DIXON, CA (MPG) - Back to outdoor dining...Effective this past Tuesday, many small businesses will be adversely affected by this past Monday’s announcement by Solano County that we are moving back into the Purple Tier of Governor Gavin Newsom’s ‘Blueprint for a Safer Economy.’ Thanksgiving advice was also given.

The move to purple, a more restrictive phase, was effective immediately due to an unprecedented surge in cases. Some indoor business operations and activities must close or reduce capacity. As of Monday, the county had 612 active cases and 36 people hospitalized. There have been 790 people who died from the virus in Solano County. On the 10th, the levels were too high to stay in the red.

"We urge residents to continue to be very careful about getting or spreading COVID-19, especially coming into the holidays," said Solano County Public Health Officer, Dr. Bela Matyas. "Maintain 6-feet distance, wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick." He said the climb in numbers is because of small gatherings.

"People are getting back together. We typically let our guard down when we're having family over," he said in regards to Thanksgiving gathering concerns. A short embrace with a hug is okay but no kissing to minimize saliva being transmitted was one bit of advice he gave. Keep masks on except for actually eating the meal, staying less time together for visiting, and certainly not sharing food, he also advised. Gatherings are limited to three households.

The following businesses can open outdoors only with modifications: Restaurants, gyms and fitness centers; movie theaters; museums, zoos, and aquariums; places of worship, and family entertainment centers.

Retail and shopping centers may open indoors with a maximum 25 percent occupancy.

It was in August that Newsom announced the 'Blueprint for a Safer Economy,' which assigns a colored tier for each county to determine which activities are permissible as the state navigates through the impacts of the Coronavirus. The purple tier is for counties with widespread risk, the red is for ones with substantial risk, orange is for moderate risk and yellow is for ones with minimal risk.

In regards to schools, if they were already open, they can stay open but if they have not yet opened, they must wait unless they get an elementary school waiver. For more information, go to www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus.asp.

California public health officials also encourage everyone to consider these practices: Stay home if you have symptoms of illness or are high-risk; Maintain six feet of distance or more from those not in your household; Wear face coverings; Practice healthy hygiene habits; Organize small gatherings outdoors with a limited number of guests; Stay local as much as possible; Get tested through your healthcare provider or at community testing sites if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have COVID-19-like symptoms