In the face of rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Contra Costa County over the past week, county public health officials on Wednesday tightened restrictions on business openings and public gatherings, starting today.
County health officials on Tuesday told the Board of Supervisors the rising COVID-19 case counts — reflecting trends in the Bay Area, state and nation — and specific numeric metrics could result in a return of Contra Costa County to the “red tier” of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy from the less restrictive “orange tier.”
That regression could come as early as this coming Tuesday, only two weeks after the county had moved into the orange tier.
The Oct. 27 move into the orange tier triggered an expansion of community reopening activities in the county. But since then, the average daily number of new cases in the county has grown substantially, county health officials said.
Though Contra Costa remains in the orange tier for now, some of the changes announced Wednesday as part of the new health order are the same or similar to red-tier restrictions.
Outdoor bars are again prohibited, except where allowed under restaurant guidance with drinks as part of a meal; indoor dining returns to a maximum of 25 percent venue capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer (down from 50 percent occupancy or 200 people); indoor movie theaters can operate at a maximum 25 percent occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer (down from 50 percent or 200 people); indoor religious services and similar cultural
gatherings back to maximum 25 percent building capacity 100 people (down from 50 percent or 200 people); and cardrooms and satellite wagering sites again cannot operate indoors. Since Oct. 27, these had been allowed to operate indoors at 25 percent capacity).
The new health order also limits the number of spectators at professional or college games to 25 people from no more than three different households. This is consistent with the county’s guidance on private social
gatherings, said Dr. Chris Farnitano, the county’s health officer, in a statement.
The state allows counties to impose stricter standards than outlined in the various “tiers” if local health officials deem that necessary. And other Bay Area counties have made similar decisions in the name of caution; last week, San Francisco County pulled back on its timeline for opening, and Alameda and Santa Clara Counties have reopened more slowly than the state tier system allows.
“We believe these measures are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID in our community,” Farnitano said in the statement.
Other activities not specified in the new health order will still be allowed under orange-tier criteria, Farnitano said. These include indoor swimming pools and indoor family entertainment centers (including bowling
centers and climbing-wall gyms) that can continue at 25 percent capacity.
covid is over, it was only about the election.
someone ought to let Dr Fart know.
I normally listen to KPFA in the mornings and Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman who was opening her shows over the summer with Covid counts like it was the end of the world. Nary a mention today.
Yes, it was highly and disgustingly politicized. There needs to be an investigation and those who overreached their authority with criminal charges. Trump was his own worst enemy so I’m not surprised he lost. I actually know of conservative “never Trumpers” who stopped supporting him (some actually would have liked Bernie on the DNC ticket, surprise, surprise).
Covid is not a left/right issue, it’s about truth. I go with the idea it has been used for control since for years they have been warning that the human race might become extinct (as early as 2025) if something wasn’t done about global warming which is another “control” issue since if you follow science and NASA you know we’re in a solar minimum and likely a mini ice age. So they used Covid.
Time to move on. We have bigger fish to fry (or BBQ).
There are about 100,000 people every day now that might disagree with you.
Dianne, mark my words: COVIDs attention will FADE and we will return to calling things……the FLU.
Captain Behops, I stopped listening to Amy Goodman when she refused to comment on Building 7.
Also, someone from Pacifica radio said the shift with Democracy Now! happened when they got funding by certain groups.
ANON, when you are wrong and we continue to talk about Covid and the 100,000+ people catching it every day, what sort of penalty will there be for you for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories? I hope you make a personal pledge to stop spreading such tripe, but we all know you’ll pay no penalty and continue to lie to the detriment to our community
Mike, which test is used to determine the 100,000?
MIKE, Ah yes….the good old “conspiracy theories” – thrown out there by those who have NO argument.
BTW, Mike…….did you happen to catch the part about physicians recommending supplementation, or did you CONTROLLED and Lying news censor that info?
The penalties to be paid should be by those ordering “covid” patients to be placed in senior care facilities.
You should really do some reading. Tell us about the inventor of the flawed PCR test and what he said about the test. Stop believing LIES….you’re another reason for the downfall of America.
Someone needs to let Covid-19 know that it was just to show up for the election. I’m sure that everyone in other parts of the world will be relieved to know that the pandemic is over now that the US election of (almost) over.
