Red tier opens up indoor dining, gyms, and movie theaters, but owners are surprised

Duffy's Tavern, like many other businesses in Butte County will have the opportunity to have indoor dining for the first time in four months with the county moving from the purple to red tier.

Butte county is now in the red tier -- the third time the county has been in the red in almost a year since the pandemic began -- and is now out of the purple tier for the first time since november 17th.

Action news now reporter esteban reynoso joins us now.

Esteban, what can open back up now that couldn't be open in the purple tier?

On the blueprint for a safer economy which lays out what can open in what tier -- you can see it here on the state's covid website.

Gyms can reopen indoors at 10% capacity, movie theaters, and museums can now open at 25% capacity -- and now indoor dining can reopen at 25% or 100 people which ever it hits first -- for the first time in almost four months.

"just to be able to expand a little bit further, it's pretty exciting."

Duffy's tavern in downtown chico says they'll open their doors to indoor dining but owner doug roberts says he felt it almost didn't happen.

"a few weeks ago hearing about all the variants coming through, i was expecting another huge wave and we were all gonna get shut down again."

And for many businesses like duffy's it wouldn't have been the first time.

"we learned from the different closures that our day shift just doesn't sustain itself.

I feel like with all the vaccinations and where everything is going, i hoping this time we can remain open."

"it's awesome honestly, it's past due i would say.

Just good, it really hurts to see the local economy.

Businesses have gone under, so it would be good to get some local economy back up."

With butte county making the jump from the purple tier to the red tier, places like the chico children's museum can open up.

Movie theaters can also open in the red tier just like tinsletown here in chico, and we spoke to some people who are hoping there can be more entertainment options open real soon.

"a lot of time to get back in the studio and i'm an upcoming dj so it has not been a good time for that.

I'm an up and coming dj so it has not been a good time for that."

And roberts is hopeful that this st.

Patrick's day will be better than the last.

"i remember thinking i wasn't comfortable with st.

Patrick's day, cause there's just that many people.

It feels a little more positive, numbers are going down.

And now we also have our outdoor seating, and so the combination of all that makes it feel not so dangerous."

All of the red tier rule and regulation changes go into affect tonight at midnight.

Alan: esteban, but a lot of businesses like gyms and restaurants have already been open against the rules, why does this tier change matter.

Esteban: it means our case numbers are going down, and as you can see on this chart -- over 60,000 people in butte county have been vaccinated in the county but it doesn't mean the pandemic is over -- there's still two more tiers under us we need to get to.