STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN

Santa Clara County has relaxed a handful of its COVID-19 safety restrictions, through a combination of amendment and repeal of previous county mandates.

Most notable is the repealment of the county’s mandatory directive for youth and adult athletics; previous county restrictions that were more strict than state guidelines — such as the mandate that athletes wear masks even when engaged in strenuous physical activity, and always maintain 6-foot social distancing with no exceptions — are now void, and fall in line with the rest of the state’s more relaxed restrictions.

Both the county’s directives for programs serving youth as well as K-12 schools are void as well, with both similarly falling back on their respective state guidance documents.

A list of other notable changes:

• Face coverings are only required outdoors when within 6 feet of a member of another household. The county still does “recommend” wearing face coverings at all times when outdoors, but falls short of a strict mandate.
• 6-foot social distancing from members of other households is “recommended” but no longer required. 
• Singing is now allowed outdoors without face coverings, so long as done 6 feet from members of other households.

Indoor gatherings continue to be prohibited until the county hits the red tier, which could happen as soon as next week.