Butte county is now in the red tier meaning some businesses can open indoor operations

Butte county is now in the red tier meaning some businesses can open indoor operations

Purple is the most restrictive tier in the California color-coded county system, which Butte County was on for almost a month, that is, until Monday when it improved to the less restrictive red tier.

Lower numbers being reported in butte county... public health says the county has advanced to a less restrictive tier on the state's monitoring list.

Action news now reporter esteban reynoso is live in chico.

Esteban, what businesses can open up now?

Purple is the most restrictive tier in the color coded system, which butte county was for almost a month, that is, until today.

And that means gyms like the one behind me can open up at limited capacity.

"the data requirements look at case rates and test positivity rates."

Two statistics the county had to improve on for two weeks.

"our case rate is now 5 cases per 100,000 residents and our test positivity rate is 2.6% and that's well within the span of the tier 2 requirements."

All of this meaning butte county has now improved to the red tier on the color-coded county system.

"the primary difference for tier 2 is that more businesses are allowed to open at reduced capacity."

When butte county was in the purple tier, most restaurants could only do takeout, but now that butte county is in the red tier, they can open up indoors and start serving food.

"we're looking forward to being open inside tomorrow for lunch and dinner."

Broadway heights in downtown chico already has their indoor area ready for dining indoors.

"you can look around here, our seats aren't 6 feet apart, they're 8,10,12 feet apart.we have a lot of room upstairs here.

And now we get to have them come inside.

Certaintly a lot easier for them and for us, better air in here so, yeah it's good."

However, some people in butte county think it's too early to move to the next tier.

"i think they should stay restricted longer.

I think that they opened up stuff way too soon."

And even some restaurants, like aonami in downtown chico, are glad the county is improving, but -- "but, i think i'm going to hold off just because the first time around they opened up and it was two weeks later, they shut it down again."

Lee tells me he'll continue serving take-out, but no indoor dining, until there's a vaccine.

"that and i just don't want to be a part of like having somebody asymptomatic come in and my server, the one who serves them picking up glassware or whatever.

I mean they're gonna wash their hands, but there is that small chance that they can get infected, and then not only that but pass it on to the next customer.

I just want to make sure that everybody is safe, that's always been my thing."

Movie theaters can open indoors at 25% capacity, gyms at 10% and places of worship go from only outdoors to indoors with 25% capacity.

Live in chico, esteban reynoso for action news now coverage.

Butte county was on the purple tier since it changed on august 31st.