Dear Friend --

Per the State of California, Long Beach is moving into the Orange Tier and our new guidelines will be effective tomorrow. We have made great progress in the last few weeks, and I want to thank the entire community. We need to stay cautious and continue to act responsibly. Here are the new reopening rules:

• Restaurants may increase indoor capacity from 25% to 50% of maximum occupancy, or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
  • Brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, craft distilleries and wineries without a City restaurant permit may operate indoors at the increased restaurant capacity only if the bar sells alcohol in the same transaction as a bona fide meal provided by a City-approved meal provider.
• Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries, where no meal service is provided, may operate indoors and outdoors without serving meals. Indoor capacity is limited to 25% of maximum occupancy, or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Bars, where no meal service is provided, may operate outdoors. Bars may operate indoors only if bona fide meals are served under restaurant protocols.
  • Indoor operations of bars that do not serve bona fide meals remain prohibited.
• Gyms and Fitness Centers may increase indoor capacity from 10% to 25% of maximum occupancy. Indoor pools may open, with modifications. Indoor hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms must remain closed.
• Retail Establishments, including shopping centers, malls and swap meets, may operate at normal capacity without restrictions. Shopping centers with restaurants and other food facilities may operate in accordance with the updated restaurant protocols.
• Public and Private K-12 Schools may offer in-person graduation and commencement ceremonies, provided adherence to State guidelines.
• Institutes of Higher Education may resume in-person instruction limited to 50% of maximum occupancy or 200 people per class, whichever is fewer. In-person graduation and commencement ceremonies may take place, provided adherence to State guidelines.
• Museums, Galleries, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens may operate indoors and outdoors with increased indoor capacity from 25% to 50% of maximum occupancy.
• In-Person Religious Services and Cultural Ceremonies may operate indoors with increased indoor capacity from 25% to 50%. Back office staff and management may operate in person.
• Movie Theaters may increase indoor capacity from 25% to 50% of maximum occupancy, or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
• Outdoor Live Events (sports and live performances) may operate, beginning April 1, under the following restrictions and other State requirements. Indoor events remain prohibited.
  • Capacity is limited to 33% of maximum occupancy.
  • Limited to in-state visitors only.
  • Venues may increase attendance capacity to 67% of maximum occupancy only if all guests provide a negative test result within 72 hours prior to attendance, or show proof of full vaccination.
• Non-Critical Office Worksites may open indoors with modifications. Telework is strongly encouraged.
• Youth and Adult Recreational Sports, including various outdoor low-, moderate-, and high-contact sports and indoor low-contact sports identified by the State, may resume with modifications. 
• Family Entertainment Centers may operate indoors and outdoors. Indoor capacity is limited to 25% of maximum occupancy, with groups consisting of members of the same household only. Indoor operations are limited to naturally-distanced activities such as indoor bumper cars, indoor batting cages, bowling alleys, escape rooms, virtual reality and kiddie rides.
• Amusement and Theme Parks may resume indoor and outdoor operations, beginning April 1, with modifications, including total park occupancy of 25% for both indoor and outdoor operations, in addition to other State requirements.

You can read the full updated health order here. 

This is great news for our community, our local businesses and families throughout the city. Let’s continue to move in the right direction by following the public health guidelines that we have all come to know so well — even for those who are fully vaccinated.

Thank you and continue to stay safe, 

Mayor Robert Garcia