Ventura County Reopens Economy on Improved COVID Numbers

Ventura County on Tuesday moved into the state’s red tier status for COVID-19, allowing for more businesses to reopen.Previously, the county was in the state’s most restrictive purple tier.With the upgrade, retail stores and indoor shopping malls can operate at 50 percent capacity, compared to 25 percent in the red tier. Also, restaurants can open for indoor service at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.Indoor movie theaters, houses of worship and museums can operate at 25 percent capacity in the red tier. Gyms can operate indoors at 10 percent capacity.Bars without food service and outdoor family entertainment centers remain closed.To qualify for red tier status, a county must have less than 7.0 new coronavirus cases per day per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 8 percent or lower for at least seven days. As of Tuesday, Ventura County reported 5.5 new coronavirus cases per day per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 3 percent.Los Angeles County reported 7.4 new cases per day per 100,000 residents and a test positivity of 2.8 percent.