Due to a rise in the percentage of COVID-19 tests returning positive in the community, Contra Costa County today amended its social distancing health order to temporarily tighten face-covering requirements and prohibit indoor gatherings, such as the previously allowed indoor worship services.
The following information is from Contra Costa Health Services:
Local data show that 8.04 percent of COVID-19 tests administered over the past seven days were positive, a sign that the virus is spreading rapidly in the county and that the community must take immediate steps to prevent our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.
Contra Costa is especially concerned about the risk of COVID-19 transmission in indoor gatherings, and in gatherings that involve removing face coverings for eating and drinking.
When Contra Costa received authorization (variance) from the California Department of Public Health in June to allow the reopening of some businesses and activities, the plan we submitted indicated that an 8% testing positivity rate would trigger the review and reconsideration of reopening activities in the county.
Other indicators show COVID-19 is on the rise in Contra Costa communities. The seven-day average number of new cases identified in the county rose from 38 on June 8 to 146 on July 8, while the seven-day average number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients rose from 17 to 54 during the same period.
The 209 adult intensive care unit beds in Contra Costa County hospitals are on average a little more than half full on a given day, including COVID-19 patients and patients with other health concerns.
Given the rapid spread of local cases, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) is concerned that the number of patients needing intensive care could quickly exceed capacity.
According to the new health order, indoor worship services are temporarily prohibited, effective on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Services held earlier on Sunday, July 12, are not subject to this change.
Certain categories of outdoor gatherings, including worship services and social protests, are permitted at any size in Contra Costa so long as state health guidelines are followed, including physical distancing and appropriate use of face coverings.
In outdoor dining settings, staff and customers must now observe face covering requirements at all times, except when putting food or drink in the mouth. The new order also increases guidance for businesses that serve alcohol with meals to better align with state guidelines.
Members of extended family “social bubbles” must now always use face coverings when together, except when putting food or drink in the mouth.
Contra Costa County hopes to ease these enhanced, extraordinary safety measures as soon as possible, and will review available health system data daily to determine when it is safe to do so.
CCHS urges everyone to continue taking simple steps to protect themselves from COVID-19: Follow the social distancing order, and wear a face covering when you go out or are near other people. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, and always stay home from work or school if you are not feeling well.
Click on the image shown above to view the full health order.
unbelievable!
If this is not political, I do not know anything anymore.
But one thing is for sure: I WILL remember in November
Got that right. We have to change the way we vote decades of democrat rule has not improved California, one single bit!
WHAT??? We aren’t yo yos. Let’s move on. Last minute “orders” stink. Is the “Martinez muiprotest” still on?? What gives? .
Mistake, just protest.
I hope all people that want to go to church and worship do so. These dictators are out of control and ruining this country. If I lived there still I would go every Sunday and pay the fine every week. Call church a protest and all is good. The awholes must go. People rebel!! Sticking together is what will make a difference. God Bless!!
No, it is really because of idiot protesters.
Why would I go to church when it’s a good place to spread the virus. At least my church is smart enough to do online services and not jeopardize its worshippers.
Absolutely the churches have to shut down now. You couldn’t pay me to be closed up In a room with a bunch of people. All churches and schools are on line now for many reasons obviously. It is frustrating to think people may not believe we are having a serious pandemic that is killing many Americans. We owe it to the front line health professionals to COMPLY TO ALL MANDATES, so they don’t have to over work. Stop the whining. There are no big dictators out there trying to take churches away. That is ridiculous. It is big bad COVID!!
they had to revise the church order so that the protest in martinez could take place without people saying it was them that cause the spike in the cootie. If any of these folks that are creating these things would step into a church they would see that the people are being obedient to what they are saying. Wearing masks, social distancing, not touching or anything. People need to wise up and start doing the math.
Is claycord.com going to squelch my comment today because i said church?
They didn’t, but do they do that?
Everyone needs to get out and sign the recall Newsom petition. He needs to go!!
You can find a petition to sign here;
https://recallgavin2020.com/location-locator/
Well, there’s the final nail in the coffin for businesses that serve food and bursting of my little social bubble…soon we will all be running around in hamster balls!
