Getting a haircut indoors will be permitted in Alameda County starting Friday under new health orders issued Wednesday. While hair salons and barbershops can now operate indoors, local providers of nail and skin care and non-medical massage still cannot, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department’s new orders.
Grocery stores can admit crowds up to 50 percent of their capacity, while most other retailers may now allow customers indoors up to 25 percent of their capacity. Outdoor dance classes and go-kart racing may resume, and outdoor mini golf courses, batting cages and driving ranges can reopen, but bounce houses, ball pits and shared playground structures remain off limits.
State guidelines may allow other activities to resume in jurisdictions on the Purple Tier of permitted activities, where Alameda County finds itself, officials said, but counties may impose stricter guidelines than the state, and Alameda County is doing that.
Last week, state officials shifted from a monitoring list to a four-tier, color-coded system for reopening the economy. The Purple Tier indicates COVID-19 is still widespread. The state’s new Blueprint for a Safer Economy changes the requirements for some activities. Some that were previously banned were allowed and others had new restrictions placed on them.
For a list of the activities allowed and prohibited go to: covid-19.acgov.org/covid19-assets/docs/recovery/approved-open-and-closed-businesses-2020.09.02-01.pdf.