Just two weeks before California’s full reopening of the economy is scheduled, Nevada County has finally advanced to the Orange or moderate COVID infection tier. Our case rate has dropped nearly in half, from the week before, to just two-point-five. The last time we were in the Orange Tier was in November. Then, about a week before Thanksgiving, with the winter case surge underway, we jumped two tiers to the Red Tier. County Health and Human Services Director Ryan Gruver says we were one of only eight counties still in the Red Tier before this week…

click to listen to Ryan Gruver

Gruver says only 56-percent of eligible county residents have at least one shot. The Orange Tier doubles capacity limits for a number of local businesses, including restaurants. Then, on June 15th, the tier system is dropped, with no capacity limits for virtually all businesses and the mask mandate will be lifted for those fully-vaccinated…

click to listen to Ryan Gruver

Nevada is one of four counties advancing to the Orange Tier, also including Sacramento. That leaves only four counties still in the Red Tier. Two of them, Del Norte and Shasta, again did not meet the requirements and will not advance before June 15th. Yuba and Stanislaus counties have met Orange Tier criteria and, with one more qualifying case rate, could move up June 8th.