This is ridiculous! There have been no church breakouts in Contra Costa. We are to obey God over govt if they are in conflict.
If there ever was a time we needed to Pray… IT’S NOW!
Newsom has to be the return of the anti-Christ!
Yes, No. Yes, No. Yes, No.
I have a new way …. IGNORE … IGNORE …
Politicians suck, and the those that want to play that game, suck more. I would have a lot more trust and faith in these fools IF they would sit there and say protest DID HAVE an impact …
This is the Democratic Socialism that California Democrats voted for…. Welcome! and don’t say we didn’t warn you.
I have warned everyone I know for as long as I can remember. All these snobby hippie hardcore democrats smelling their own farts thinking they were so much better then regular people. Im happy contra costa dems get to see first hand what they voted for. Everyone I know that hasn’t worried about it and just voted democrat because they couldn’t be bothered is paying attention NOW. Telling me Trump ain’t that bad..lol. Or my favorite “what is even going on?” Lol why you asking me, I told you exactly what they were about for years..enjoy your unemployment windfall that extra 600 a week is about to end and everything is actually shutting down again. So get ready for the real democrat caused depression..All to hurt Trump the only person trying to fix anything..
PATHETIC! I get closer to people in the aisles at Safeway than I do to people at church. At church, we are sitting families together and six feet from other families. When I pass someone in the aisle at Safeway, we almost touch. Can the Health Officer explain to me why churches are so dangerous?!!! Yeah, I didn’t think so!
Right!!!
Because typically transmission takes longer than just a few seconds. You’re passing someone in the Safeway aisle for like 10 seconds. You’re in church for an hour
How many documented cases from church services? None.
@wiiliejones
Maybe do some research.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6920e2.htm
They always said that when the positivity rate hits 8%, they’d pull back. You want things to stay open? Stay home when you can, wear a mask when you can’t, and wash your hands. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
You’re right … however, the reason people are pissed is because of the double standard … no church but you can protest????? I like what someone said above … just call our morning worship service a protest and all will be fine!
Chester,
You can have services outside like at our church. Most protests are outside. If indeed they aren’t getting sick, it sounds like we can sing louder if we wish.
Thank you!
Chester, I saw a picture of a church’s sign that said:
Please join us for one of our three Sunday riots:
Early Riser Riot: 8:30
Mid-Morning Riot: 10:30
Early Afternoon Riot: 12:30
The first steps toward banning religion.
The State is the only religion the State recognizes.
Bow to your leaders.
Keep your papers handy.
Follow without question.
NO MORE OBEYING, EVERYONE OPEN YOUR BUSINESS & CHURCH!!! GAVIN NUSIANCE HAD HIS WINERY OPEN ON THE 4TH OF JULY WHILE SHUTTING THE REST OF US DOWN. WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO GO ARREST GAVIN Newsom & THE OTHERS, THEY ARE GUILTY OF TREASON!!!
If its all so “BAD” shut the County down for the 14 days I know too many people who had one Condition but on “RECORD” Covid 19 all POLITICS
Outdoor dining at restaurants, as mentioned in the order, is probably next on the chopping block for a roll back.
The level of hypocrisy is mind blowing when protests are allowed but worshipping indoors with masks and distancing isn’t.
Please vote out any and every incumbent at the county and state level in November and let’s try a return to common sense.
Agreed!!!!!
better take advantage of your right to vote and change whats happening in this country…part of the reason that we are in this situatio is that many give up and dont vote and they put up with the change in indoctrinating our children who are now adults in the socialist marxist agenda. we only have ourselves to blame. i wonder what our founding fathers would say about how we give up so easily what they sacrificed for.
Right to vote doesn’t matter in California with Democrats in charge – remember when California voted against gay marriage, twice. Remember when California voted on favor of the death penalty… twice?
Let’s be clear on the real reason Newsome is letting all of those prisoners out. Tens of thousands more Democrat votes.
Hey, Law Abiding Citizen,
If this matters, from what I understand, prisoners are not all getting released to the community — they are going back to County jails.
And protests (aka looting, rioting, and assaulting upstanding citizens) will still be allowed.
Is that right?
Just making sure I know the new rules.
