This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). (Courtesy Alissa Eckert, MSMI / Dan Higgins, MAMS via CDC 2019)

Napa County enters into the less-restrictive yellow tier of the coronavirus reopening system on Wednesday, leaving one week to spare before capacity limits are removed statewide.

Under California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the yellow tier permits large-scale events to resume under the condition of vaccination and negative-testing requirements for attendees. Most indoor operations, such as wineries, can reach half capacity, according to county Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio.

The guidance for the yellow tier will remain in place until the state lifts its Blueprint guidance on June 15.

“We finally arrived at the yellow brick road, but at the end of the yellow brick road will be the removal of the blueprint,” Relucio said at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.

Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said, “There’s been a lot of suffering that that happened throughout this pandemic, but we’ve had a lot of successes by you, doctor, our incredible volunteers, health care organizations, and tremendous partners from day one until the very end.”