counties statewide. The tracker is constantly updated with the latest developments.
The tracker includes the following information regarding where the nine Bay Area counties currently stand:
Alameda County
Expanded child care and camps, limited personal services and social bubbles were allowed on June 8. On June 19, the county allowed outdoor dining, retail, religious services, outdoor museums, outdoor fitness and summer schools to resume.
Bars, breweries and wineries can serve alcohol only with outdoor sit-down meals. The next step of reopening, involving indoor dining, hair salons and barber shops, pools and professional sports without fans, has no specific date set yet.
Contra Costa County
On June 5, outdoor dining, outdoor swimming pools, dog parks, outdoor religious services and overnight single family camping were able to resume. Hair salons and barber shops, and indoor religious services followed on June 17.
On June 28, the state ordered bars in seven counties, including Contra Costa, to close. The next day, the county announced it would delay reopening plans for July 1, which would include bars, indoor dining, gyms, indoor museums, massage services, nail salons, tattoo studios and hotels.
Marin County
On May 29, Marin County allowed the reopening of outdoor dining, office space, outdoor retail, child care, summer camps, beaches and parks. On June 29, campgrounds, hair salons and barbers could reopen, and restaurants were allowed to resume indoor dining. But on Sunday, officials announced indoor dining would be suspended for at least three weeks after the county made the state watch list.
A number of other businesses and activities were supposed to resume on June 29, including tattoo and piercing studios, gyms and fitness centers, massage and esthetician services, nail salons, hotels and short-term rentals, but those are postponed indefinitely.
Napa County
Both outdoor and indoor dining were allowed to resume in Napa County on May 20. Other businesses that have reopened include indoor retail, wineries, bars, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tattoo studios, massage services, gyms, hotels, places of worship with limits, family entertainment centers, museums, casinos, and professional sports with no fans.
Santa Clara County
According to reports, Santa Clara County’s request for variance was rejected by the state, even though it has been removed from the watch list. Indoor operations of restaurants and bars are to remain closed.
On June 5, outdoor dining, in-store retail, child care and summer camps, religious activities were allowed to resume. Low-contact services such as shoe repair and pet grooming, in-home services, outdoor museums, state parks and golf courses are also open. There is currently no timeline for the next step in reopening.
San Francisco
On June 1, outdoor museums and historical parks, dog parks, golf and tennis, parks, and beaches and state parks could reopen. The county allowed restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining on June 12. Indoor retail, private household services, summer camps, outdoor fitness and non-emergency medical appointments could resume.
Officials originally pushed the next phase of 2B up to June 29, which included hair salons and barbershops, nail salons, tattoo studios, outdoor bars, indoor museums and zoos. But those are now on hold. Reopening indoor dining is still scheduled for July 13, according to the city’s reopening timeline.
San Mateo County
The county’s reopening timeline is further ahead than most other Bay Area counties. Activities and businesses including outdoor recreation, vehicle-based gatherings, curbside retail, outdoor museums, offices, and indoor and outdoor pools were allowed to reopen in May.
On June 1, places of worship, in-store retail, all beach access and activities, and child care and summer camps for sessions lasting at least three weeks could reopen. Outdoor dining was allowed on June 6.
Indoor dining could resume on June 17, along with hair salons and barber shops, gyms, hotels, campgrounds, zoos, museums, family entertainment centers, day camps and gatherings of fewer than 50. Personal services including nail salons and tattoo studios resumed on June 19.
The final step to be announced is the reopening of concert venues, live theater, nightclubs, festivals, theme parks and other high risk businesses and activities.
Solano County
Solano County was also ahead in reopening, with many businesses allowed to reopen in May and June. But after the county landed on the state watch list, indoor operations for restaurants, wineries, breweries, museums, family entertainment centers, movie theaters and card rooms were ordered closed on July 1 by state order. Bars were closed completely.
Businesses and activities currently allowed include outdoor dining, gyms, places of worship with limits, hair salons, barber shops, offices, child care, day camps, hotels, short-term rentals, campgrounds, racetracks and professional sports without fans.
Sonoma County
On May 22, outdoor operations of restaurants, wineries, bars, breweries and tasting rooms could reopen in Sonoma County if sit-down meals were offered. On June 6, indoor dining, hair salons and barber shops could resume service. Wineries, breweries and tasting rooms were able to reopen on June 12 without the food requirement.
On June 19, gyms, hair salons and barber shops, campgrounds, movie theaters, tattoo studios, museums, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, hotels, short-term rentals and campgrounds were allowed to reopen.
Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected]