Inquiring minds would like to know from the Contra Costa Health Services how many protestors have been tested and how many of the protestors have been found positive or negative. Who was the virus transmitted to those increased cases? We would love to know what you are basing your orders on. Exactly what scientific data gathered during that time period leads you to these conclusions.
You will never know. They have been slowing down giving out the test results to make it look like that was not the cause.
Time for lawsuits and civil disobedience by way of going back to living life. Yes with masks. Although I think they are bull^$&* .
http://www.recallgavin2020.com
Sign it if you are done with the narcissist.
If you don’t test, you don’t have positive cases. See how that works? Simple Democrat math
So, religious services have to move outside? I don’t really have an issue with that, but is my understanding correct that they still have to limit the number of people and keep a certain distance? Why does that not apply to these large protests then? I’m not religious myself, but this seems wildly inconsistent if it’s the case. So much of this entire thing has seemed political, while claiming it is strictly based on science.
If you guys think voting is going to fix anything at this point you are deluded! Our country is a vassal state.
Solution is simple. Call church services a protest.
In some respects it is … a protest of the dictatorial directives being issued, and the austere manner in which people of faith are being forced to live their lives. It would appear that all these liberal autocrats are Godless and don’t believe He has a plan for each of us.
Large protest planned in Martinez this weekend following multiple hate crimes | KRON4
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/large-protest-planned-in-martinez-this-weekend-following-multiple-hate-crimes/
THEY ARE ADVERTISING this event (on Main Stream Media). It would seem prudent to CANCEL it NOW (in light of these new Contra Costa Count requirement(s)) – What is going on here?! It would be Very Easy to close the city down – put signs up – call MSM – large protest CANCELED.
Nobody in Contra Costa County is banning religion. Sheesh.
Anonymous 2, that’s only because NOBODY can.
@Cyn
I agree with you, but with so much talk here about fascists and global socialist agendas we might be in the minority.
@Anonymous2:
Go review the First Amendment, then get back to us regarding the “prohibiting the free exercise thereof” clause.
To late for California One party state and they know it So the peoples votes wont matter!
Exactly. The entire political tumor of California would have to be magically removed.
People of all faiths need to come together and kick some butt! Our religious leaders need to grow spines, too!
so we dont vote..hmmm…you just gave up.. at this point, you may be right googlar but years ago. Repentance to the God who made us and seeking His Face. We are in a mess and He is the only one who can turn things aroung. I am sure it will get worse..But pray and seek the God who made you,Our forefathers called fasts when we were in danger..and THAT we are. For the future of our grandchildren we must get off our high horses and ask about ourselves.. its me o Lord standing in the need of prayer
Amen! Amen!
And, by the way, read the actual health orders for a change. Protestors are subject to the same mask requirements as everyone else.
Good thing the protestors /rioters have such a good track record for abiding by the laws of the land. What a relief, for a minute there I thought we might have a few thousand people vandalizing, ripping down monuments, murdering people, looting, burning police cars, and not wearing masks or social distancing.
But they are under the same orders, so we can rest knowing they’ll follow the rules
And those orders are not enforced on protesters.
Its only enforced on legitimate businesses, churches, upstanding citizens etc.
Enforcement is only done on those that can be fined: Its a lot easier to fine a small business than some jack wagon with a brick in his or her hand.
You clearly haven’t watched a single moment of a protest the last 6 weeks if you believe that.
I sure hope lawmakers make destroying other people’s property, assaulting other people, and murder illegal next so the protesters won’t do that either.
Legalize hydorxocloriquine
Not going to happen. Politicians can’t make money on a medicine that is inexpensive, and, works.
It’s already legal for a number of uses. Using it for Covid is an off-label use that is permitted by the FDA, to the dismay of many people who want to use Covid as a political target.
Tonic water contains quinine sometimes prescribed for malaria.
The next outbreak will be blamed exclusively on family gatherings as that’s the only sector left to blame that fits the narrative!
For those of you who didn’t read the article or chose to ignore this information:
“Certain categories of outdoor gatherings, including worship services and social protests, are permitted at any size in Contra Costa so long as state health guidelines are followed, including physical distancing and appropriate use of face coverings.”
Stay safe everyone!
Sounds like the perfect solution to the problem.
