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Dallas County raised its coronavirus risk level back to red. What does that mean?

The county’s color-coded chart indicates four risk zones — red, orange, yellow and green — to help guide residents on how, and when, they can participate in daily activities.

Updated 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15: Revised to include information about the county’s updated risk level. This article was originally published May 13.

Six weeks after lowering the county’s coronavirus risk level, health officials announced Wednesday that Dallas County was moving back to the most severe level of risk.

Created in May by public health, epidemiology and infectious disease experts, the county’s color-coded COVID-19 risk chart is meant to guide residents on the precautions they should take during certain activities as the outbreak progresses. It has four risk zones: red, orange, yellow and green. The red zone recommends the most precautions, and restrictions are gradually eased with each level.

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The ultimate goal is to reach the green zone, or the “new normal,” until a vaccine is available, county health officials said.

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To move from one zone to the next, county health officials have said they would need to see indicators such as a consistent decrease in coronavirus hospitalizations, ICU admissions or deaths over more than two weeks. And an increase in any of those benchmarks could lead the county to move back to a higher-risk zone.

The county is now in the red zone, indicating people should limit themselves to only essential activities. County health officials first lowered the risk to the orange zone on Sept. 2, but raised it back to red following two weeks of steady increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and related data.

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Each zone comes with an important caveat: People should still practice disease-prevention measures including wearing face masks in public. People should also evaluate their own risk, and the risk of others in their household, before deciding to ease restrictions.

The chart is not an order but is meant to serve as a guide with suggestions on how to best stay healthy during the pandemic. Here’s what the chart recommends about how residents can participate in daily activities at each level:

Red zone

The red zone indicates a high risk of community transmission of the virus. Jenkins said the red zone represents shelter-in-place orders that recommend staying home whenever possible and avoiding nonessential travel.

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For places the guidelines say are still OK to visit, disease prevention measures such as wearing a mask, physical distancing and frequently washing your hands are still recommended. People over 65 or in a high-risk group should avoid in-person activities.

While the county is in the red zone, people should avoid dine-in eating and limit shopping trips to once a week or as necessary. Residents should opt for drive-through, to-go and curbside orders whenever possible. At restaurants and stores, the chart encourages people to look for places where employees have implemented safe practices for disease prevention, including wearing masks and placing physical distancing reminders in businesses.

Group settings should be avoided, and outdoor entertainment, such as going to the zoo or arboretum, is not recommended unless it’s possible to practice physical distancing.

Visiting museums, movie theaters, libraries, hair and nail salons, gyms and public pools is not recommended while the county is in the red zone. Individual sports, such as golfing or running, are OK when physical distancing can be maintained and equipment isn’t shared, but team sports are not recommended.

Although churches are allowed to hold in-person services under Gov. Greg Abbott’s most recent order, it’s recommended that residents continue to use online options.

Nonessential home repairs should be avoided. Residents also should avoid nonessential routine health care, such as physicals and dental cleanings.

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Orange zone

The orange zone indicates a moderate risk of COVID-19 transmission. People over 65 or in a high-risk group should avoid any in-person activities at this level, and masks should still be worn in public. Physical distancing should still be practiced at any public place. Nonessential travel should also be avoided.

Guidelines for the orange zone say that drive-through and to-go options are still preferable at restaurants and that people should dine in only at places where occupancy is limited and tables are at least 6 feet apart. Shopping trips should be limited, and though trips to nonessential retail stores could be considered, curbside pickup and delivery are still recommended.

Attendance at indoor and outdoor entertainment events is only recommended at places with good physical distancing and where frequently touched surfaces are cleaned often. Indoor events would be best to be limited to fewer than 10 people. In-person church services can be considered, but preferably in groups of 10 or less.

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Attendance at movie theaters, libraries and museums is not recommended unless physical distancing is possible, and residents should visit only hair and nail salons that have strict hygiene protocols. Operating at less than 25% capacity is recommended at these places.

Going to gyms is still not recommended, unless a resident is participating in an individual personal training session or fitness class, or an outdoor class that doesn't require shared equipment. Visiting swimming pools is still not recommended unless physical distancing is strictly enforced. Locker rooms should be avoided.

Individual sports such as golf are OK as long as no equipment is shared. Small-team sports of two to four people can also be considered, but preferably played by people in the same household.

Nonessential home repairs, as well as nonessential routine health care, including physicals and dental cleanings, should still be avoided.

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Yellow zone

This zone indicates low risk for community transmission of the virus. At this level, shopping trips do not have to be limited, dine-in services can be considered more frequently and the recommendation on the size limits for groups goes up to 50 people. Masks and physical distancing are still needed in public places.

Residents can dine in at restaurants as long as tables are spaced at least 6 feet apart and the restaurant limits itself to moderate occupancy. In-store shopping is fine as long as residents wear a mask and minimize nonessential shopping trips, but it’s recommended that residents choose less crowded times to go to the store.

Nonessential travel should still be limited at the yellow level, though residents can consider traveling to places where there is minimal COVID-19 spread as long as they reduce group activities.

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Residents can consider going to events and entertainment venues with fewer than 50 people, as long as physical distancing is maintained and masks are worn. Events that are less crowded or have capped attendance are preferred. Church services of fewer than 50 people can be considered, as long as contact with other people is limited.

Movie theaters can be attended as long as physical distancing is possible, and visiting museums and libraries that are operating at less than 50% capacity can be considered. Hair and nail salons should still be visited only if they follow strict hygiene protocols and limit themselves to 50% capacity.

It’s only recommended that residents visit gyms that are operating at 25% capacity. Spas, saunas and locker rooms should still be avoided. Swimming pools should be visited only if physical distancing and avoiding group settings is possible.

Individual sports are OK as long as no equipment is shared, and small-team sports with limited contact can be considered.

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Home repair workers should practice physical distancing and wear masks. Individuals should work with their health care provider on a case-by-case basis if they need treatment.

Green zone

The green zone is the “new normal” for the county and represents protocols needed to protect residents from a resurgence of COVID-19 or future pandemics.

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Although this zone more closely resembles what life was like before COVID-19, the guidelines in the green zone are still different from what many may consider normal.

Disease prevention measures such as frequent hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks in public still need to be maintained, according to the chart.

Dine-in restaurants operating under proper safety precautions can be visited, as well as stores. Nonessential travel to places with a low level of COVID-19 transmission can be considered, but group settings should still be avoided.

Residents can consider attending events of more than 50 people, but physical distancing at these places is still recommended. Larger attendance at religious services is also possible in the green zone.

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Movie theaters, museums and libraries can operate at higher capacities, but it’s still recommended that people visit at less crowded times and avoid contact with other people. Nail salons, hair salons and gyms should be visited only if they practice strict hygiene protocols. Swimming pools can be visited as long as people wash their hands before entering.

Individual sports are OK as long as no equipment is shared, but high-contact team sports, such as wrestling, should still be avoided.

Home repair workers should continue to practice physical distancing and wear masks. Individuals can return to scheduling normal doctor and dentist visits.

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