This special partner communication is dedicated to providing information regarding the fluid situation surrounding the coronavirus and its impact on Sonoma County's tourism and hospitality industries.
Sonoma County in Red/Substantial Tier
Effective Sunday, March 14
Dear Hospitality Industry Partners:

The County of Sonoma has confirmed that as a result of the state administering 2 million vaccine doses to its hardest-hit communities, standards to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy have been adjusted to allow for higher case rates. As a result, Sonoma County has been moved from the widespread/purple tier to the substantial/red tier effective Sunday, March 14.

The CDPH has released a helpful guide outlining the current activity and business tiers here.

Please refer to that guide to determine what changes, if any, have occurred to your business category.

Some of the changes include:
  • Hotels and Lodging: Fitness centers can open at 10% capacity. For onsite restaurants, follow restaurant guidance.

  • Gyms and Fitness Centers: Open indoors with modifications (max 10% capacity).

  • Restaurants: Open indoors with modifications (max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer).

  • Museums: can open indoors at 25% capacity.

  • All Retail: can operate indoors at 50% capacity. 

  • Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries (Effective March 13, 2021): Outdoor only with modifications. Must adhere to reservations, 90-minute time limit, seating/tables only, limited hours (service for on-site consumption closed by 8 pm).
For businesses permitted to modify operations as a result of the tier change, an update is required to the Appendix A Safety Plan to reflect modifications. View full Appendix A requirements at SoCoLaunch.org.

The Sonoma County Economic Development Board recently held a “Business Red Tier Workshop,” outlining the changes for businesses moving from the purple to red tiers. You can watch a recording of the presentation here and access a copy of the PowerPoint deck here.

While Sonoma County’s move to the red tier is certainly welcome news, it remains vital to adhere to state-mandated health orders regarding mask wearing and social distancing.
We must also continue to encourage routine testing to prevent Sonoma County from slipping back to the widespread/purple tier. 

Let’s keep up the good work! Orange and yellow are on the horizon.

Be well,

Sonoma County Tourism