Special Update
Restrictions Ease as San Mateo County
Moves to Orange Tier
The state of California announced that effective at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, March 17, 2021, San Mateo County will be in the less restrictive “Orange Tier” which allows the easing of certain restrictions and most indoor businesses to operate with modifications.

The county moved to the Orange Tier or “moderate” tier due to two metrics calculated by the state:

  1. The adjusted case rate has fallen to 2.8 per 100,000 in population. Test positivity rate, excluding prisons, is 1.1 per 100,000.
  2. The health equity quartile positivity rate is 1.9 per 100,000 in population. The health equity quartile measures rates of infection with the virus in the county’s most disadvantaged communities based on the California Healthy Places Index.
The following is now allowed in the Orange Tier:
Shopping Malls
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Closed common areas
  • Reduced capacity food courts

Places of Worship
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Open at 50 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer

Dine-in Restaurants
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Capacity must be limited to 50 percent or 200 people, whichever is fewer

Offices (nonessential businesses)
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Continue to encourage working remotely

Bars/breweries (where no meal provided)
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Capacity must be limited to 25 percent or 100 people, whichever is less

Movie Theaters
  • Can open indoors with modifications

Gyms & Fitness Centers (inc. indoor pools)
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Capacity must be limited to 25 percent
  • Indoor pools can open
  • Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close
  • Climbing walls can open
Family Entertainment Centers 
  • Can open indoors for naturally distanced activities, with modifications
  • Capacity must be limited to 25 percent
  • Bowling alleys and escape rooms allowed
  • Can open outdoors with modifications for activities like kart racing, mini golf, batting cages

Amusement Parks & Theme Parks
  • Smaller parks can open with modifications
  • Capacity must be limited to 25 percent or 500 people, whichever is less
  • Outdoor attractions only can open
  • Reservations or advance ticket sales required
  • Local attendees only (from the same county as the park’s location)
  • Additional activities will be permitted starting April 1, 2021

Hotels, Lodging, Short-Term Lodging Rentals
  • Can open with modifications
  • Fitness centers can open to 25 percent capacity
  • Indoor pools can open
  • Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close

Museums, Zoos and Aquariums
  • Can open indoors with modifications
  • Indoor activities limited to 50 percent capacity
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce | (650) 325-2818 | menloparkchamber.com