San Luis Obispo, CA — On Saturday, March 13, the State updated its guidance for wineries, breweries and distilleries that don’t serve food.

In San Luis Obispo County, which is currently in the Red Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, that means breweries and distilleries can operate outdoors with modifications. These businesses must require reservations, limit visits to no more than 90 minutes, regularly sanitize tables and surfaces, space tables at least six feet apart, and require use of face coverings by employees and guests (when not seated at their table).

“We’re excited to see this updated guidance that protects the public’s health while also allowing these businesses to operate more normally,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “This gives our community a chance to safely support these businesses that have struggled over the past year. Cheers to this step in SLO County’s safe reopening.”

California’s blueprint for reopening has criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities based on the level of spread of COVID-19. Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its positivity rate, adjusted case rate, and health equity metric. Activities and businesses that have a lower risk of spreading COVID-19 can open sooner, while higher-risk activities or businesses are not allowed until later tiers.

What can you do to help SLO County reach a lower, less-restrictive tier? As more businesses open and expand their operations, it is important for all SLO County residents to follow Public Health guidelines to prevent a surge of COVID-19 and allow us to continue moving forward:

• Wear a face covering in public.
• Stay at least six feet away from people outside of your household.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Limit mixing with people you don’t live with.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid crowds and large gatherings.
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or think you may have been exposed.
• Get vaccinated against COVID-19 when it’s your turn.

For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health Information Line at (805) 788-2903. A staffed phone assistance center at (805) 543-2444 is available 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist with COVID-19 questions.