Your theory might actually hold some weight if this virus wasn’t infecting every single country in the world.🤦♀️
@Diana,
But I thought it was all Trump’s fault. I keep hearing about how 250k American deaths are on his hands. Is he the President of the whole world now?
Great comment, love it.
dont you love how the dem state is treating you like idiots
hey your in orange …..but we are imposing red on you
but hey your still orange
ridiculous
Gosh it’s as though all of those theories people had about the pandemic miraculously disappearing as soon as Biden won the election was all baseless conspiratorial fiddle faddle spouted by irresponsible scheming politicians who put their votes ahead of the lives and safety of their followers.
Who knew?
No. We just don’t care about people who don’t care about themselves. Did Biden win an election? I didn’t notice.
Because of the surge in Covid cases, Arizona has restrictions too. If you upended your life to move to Arizona, because you think it’s all opened up, you’re going to be disappointed.
But – Republicans told us Covid would disappear on Nov 4th…
What’s Covid?
See ya! Enjoy your new Blue state!
Cheer up folks Biden is almost the president and he is going to show us how he is going to make the virus disappear. He is going to attack the virus not us chumps as he likes to call us.
If Joe has a Covid plan as he claims, from a humanitarian standpoint, why would he wait until after the election to introduce it? People have been dying all along. He could have saved a lot of lives by introducing it eight months ago.
Arizona is definitely not “ blue “ yet
I don’t care what the lame stream media says
Heh, typical tactic… Punish the innocent.
That’s not a bad idea. Then maybe will think of these deaths as people and not numbers.🤷🏼♀️
LEFT WING FASCIST
Wrong answer Nuta lie….can still go to dinner there. We were just there and have many friends there also. Take a trip…catch up.
Actually we have planned this for some time. Convid has nothing to do with it…more to escape the Kalifornicate Kool Aid drinkers.
It’s not just about COVID-19…It’s about managing resources to help people who need medical treatment. People are in hospitals for COVID as well as everything else you can imagine: broken bones, heart attacks, kidney stones, etc.
The math is simple: the more people who get infected, the more people who will end up in hospitals. Hospitals don’t have infinite capacity.
So for everyone who says, “let’s just get back to normal,” expect infection rates to go through the roof and number of people in the hospital to increase until they reach capacity.
Now you show up at the hospital having a gall stone attack, a broken leg, a heart attack or some other painful or life threatening situation. Instead of saying “come on in, we’d love to take care of you” they are now deciding who to turn away. So good luck when you show up at the hospital door. Hope what you have is not life threatening so they can toss you a few pain pills and let you go on your way.
People seem to have forgotten what it was like in the Spring when the hospitals were full to the brim treating people with the virus.
That’s because that never happened. Hard to have a memory of a fake situation.
It has happened Sam. For example, Google up “Laurie Terry” who lives in Utah and had a heart attack. Doctors scrambled for two and half hours trying to find a hospital that was available and had the facilities needed to treat her. While she survived the October 22, 2020 incident she died on October 29th from complications related to what happened on the 22nd. It’s possible she would still be alive today had she been able to receive prompt care.
Do you remember the conservative leaving Republican complaints about Obamacare and what they called “death panels?” They are reality under Trump.
Yes, follow the health guidelines. Don’t overwhelm the hospitals 👍
Chuq & WC Resident….Are you referring to Covid: As seen on TV?!?!
Because the only things happening at hospitals were dancing videos and hero worship.
I’m referring to the virus as seen in hospitals that killed my additional 8% to 12% of our people this year.
Would your idea include listing age as well as ALL comorbidities?
That’s a great idea. Only problem is it will look exactly the same as the current obituaries. Nobody is gonna let their 98 year old family member who died of a heart attack be propped up like that. Or their 20 year old dying child. Chatbot much?
There seems to be a small group here that refuses to acknowledge the numbers that were shown to them everyday on this website
200 total deaths in CCCounty
ICU beds never overwhelmed
Nobody on the street showing signs of illness
That is not a pandemic no matter what the low information media says
Gaslight is a term that means you are told something over and over that contradicts what your eyes and ears tell you