Patrick McGar, a school nurse from Manteca Unified, gives a COVID-19 vaccine to a teacher during a vaccine clinic at the San Joaquin Office of Education on Feb. 19. (Photo courtesy of the San Joaquin Office of Education)

Just two weeks before California’s pandemic reopening date, San Joaquin County reached the state’s orange tier for the first time ever as of Tuesday.

The county reported reaching a 4.1 percent unadjusted case rate and a 4.1 percent adjusted case rate with a 2.1 percent testing positivity rate.

Meeting orange tier status will allow San Joaquin County to reopen more businesses but with modifications set in place.

Places such as amusement parks, bowling alleys, breweries where no meals are provided, and family entertainment centers can now open with a maximum capacity of 25 percent and in-state visitors only are allowed.

In the orange tier, businesses have the chance to open their venues at a larger capacity as well, but proof of full vaccinations or negative COVID-19 test results must be shown.

According to San Joaquin County officials, nightclubs, saunas and steam rooms are not allowed to resume yet in the orange tier.

Residents of San Joaquin County can visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/ to check what places are open with the new tier status and what capacity is being enforced.

Victoria Franco is a Stockton-based reporter covering the diverse news around the Central Valley as part of the Report for America program. As a Stockton native, Franco is proud to cover stories within her community and report a variety of coverage. She is a San Jose State University alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. In her collegiate years she was Managing Editor for the Spartan Daily. From her time at the Spartan Daily she helped lead her staff to California College Media Awards and a General Excellence first place. Victoria encourages readers to email her story tips and ideas at victoria.franco@baycitynews.com.