California to issue ‘stay home order’ for up to 3 weeks in some regions with bars to SHUT – but schools to stay open
CALIFORNIA is ready to issue a “stay home order” for up to three weeks in some regions where bars will shutter – but schools can stay open.
The governor announced on Thursday that in regions where ICU capacity falls below 15 percent, the area will be subject to a lockdown with bars and hair salons shuttering for three weeks.
Newsom confirmed that bars, wineries, personal services and hair salons will be closed for the three week period as he said the effects of Thanksgiving “will be felt in a number of weeks.”
The ICU bed capacity in the Bay Area is set to fall later this month Newsom said as he announced his regional stay at home order in-state, which will effect four out of five regions “as early as next week.”
The areas where the number of intensive care unit beds will become critical in early December are: Greater Sacramento, Northern California, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California.
However, schools will remain open in the state, Newsom said, as he acknowledged the mental health toll the pandemic had taken.
Newsom said this “blueprint” was rolled out because the numbers of deaths had skyrocketed even over the past 24 hours with “back-to-back days with 113 deaths.”
He reported at almost 1000 deaths in California over the last two weeks and urged people to stop gathering with people outside their households and to keep activities.”
“We are just getting started in terms of business relief and business support,” he assured Californians, as he laid out the lockdown plan to stop the spread.
Newsom said the Immediate Relief Funds for Businesses would be a “bridge” until January, when he would be discussing how to help hard-hit businesses in California with the legislature.
When asked if the lockdown would actually stop the spread, Newsom cited “detailed” conversations his office has had with hospitals by region and “overwhelming evidence.”
“We were able to bend the curve … using non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he said, referring to the first lockdown. “We’re, really, imploring people not to have those gatherings … Avoid the mixing and do our best to mitigate the spread.”
Newson said that the arrival of vaccines in the next few weeks through “January, February, and March” meant “light at the end of the tunnel.”
He then laid out the three-tiered plan of how the vaccines would be rolled out based on equity and priority.
“Tomorrow, the regions will be making the orders directly to Pfizer,” he said. “Based on these tiers … that’s plan 1A.”
Newson announced that California will be receiving 327,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine in mid-December.
Tier one will include, acute care, psychiatric and correctional facility hospitals, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, paramedics, EMT’s and Dialysis centers.
Tier two includes, intermediate care facilities, home healthcare and supportive services, community health workers, public health field staff, and primary care clinics.
Tier three includes, special clinics, laboratory workers, dental/oral health clinics and pharmacy staff not working in settings at higher tiers.
The governor also announced the doses will be distributed through six regions in California.
The news comes after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned residents on Wednesday that the city was nearing “a devastating tipping point” as he ordered resident to stay in their homes and avoid social gatherings.
“It’s time to cancel everything,” Garcetti said during the press briefing announcing new lockdown measures.
His order limits nearly all social gatherings of people from more than a single household, mirroring a directive by county health officials last week.
But religious services and protests protected by the constitution are exempt.
“My message couldn’t be simpler. It’s time to hunker down. It’s time to cancel everything. And if it isn’t essential, don’t do it,” the mayor added.
“Don’t meet up with others outside your household. Don’t host a gathering. Don’t attend a gathering.
“Our city is now close to a devastating tipping point, beyond which the number of hospitalized patients would start to overwhelm our hospital system, in turn risking needless suffering and death,” the mayor said.
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the US and has a population of over 3.9 million.
LA county has recorded 414,185 infections and a death toll of 7,740, according to LA Public Health.
The way to avoid a “dreaded scenario” is to refrain from gathering with people from outside your household wherever possible, Garcetti said.
He also directed businesses requiring the presence of workers to close, and set restrictions on travel, but specified certain exceptions to both.
More to follow…
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