The solution is real easy. All the churches in the County go to Martinez every Sunday morning and protest the closing of churches. Instead of yelling and screaming, sing. Ann Roth and Chris Farnitano, is that O.K. I challenge both of you to answer this question here on Claycord.
People with true faith can stay home and pray. You don’t need to go to church – you must know the drill by now. It’s non-essential.
Our founding fathers didn’t think freedom of religion was non-essential. That’s why the first sentence in the Bill of rights prohibits the government from interfering with the free exercise of religion.
Let’s do it. Publish a time and place. Make sure we have the right permits. Every Sunday. What’s the best way to get the word out?
Cowellian, don’t bother people like BernieM with the actual context of the Constitution. It makes them dizzy.
102 years ago: All these measures, including restrictions on religious gatherings, were put into place to protect public health. It didn’t lead to banning of religion or fascist/socialist overlords. Chill.
If we are limiting church, why are we not limiting protests? If it is good for one group, why not the other? If I can go into Walmart, Target, Lowes, Ace Hardware, wherever, why not a church?
Wow. Disappointing. Seems you have no regard.
Not doing it. I’m free. My body my choice.
https://recallgavin2020.com
I look forward to following the lawsuits to come.
We need to file lawsuits for the blatant disregard for public safety the “protests” (riots) are creating. And the fact that liberal politicians are encouraging the lawlessness. Enough is enough.
Would love to see someone make a citizen’s arrest of Gavin Newsom right in the middle of his Monday through Friday at 12 Noon propaganda speech for infringing the rights of the people of California their life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Would likely have to be a close member of his personal staff to thwart security precautions which I can imagine are pretty hefty at this point. If he hasn’t had death threats by now, I’d be really surprised.
That’s right. We don’t have time for a recall. The federalized sheriff need to stand up for the law and drag these foolish commies out on their a**es. Let the DOJ prosecute them for deprivation of rights under color of law.
But it’s ok to be at a rally? I saw very few wearing masks at Rushmore. I see more at protests. Smdh. Dumba$$es
Am I seeing this right
Well I am sure the poles or rather the mail in will speak for the democrats like a switch you got
when you broke the window and cursed out your mom over ice cream spilled
The democrats are throwing every ludicrous thing they can at us to distract us
Releasing thousands of criminals early for what
Targeting the church
Targeting 4th of July
Targeting schools
Targeting trump and gop
Targeting freedom of choice
As they install a state bank that will slam us with so many taxes they will offer us only national socialism after that and force our hand to surrender to the take over
I mean since when has it been ok to riot and steal and beat up people and have mayors and councils and governor turn a blind eye
@random task Since they got enough pieces in place. These mayors and city councils and governors are radicalized enemy’s of the country. The definition of home grown terrorists. They want Trump out..they will burn it all down to keep their secrets, money and freedom.
Oh, THAT first amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
I agree with 8 PERCENT!
Remember when people used to think that the First Amendment actually meant something?
That it wasn’t very controversial and that there was zero danger of the government violating it, especially in such a brazen way?
That the idea of the government banning such things could only come from a tin foil hat wearing nut job?
That’s so 2019
BernieM, protest are non essential as well. They accomplish nothing and many times end up being destructive.
The USA was founded on the basis of a protest, so I guess we should roll that one back 😉
Just wait till the freedom protests start. Those won’t be little traveling circuses. They won’t be violent opportunistic hobos chasing globalist crumbs. They will be freedom loving Americans with freedom flags preaching the constitution. Out there to preserve our country, not a protest stipend. Hello George 👀
If the County Health can restrict religious gatherings, they can restrict protests, as well. Same First Amendment freedoms infringed.
Anonymous2, you are missing the point, what’s good for one is good for the other. Not just regarding churches, but weddings as well as any gatherings.
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I’m puzzled. I’ve been attending indoor worship services since June 21. We are far far more careful than any visit to Safeway, Sam’s, Rite Aid or anywhere else for that matter. Sit six feet apart, sit with your family, sanitize on the way in and out. Wear masks at all times. One section at a time exits. Even the cars are parked every other space. At Safeway, you are crossing people all the time-clearly sharing airspace. By request, only healthy people attend church, yet sick people are likely to go to the grocery store or pharmacy because they have little options.
