State health provides guidance for theme parks, outdoor sporting events to begin allowing attendees
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 10/20/2020 12:45 p.m. State health officials have announced new guidelines which will allow certain counties to reopen theme parks, outdoor sporting events and personal care services.
Reopening Guidance for Large and Small Theme Parks:
In his presentation the state health and human services secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, announced smaller theme parks will be allowed to resume operations in counties that have reached the orange tier in the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Dr. Ghaly says those theme parks will be allowed to open at 25% capacity, or with 500 visitors allowed -- whichever is fewer.
Outdoor attractions would also be allowed to open with ticket sales limited to visitors in the same county.
Dr. Ghaly also made reference to boardwalk venues when discussing smaller theme park venues, however the Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk is currently in the red tier for reopening, placing it just below the state's guideline for reopening.
Larger theme parks will also be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity if counties with large theme parks are in the yellow tier.
Large and small theme parks will have to implement reservation systems and screen guests for symptoms in advance.
Dr. Ghaly says face coverings will be mandatory throughout the park unless park-goers are eating or drinking.
Outdoor Sporting Events:
State health also issued guidance on outdoor sporting events at stadiums.
Dr. Ghaly revealed these venues can reopen to attendees if venues are in counties that are currently in the orange and yellow tiers.
Orange tier venues will have a capacity set at 20% while those in the yellow tier can allow attendees at 25% capacity.
Ticket sales will be restricted to customers within a 120 mile radius. The state says that can only be done through an advance ticket sales process and assigned seating.
This means no day-of or will-call sales will be allowed.
Eating and drinking can only be done in assigned seats and face coverings will be mandatory throughout the stadium unless an attendee is eating or drinking.
Dr. Ghaly says tailgating will be prohibited, however parking at stadium is required.
Personal care services:
The state also issued guidance impacting Monterey County as personal care services will be allowed to reopen with modifications in the lowest tier for the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Purple tier states can now allow tattoo parlors, massage parlors and hair removal businesses to reopen with modifications.
Many have been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Monterey County has previously stated they will follow closely with the guidance the state provides but have not issued a statement saying those business sectors can officially reopen at this time.
PREVIOUS STORY: The California Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, will be providing an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this time, he often provides information about counties moving up or down through the Blueprint for a Safer Economy's tier system, which determines when businesses can open and when they can operate indoors and outdoors.
According to the California Department of Public Health, there were more than 870,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide as of Oct. 18. 16,970 people have died.
