The order would be triggered when ICU bed availability in a select region falls below 15%. Although no region met that criteria as of Thursday, Newsom said the Southern California region could meet it in a matter of days.
Unlike the state’s four-tiered coronavirus monitoring system, which grades every county individually, the new stay-at-home order will apply more broadly to five “regions” in the state: Southern California, the Bay Area, the greater Sacramento area, Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley.
“The five regions that we have highlighted, most of these, four out of the five, we anticipate as early as the next day or two … that the greater Sacramento, Northern California regions, as well as San Joaquin Valley and Southern California region will have reached that 15% or less ICU capacity,” Newsom said. “The Bay Area may have a few extra days — our current projections suggest mid-, maybe late-December.”
Newsom stressed that ICU admissions due to COVID-19 have spiked by 67% in recent weeks, in conjunction with a statewide surge in cases that has also seen a disturbing rise in fatalities. He said the state reported just 14 deaths on Nov. 2, but now has had back-to-back days of 113 deaths, with nearly 1,000 fatalities in last four days.
“The bottom line is, if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said. “If we don’t act now, we’ll continue to see the death rate climb, more lives lost.”
When triggered, the stay-at-home order will be in place for three weeks and will bar gatherings of people from different households. It will also force the closure of all bars, wineries, personal service businesses, hair salons and barbershops. Schools with waivers will be allowed to remain open, along with “critical infrastructure” and retail stores, which will be limited to 20% of capacity. Restaurants will be restricted to takeout and delivery service only.
Newsom said the order is “fundamentally predicated on the need to stop gathering with people outside of your household, to do what you can to keep most of your activities outside and, of course, always … wear face coverings, wear a mask.”
Newsom also noted that the state still has a travel advisory in place recommending against non-essential travel and urging people to quarantine when they return to the state. When the regional stay-at-home order is triggered, it will strongly urge residents to cancel any non-essential travel.
The governor stressed that the pandemic emergency won’t last forever.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Newsom said. “We are a few months away from truly seeing real progress with the vaccine. … We do not anticipate having to do this once again. But we all really need to step up. We need to meet this moment head on and we need to do everything we can to stem the tide, bend the curve and give us the time necessary by bending that curve to get those vaccines in the hands of all Californians all across the state.”
–
Doasisaynotasido says
Did he make the announcement from the French Laundry? Or Hawaii? It’s hard to keep track of where these hypocrites, er, politicians are speaking from these days.
Mables says
COVID-19 lock-down is only for the little people.
CA News says
Keep it classy everyone.
I love how people that no longer reside in CA make the concerted effort to make comments here, you left CA by choice and we thank you.
I love California!
Thomas Guide says
They never, ever say where they moved to. It must be some amazing paradise. LOL
Alby says
Once this rigged election blows over so will all this nonsense.
Samster says
The policy community originally had COVID-19 scheduled to blow over, immediately after the election. A groundswell of voting irregularities, sprouting like stinkweed, COVID-19 has been extended, indefinitely.
Mike says
Does Newsom’s order apply to the French restaurant he likes to meet his fellow Democrats at to party? WHAT A CROCK!
Diana says
The sad part about this whole thing is that you ignorant Californians will re-elect this clown again and again.
Jane says
Diana- you for forgot the rest of the circus: Pelosi, Schiff and good old Maxine Waters. I thank God everyday I moved out of CA!
Matt says
You are so glad you moved away, yet you still feel a need to comment on avtimes. We get it, you left, now dont look back. Or are u the girl that would call the guy who dumped you over and over again and just hang up?
Claire says
You ignorant Californians? Are you posting from another state too?
Barbi says
… they’re not ignorant. Brainwashed ditto-head Democrat, by the mainstream media, they are most certainly intelligent enough, to rig our elections asunder –
? says
Barbi. Put the crack pipe down, girlfriend.
Fed Up says
I’ll tell you what you can do with your vaccine and with your stay at home order. You can put them where the sun don’t shine. You don’t follow your own edicts. No one believes you or trusts you.