I think your church is perfect following the rules. Other churches are not following the correct steps. There you go! Not at all fair.
I agree, SmileWC!! My church is the same way. I get way closer to people at the store than at church.
Worshiping and protesting outside are both okay. What are you even talking about?
Good for you, I’ll bet you had a good time.
We must have laws to enforce the wearing of masks! The protesters who will not wear masks are hurting everyone. There is no way Newsom can by law stop the protesters but if there was a law to make people wear masks then that would be safe.
Do you think people will obey this law. And what about enforcement. Good Luck ! But one good thing is the rioters are wearing masks, not because of the 19, it’s to try to hide their identity.
I hope he writes a law to criminalize illegal immigration and drunk driving too.
You DO know how laws are passed, right?
🤪Legalize it!😀 = (🚫😷)
How are we to believe this when the County lab is backlogged by at least 900 Covid-19 testing kits and plundered at least hundreds more so those patients have to be retested?!?!?!?
Plus the CDC’s own website says a positive test can even come from a common cold.
“Cops and white people stop being idiots” racist much bubba? You people sure love your double standards..quite the unreasonable bunch. Ever think that’s why you feel oppressed? More importantly, do you really think you’re changing hearts and minds characterizing a whole race of people as idiots? Come on man
I’m bummed by this announcement, but cases and hospitalizations are definitely going up, unfortunately. And that’s true whether or not some people are hypocritical about protests vs. church…
But the part of this announcement that really flabbergasts me is the bit about having to wear a mask “except when putting food into your mouth” when dining at an outdoor restaurant. I mean, this is so dumb I don’t know what to say. Just close the restaurants if it’s really that risky to have outdoor dining going on. Can you imagine someone slipping their mask up and down for every bite?
I’m curious to know how many ICU beds are currently being used by drug ODS?? what is the average in general? It costs taxpayers $1m a night when a homeless person ods but the County is currently supporting their habits daily!!!
The whole concept is absurd. Are you supposed to have your mask up when chewing? Can you put your utensil of choice down before the mask goes up, or do you have to risk jabbing yourself in the eye the second it leaves your mouth?
Considering how much your sense of smell contributes to the eating experience, this new rule pretty much destroys the main reason for going to a restaurant in the first place. I can make flavorless sawdust a lot cheaper at home. Which, I’m sure, is the reasoning. If eating outside is so miserable that no one does it, the county won’t shoulder the blame for actively shutting down outdoor dining. Instead, it will be the public’s fault.
*sigh* I’m going to miss sitting at the Veranda and having a little fountain with my bibimbap. On to Benicia, I guess, when I can’t take being at home anymore.
Karl Marx was an atheist. Now, doesn’t it make perfect sense?
Here you go Bubba. You apparently haven’t read it yourself:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Oh sure, rates are up in the younger age brackets because of their church attendance…the CoCo Health Department has lost all credibility with me. Clearly, politically based, nothing to do with science. Had no idea, our elected leaders were so anti-religion, has been a very eye-opening time. Won’t forget this in November.
“the CoCo Health Department has lost all credibility with me.“
Well, that took long enough!
Better not worship this morning! Stay inside and be afraid of everyone. Let the “protestors” take over your streets and raid your local businesses. Better not try to spread your own protest message that wasn’t pre-approved by the government overseers or you’ll be locked up!
If I thought the people making comments here were serious, I would be ashamed to be an American. Whining, aggrieved, stupid babies.
We attend church online. Nice for me. I can drink my coffee.
Good for you. You’re participating in the free exercise of your religion absent government infringement. Others who prefer to worship differently are not so lucky.
Keep drinking the koolaid
Enjoy!
“if cops and white people would quit being idiots”
Really want to go there, Bubba? The FBI Uniform Crime Report is just a couple clicks away foe anyone with the intellectual honesty to review it.
Outside of long term care facilities in our county only around twenty five people have died. However many are getting sick. I am not a church goer but I have a son whose family never misses. They have been going to church in their living rooms with the service on the computer. It’s not the same but it should get you past this Chinese tragic fiasco. Try to be patient.
