SAN DIEGO–County health officials will be presenting to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday the region’s plan that would allow it to accelerate the reopening of the local economy.
Health officials will tell the Board they are confident the region meets new state criteria that would allow it to move further into Stage 2 of the California resiliency roadmap. The criteria include:
- Less than 5% of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations over a 7-day period or no more than 20 COVID hospitalizations on any single day in the past 14 days.
- Fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days or less than 8% testing positive in the past 7 days.
- Have a capacity to be able to test 1.5 per every 1,000 residents and at least 15 staff per 100,000 county population trained and available for contact tracing.
- Hospital capacity for a possible surge of 35% of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 cases in addition to providing usual care for other patients.
If the Board approves the plan, it will be immediately submitted to the California Department of Public Health for review.
“The County meets the modified metrics that have been shared with us by the state,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “We will continue to monitor other metrics to inform our further opening of local businesses, organizations and activities to strike a balance between the protection of the public health and economic viability of our region.”
If the plan is approved, the County will be cleared to accelerate into Stage 2, which will include in-person dining reservations and retail shopping with social distancing.
Restaurants and retail shops are encouraged to review the state guidance for their business and complete the County’s Safe Reopening Plan, which is required to be displayed on the premises.
Most counties in the state are expected to meet the new criteria to reopen at a faster pace.
