Restrictions Eased for Restaurants, Other Businesses
After seven weeks of closures, restaurants, museums, theaters and other businesses can resume outdoor operations immediately under state guidance.
Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and tattoo parlors can open indoors. Hotels and other lodging can open.
The changes are a result of California health officials’ announcement today that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted for all regions of the state.
The state’s four-week intensive care unit bed availability projection for the Southern California region, which includes San Diego County, is expected to be above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order.
“We urged San Diegans to stay at home and most heeded our message,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Their actions have helped to slow the spread of COVID-19, kept hospitals and health care workers from being completely overwhelmed and, most importantly, saved lives.”
The lifting of the Regional Stay Home Order means that San Diego County is now back in Tier 1, or the Purple Tier, and can return to the rules and framework of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity percentage.
The County’s adjusted case rate is currently at 49.6 per every 100,000 residents, which is expected to be reflected on the state’s website tomorrow. The rate is well above the 7.0 case rate that is required to move into the less restrictive Tier 2, or Red Tier. Fifty-four of the 58 California counties are in the strictest level, or Purple Tier.
The region’s 7-day case positivity rate is 14.8%, also well above the 7% needed to move to the Red Tier.
Counties must remain in their current tier for three weeks and post case rates and testing positivity percentage in the higher tier for two weeks before moving into the less restrictive level.
Tier updates are provided weekly on Tuesdays; however, counties can choose to impose stricter rules.
Household gatherings are also now allowed, but they should be limited to no more than three households and the interactions must occur outdoors. People must also keep their distance and wear a mask. The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remains in effect.
“The pandemic is not over, people should continue taking the recommended precautions,” Wooten said.
County health officials continue to urge San Diegans to do the following:
- When it’s your turn, get vaccinated
- Wash your hands
- Watch your distance around others
- Wear a mask
- When sick, stay home and get tested
Petco Park Vaccination Site Closed Until Tuesday Afternoon
Due to bad weather, the Vaccination Super Station at Petco Park closed all day Monday and will remain closed Tuesday through at least 1 p.m. A full determination of scheduling for the day will be made Tuesday.
All Petco Park appointments scheduled for the closed hours are being moved by UC San Diego Health to later in the week. You should check your MyChart for your new scheduled time and bring proof of appointment and the right document when it is your turn.
Appointments for Petco Park are honored only at that site. All other vaccination sites remain open.
The County is now vaccinating people 65 and older at its vaccination sites. Appointments are still required, and vaccinations are available based on supply.
More information is at coronavirus-sd.com/vaccine and appointments can be made at vaccinationsuperstationsd.com.
San Diegans 75 and older who don’t have access to a computer or the internet can call 2-1-1 for assistance in scheduling an appointment.
Community Setting Outbreaks:
- 10 community outbreaks were confirmed Jan. 24: six in business settings, two in daycare/preschool/childcare settings, one in a government setting and one in an emergency services setting.
- 11 new community outbreaks were confirmed on Jan. 23: seven in business settings, two in food/beverage processing settings, one in a daycare/preschool/childcare setting and one in a faith-based agency setting.
- Seven new community outbreaks were confirmed on Jan. 22: four in business settings, one in a health care setting, one in a food/beverage processing setting and one in a daycare/preschool/childcare setting.
- In the past seven days (Jan. 18 through Jan. 24), 55 community outbreaks were confirmed.
- The number of community outbreaks remains above the trigger of seven or more in seven days.
- A community setting outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting and in people of different households over the past 14 days.
Testing:
- 14,573 tests were reported to the County on Jan. 24, and the percentage of new positive cases was 10%.
- The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 10.2%. Target is less than 8.0%.
- The 7-day, daily average of tests is 22,349.
- People at higher risk for COVID-19 who are with or without symptoms should be tested. People with any symptoms should get tested. Healthcare and essential workers should also get a test, as well as people who have had close contact to a positive case or live in communities that are being highly impacted. Those recently returned from travel are also urged to get tested.
Cases:
- 1,437 cases were reported to the County on Jan. 24. The region’s total is now 228,632.
- 8,875 or 3.9% of all cases have required hospitalization.
- 1,357 or 0.6% of all cases and 15.3% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.
Deaths:
- No new COVID-19 deaths were reported on Jan. 24. The region’s total is 2,375.
- 31 COVID-19 deaths were reported Jan. 23. Nineteen men and 12 women died between Jan. 14 and Jan. 22.
- Of the 31 deaths reported that day, 13 people who passed away were 80 years or older, seven people were in their 70s, seven people were in their 60s, two people were in their 50s, one person was in their 40s and one person was in their 30s.
- 30 had underlying medical conditions and hone had a medical history pending.
- 43 COVID-19 deaths were reported Jan. 22. Twenty-five men and 18 women died between Jan. 8 and Jan. 22.
- Of the 43 new deaths reported that day, 19 people who passed away were 80 years or older, eight people were in their 70s, 10 people were in their 60s, two people were in their 50s and four people were in their 40s.
- All had underlying medical conditions.
More Information:
The more detailed data summaries found on the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 p.m. daily.