Thank you for a great comment. Our community must stop this belief that we are being taken over by the government. Like we have a serious virus and we must not spread this. Obviously we opened too soon and the large family gatherings are people who do not follow the rules yes and the protesters not wearing masks and not following the mandates. UNCLE COVID IS TO BLAME. Let’s mitigate this spike and stop blaming everyone. Fault finding never solves a thing. We are in this together.
Ilovepopcorn, I don’t get what “opened too soon” means here. We had tiny numbers, flat cases, very few in hospital, for weeks on end. A lockdown is a temporary measure. We crushed the curve and kept sitting on it for weeks. We could have done it for weeks longer, in theory, but cases would still have risen when we reopened. We can’t lock down until a vaccine. And we couldn’t get to zero cases with a lockdown – we got very low transmission, but it wasn’t trending down to zero. So what do you mean by “too soon”?
The point was to crush the numbers down so that we could ‘test trace and isolate’ cases as they arose. Then we could reopen while still keeping numbers down. We failed. That is, our public health system failed. Testing capacity is still constrained, results are too slow, we don’t offer the option of quarantine housing to keep people from spreading it in households, contact tracing is inadequate after weeks of delay building up the staff… People in essential jobs don’t have real PPE, on and on. We didn’t reopen too early, our government at every level from federal to county failed to use the time effectively. That time was bought by the livelihoods of families, the failed education of kids, the mental health of a lot of people,and indirect health effects from postponing procedures and visits. All that time, but we don’t have real time testing, and we don’t even have efficient administration to keep the economy on hold and deliver loans and unemployment sufficiently. The SIP clock was ticking and our govt didn’t get the job done. Now we have to middle through with semi-lockdown indefinitely.
Ok… New restrictions on religious services are being put in place but are we not concerned about schools opening without much thought? Keep schools closed until it is safe to do so… schools are a petridish of germs.
Yes, let’s disregard the data in regards to transmission by school age children completely.
Michael,
The protesters walk shoulder-to-shoulder, and though they may (or may not) wear masks, they shout and chant, which the churches have been forbidden to do. The churches have to follow the “guidelines” and not allow more than 100 in attendance, even if the sanctuary seats 1500 with good ventilation. However, though Dr. Tom Warne of CCC Public Health had the unmitigated gall to claim that the protests are prohibited from having more than 100 in attendance, does anyone think that will adhered to in Martinez today? Gimme a break.
Dan. 3 and 1 Pet. 3 Even if…
It is disappointing to read some very misguided comments. I know they are a vocal minority, but the degree of ignorance and prejudice is quite unbelievable and disappointing, to say the least. No one is happy about the outbreak of this pandemic. It has happened before and has killed millions.But to combat it, we HAVE TO RESPECT AND LISTEN TO SCIENCE AND THE EXPERTS–PIRIOD.
Huh Hugh Vocal minority?? Are you confused? No I do not have to respect fake science or fake experts. “The outbreak” lol funny guy..PIRIOD
Earlier today, the head of WHO spoke to the world in these words:
“The virus thrives on division, but is thwarted when we unite…. How is it difficult for humans to unite and fight a common enemy that is killing people indiscriminately? Are we unable to distinguish or identify the common enemy? The world’s lack of solidarity – not the coronavirus – is the biggest threat we face. Can’t we understand that the cracks and divisions between us are an advantage for the virus?”
I wonder whether the county health authorities might, next time, take into account the partisan winds surrounding this issue and make it clear that both church services and protests are not to take place indoors, just as they indicated clearly that both are to be allowed outdoors.
May we find common ground and defeat this common enemy, this coronavirus. May unity be our watchword.
That is the exact definition of double speak. “Freedom is slavery” “work makes you free” “unite but distance”…They are pushing for their one world government planed for decades if not centuries. The United States is not a member of the WHO. It doesn’t matter anything they say. Soon to withdraw from the UN. The 1st amendment of the constitution protects freedom of religion. The health department is in clear violation of equal protections under the law. The state of California has deprived 40 million Americans their rights. They will be removed from power.
WHO refuses to recognize independent Taiwan. That policy is counter to US policy, and makes WHO a political entity. That is reason enough to question the credibility of anything they spew.