Stanislaus County has met the two metrics needed to move down to the next tier in the state's COVID-19 blueprint, but will need to remain there for a week before more businesses can begin re-opening or expanding operations.

Stanislaus County is currently in the purple tier (widespread) in California's Blueprint for a Safer Economy, but if the new metrics hold for a week, the county will be able to move into the red tier, signifying COVID-19 spread is considered substantial.

As of Tuesday, Stanislaus County has a seven-day average number of new COVID-19 positive cases per day per 100,000 residents of 4.8%, and a positivity test rate of 3.5%, according to the California Department of Public Health. Under the red tier, daily new cases have to fall between four to seven per 100,000 residents and the positivity test rate has to be between five to eight percent.

Under the red tier some non-essential indoor business operations can open and/or increase capacity. Retail businesses and malls can operate at 50% capacity in this tier. Personal care services and hair salons can expand indoor operations with modifications. Churches, movie theaters, and museums can open indoor operations at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

Some of the biggest changes the red tier brings are that restaurants can open indoor operations at 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer; gyms can open indoor activity with 10% capacity; and schools can re-open for in-person instruction after two consecutive weeks out of the purple tier. Bars and breweries must remain closed in the red tier, though wineries can open with outdoor operations only.

Both Merced and San Joaquin counties have already moved into the red tier.

As of Tuesday, Stanislaus County has had 16,787 positive COVID-19 cases and 377 deaths.