San Francisco will allow indoor dining to resume next week with restrictions and outdoor dining will no longer have a 10 p.m. closing time, if The City moves into the state’s red tier as is expected.
San Francisco is expected to move out of the state’s most restrictive COVID purple tier Tuesday of next week. More business operations will be allowed the following day, city officials said Wednesday.
Dr. Susan Philip, of the Department of Public Health, said that The City’s goal is to “align with the state’s red tier framework as much as possible, with specific additional safeguards to limit the spread of the virus.” The City has the authority to impose tougher restrictions than what the state’s tier allows, but not more relaxed restrictions.
Starting Wednesday of next week, indoor dining would be allowed to reopen at 25 percent occupancy with no more than 100 people. No more than one household of up to four people per table will be allowed, city officials said
Indoor dining must close by 10 p.m. and remain closed until 5 a.m.
Meanwhile, outdoor dining will no longer have to end at 10 p.m. Six people would allowed be per table from up to three households.
“I am excited that we are going to see some real change in this city,” Mayor London Breed said when noting the business operations and activities that are expected to resume next week.
“Our numbers are moving in the right direction and I am hopeful that together we can reopen safely and get there quicker,” Breed said.
Breed also wrote on Twitter what people should expect will be allowed to resume.
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With the continued improvement of our COVID-19 health indicators, we could move to the state's Red Tier by next Wednesday, March 3rd.
This is a big step forward but we still have need to keep up our progress.
Here's an overview of what you can expect in the Red Tier: pic.twitter.com/cDpx4KvtoY
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) February 25, 2021
The Golden Gate Restaurant Association, a restaurant advocacy group, issued a statement praising the new guidance.
“We appreciate the thoughtful way that the updated guidance looks clearly at the distinctions between indoor and outdoor dining,” the statement said, adding that the advance notice “will allow our businesses to implement what is needed and be able to bring back staff in a timely manner.”
Philip said that “most retail will be able to open” with a 25 percent capacity limit and “the 10 p.m. closure is no longer going to apply to non-essential retail.”
“Food courts can open to 25 percent capacity with a max of 100 people,” she added.
Bars must remain closed indoors and outdoors unless they serve bona fide meals.
When it comes to fitness, outdoor classes are capped at 25 people. Indoor gyms and fitness centers can reopen at 10 percent capacity. Gym classes like yoga and meditation are allowed at 10 percent capacity. Face coverings are required at all times.
Indoor zoos, museums and aquariums will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity.
