All but two Bay Area counties in the red tier

SAN FRANCISCO - Three Bay Area counties on Tuesday moved into the less restrictive red tier, allowing for more services to reopen. 

Alameda, San Mateo, and Solano counties are now meeting the state's criteria for loosening some restrictions on indoor businesses and activities, joining Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, and San Francisco counties.  

Alameda County said it will hold off on implementing any new changes just yet and officials plan to use the next two weeks to review the metrics. 

"At this time, there is no change to permitted or prohibited activities in Alameda County," the health department said.

Alameda County officials said they would release a phased plan that balances increased risk of spread of COVID-19 from newly permitted activities. 

Contra Costa and Sonoma counties remain in the state's purple tier which indicates there is widespread coronavirus transmission in those areas. 

Contra Costa County's health officer Dr. Chris Farnitano said that, as of Tuesday, the county has met the state's "red tier" criteria for one week. The county will have to show it meets those standards again on Sept. 29 to join most of the rest of the Bay Area in the less constrained red tier. 

Farnitano told the supervisors the plan is for the county to allow 
as much reopening as state red tier specifications allow.

"The most important thing is to be prepared to pull back if we see 
the numbers going the wrong way," he said.

Once in the red tier, counties can reopen indoor gyms with 10% capacity, movie theaters, and offer indoor dining service at 25% capacity.

Personal care services like barbershops and hair salons can service customers indoors and indoor malls can operate at 50% capacity as opposed to 25%.

State Public Health Secretary Dr. Ghaly announced on Monday that all nail salons can reopen indoors regardless of what tier they are in. 

Bay City News contributed to this story.