By Mary O’KEEFE

As of March 16, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health has reported 318 positive cases of COVID-19 and 52 deaths due to COVID-19.

Los Angeles County is now in the red tier, which opens areas a little more including inside dining with occupancy restrictions. Several restaurants in the area will be open to inside dining but are limited to a maximum of 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer; tables must be eight feet apart and, for indoor dining, there is a limit of one household per table with a limit of six people. There are also modifications for outdoor dining including expanding from the present one household per table to up to three households per table with a maximum of six people.

Schools for students in kindergarten through 12^th grade may reopen to in-person instruction. The schools must continue to follow the LA County Public Health school reopening guidelines; however, the decision to reopen is left to each individual school district. Glendale Unified School District will be opening elementary schools but has yet to begin discussions on secondary classrooms.

Movie theaters are allowed to open indoors with a 25% capacity or 100 people, which ever is fewer, and must require seating reservations.

Gyms, fitness centers and yoga studios are open for indoor business with 10% capacity and climbing walls are open; gyms can offer personal training. Face coverings are required.

Museums, zoos and aquariums have been open with outdoor activities at 50% capacity. Now that the County is in the red tier they can open indoors with 25% capacity.

Although many of these businesses are open it is advised to call the business first to make certain they are open and to find out if they require reservations.

In alignment with the state’s reopening framework, mandatory masking, distancing and infection control practices remain in place for every business and permitted activity, and certain sectors have additional safety modifications required or recommended.

“Los Angeles County is experiencing the lowest case levels that we have seen throughout this pandemic; and as we enter the red tier, we are doing so with extensive research on what activities are high risk and how we can safely begin to reopen critical parts of our community and economy,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger in a statement.

According to the LA County Dept. of Public Health those who fall into the categories of Phase 1A and Phase 1B are eligible for vaccines. The website does not state any new phase planned for vaccinations. Those eligible include anyone over 65 years old, healthcare workers, staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities, staff and residents at long-term care facilities, those in the field of education, childcare, emergency services, food and agriculture, people with serious health conditions/disabilities, peoples who live or work in congregate living spaces, janitorial, custodial, maintenance services, transportation and logistics.

To find who qualifies for a vaccine and where vaccines are available go to www.VaccinateLACounty.com.

COVID-19 numbers as reported on March 16:

City/Location                          Positive Cases        Deaths due to COVID-19

Burbank                                      8560                             221

Glendale                                     19,303                           571

La Cañada Flintridge                725                               16

Eagle Rock                                  3,592                            109

Shadow Hills                               379                               5

Sunland                                    2,228                             55

Tujunga                                   2,838                             63

Angeles National Forest            33                                 1

La Crescenta-Montrose          1,062                            14