Coronavirus: Contra Costa County to reopen outdoor dining, religious services, pools
Two days after loosening restrictions on indoor retail shopping, business offices and pet grooming, Contra Costa County announced it is reopening more segments of its local economy.
In a press release issued Friday, Contra Costa County said residents “may again enjoy outdoor swimming pools, outdoor seating at restaurants and dog parks,” effective at 5 p.m.
The decision allows for outdoor religious services of up to 100 people, indoor religious services of up to 12 people, use of outdoor picnic and barbecue spaces and overnight camping for people who belong to the same household.
“We have made great progress slowing COVID-19 in our county,” said Candace Andersen, chair of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors. “I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to all who suffered and sacrificed to follow these health orders throughout this pandemic.”
Contra Costa County has confirmed 1,577 coronavirus cases to date and reported 38 deaths due to COVID-19. The county has 3.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, which is among the lower totals in the Bay Area.
Despite allowing more places to reopen, health officials in the county are warning residents to remain vigilant and to practice physical distancing in order to reduce the likelihood of transmitting or contracting COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is still circulating in our community, and we need to take precautions to prevent outbreaks,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, the county health officer. “Another way we can keep ourselves and our families safe is to get tested, even if we feel well.”
The guidance on religious services includes a requirement for a place of worship to keep a record of attendance that includes the name and contact information for each person at a service or ceremony. The log must be preserved for at least 14 days following a service and provided to Contra Costa Health Services immediately upon request in the event that a COVID-19 case is linked to the event.
Contra Costa County has conducted 39,211 coronavirus tests to date and has tested 3,300 people per 100,000 residents. The number of tests per 100,000 residents ranks behind many Bay Area counties including San Francisco, which has conducted 8,300 tests per 100,000 residents, the highest total of any county in the state.
Earlier this week, Contra Costa County announced services that don’t require close personal contact such as car washes, housekeeping and plumbing can resume. The June 3 announcement initially said religious services will be permitted to resume June 15, but that changed Friday as updated guidance permits outdoor services to take place for up to 100 people this weekend.In a county press release issued Wednesday, Dr. Farnitano said if the county did not act aggressively to enact the initial shelter-in-place order on mid-March, ten times as many people would have died from the virus.
Source https://bayareane.ws/2AGCWT0
No comments: