Coronavirus updates: Sacramento hopeful as California’s Phase 2 opening standards loosen
Two full months after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued his statewide stay-at-home order in response to the coronavirus pandemic, counties across California have begun partially reopening for business at varying speeds.
Newsom on Monday announced that the criteria within his “regional variance” plan, which allows counties with relatively minor coronavirus activity to move more quickly through Phase 2 of the four-stage process, are being loosened. The governor also said that the reopening of salons and barbershops, part of Phase 3, are likely “weeks” away.
Nearly 3,300 Californians have died among nearly 82,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to a Bee survey of counties’ health departments. A total of 3,037 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the highly contagious virus, and 1,076 were in intensive care units, the state Department of Public Health said Monday. Both hospitalization figures represent modest declines over the past week, Newsom noted.
Prior to Monday’s news conference, 24 counties, most of them in Northern California, had been cleared to allow dine-in restaurants and in-store retailers to resume business.
Under the new requirements, which no longer include counties needing to go 14 days without a recorded COVID-19 death, 53 of the state’s 58 counties would qualify, Newsom said. He did not specify which five did not meet the remaining criteria.
In the capital region, Sacramento and Yolo county health and government officials are hopeful they will join neighboring El Dorado and Placer counties in advancing within Phase 2.
Sacramento County officials say they plan to submit their reopening attestation documents to the state after getting approval from the county Board of Supervisors, which meets Tuesday. They say they hope for an immediate state OK to allow restaurants and stores to reopen for interior dining and shopping this week.
“Sacramento meets all the qualifications for the variance to move further into stage two,” county spokeswoman Kimberly Nava said in a text Monday afternoon.
Yolo County anticipates state approval Tuesday, but it could take another week for businesses to reopen, Board of Supervisors chairman Gary Sandy said Monday.
Newsom says sports could return soon. Will they?
Also during Monday’s midday news conference, Newsom indicated that professional sports could resume play, but with no spectators in attendance, by early June. He has previously stated that arenas can’t be filled until there is a vaccine, widespread treatment or herd immunity for the coronavirus.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also given his blessing for major sports leagues to start back up on his state.
The NBA suspended its season March 11 after a player tested positive for COVID-19. The NFL, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NCAA and other major sports bodies did the same within days.
Organized team sports have begun ramping up plans to return to action. MLB players and owners are negotiating a deal to return in early July. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said last week a decision about how the league will proceed with its season will be made by early June. The Sacramento Kings began allowing players to workout at their facility last week.
California has five MLB and four NBA teams, which are both the most of any state.
In a recent announcement to employees, obtained by The Bee, the Kings organization said more than one-third of the team’s full-time workers will be furloughed for four months beginning June 1 as a result of the pandemic.
Sacramento Zoo announces reopen date, then pulls it back
Sacramento Zoo officials in a Monday news release said Sacramento County had approved the zoo’s reopening plan, but the county approval was rescinded later that afternoon, shortly after the zoo had announced a planned June 1 reopening.
Lesley Kirrene, a spokeswoman for the zoo, said the plan was rescinded suddenly because it didn’t match what was currently authorized to reopen by the state. It remains unclear whether the zoo will be able to open by June 1, as Kirrene said the situation could change quickly.
“We’re going to continue to work with government officials for a safe reopening,” Kirrene told The Sacramento Bee.
Dr. Peter Beilenson, Sacramento County’s health chief, said he gave zoo officials clearance to open, with safety measures in place, after the governor’s health office last week added “outdoor museums ... and other public spaces with modifications” to the Phase 2 list.
Beilenson said he interpreted that to include open-air zoos, but was informed Monday by state officials that it does not.
“I’m sorry about that and I hope the zoo will open early in Phase 3,” Beilenson told The Bee.
The zoo has been closed since March 13. Since then, it has laid off 52 employees, furloughed 17 and reduced hours for 28 more.
Joshua Tree, Redwood national parks reopen in California
Joshua Tree National Park and Redwood National Park have each begun reopening a number of their trails, some family campsites and some bathroom facilities, according to National Park Service news releases.
At Joshua Tree, park entrances and parking lots are open, and some trail loops will be open for one-way foot traffic only. Visitor centers and group campsites remain closed, according to the news release.
The park recommended guests bring their own hand sanitizer and masks.
“With the lower summertime visitation numbers in mind, we have worked closely with the health offices in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to ensure that the type of recreation at Joshua Tree is in line with current health advisories,” park Superintendent David Smith said in the news release.
All national parks have waived entrance fees amid the coronavirus pandemic, as reported previously by McClatchy News.
Some parking lots at state parks reopening
The parking lots of 27 California state parks have partially reopened weeks after the 280 state parks and beaches closed their parking lots to discourage non-local visitors, officials said Tuesday.
Parking lots were partially reopened at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, Lake Oroville SRA and several state beaches, including in Lake Tahoe and Orange County.
Gloria Sandoval, deputy director of California’s state parks department, said even though there is increased access at some parks and beaches, officials still encourage people to stay close to home.
“State Parks will continue to monitor visitation and physical distancing across the system and if unsafe conditions develop, park units may close again,” she said.
Visitors are also advised to check online to see if the park or beach they want to be visit is open before leaving home, what new visitor guidelines are in effect and if parking is available, she said.
As of Tuesday, 36 parks were closed and 244 were open though campgrounds, restrooms, visitor centers and other facilities remain closed at all state parks.
Other the parks that now have limited parking include Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point, Lake Valley and Emerald Bay in El Dorado County; Donner Memorial SRA, Nevada County; Auburn SRA and Kings Beach SRA, Placer County; and Columbia State Historic Park, Tuolumne County.
Latest Sacramento-area numbers: Death toll near 90
The four-county Sacramento region, plus nearby Yuba and Sutter counties, have reported a total of 89 COVID-19 deaths and more than 1,700 lab-confirmed cases.
Sacramento County public health officials have reported 1,250 cases of the coronavirus and 56 deaths, last updated shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday. One newly reported fatality came Sunday and another Monday, with the latest reported in the city of Sacramento. A note on the Sacramento County website continues to say that all deaths have come in individuals who were either age 65 or older; had underlying health conditions; or had other risk factors. Eight additional cases were reported Monday and five more on Tuesday.
Yolo County had one new COVID-19 confirmed case reported in Davis Tuesday afternoon, increasing its countywide total to 185. The county had 22 deaths due to the virus. Fifteen of those deaths — including at least one staff member — have come at Stollwood Convalescent Hospital, located within the St. John’s Retirement Village campus in Woodland, according to the county website.
Placer County reported 177 cases and eight deaths, last updated Tuesday morning with two new infections reported. The county’s last death was reported on April 15.
El Dorado County reported no new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday afternoon. The county total remains at 67 cases, and its death toll remains at zero. The county added three new cases Monday.
Sutter County reported no new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday; its total remains at 40. The county had one new infection reported Saturday and two on Sunday. Two people have died there due to the virus.
Yuba County had no new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday, and its total remains at 28 cases. The county including two new cases reported Monday. One person has died there due to the virus.
World numbers: Over 320,000 dead, 91,000 in US
A total of more than 4.88 million people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19, and over 322,000 of them had died as of Tuesday afternoon, according to data maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
More than 91,000 coronavirus fatalities and over 1.5 million cases have come in the United States, where death tolls are the highest in New York (over 28,000 dead), New Jersey (over 10,500) and Massachusetts (nearly 6,000).
Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan each report between 4,000 and 5,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins. Washington state, Virginia, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Louisiana, California and Connecticut all range from 1,000 dead to 3,500 dead from the virus.
After the U.S., the United Kingdom is second at over 35,000 COVID-19 fatalities, followed by Italy at 32,000 and France and Spain at about 28,000 each. Another nearly 18,000 have died in Brazil, 9,100 in Belgium, over 8,000 in Germany and more than 7,100 in Iran. Canada has more than 6,000 deaths, and Mexico and the Netherlands each also have surpassed 5,000 fatalities.
What is COVID-19? How is the coronavirus spread?
Coronavirus is spread through contact between people within 6 feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The CDC says it’s possible to catch the disease COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
Symptoms of the virus that causes COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. Most develop only mild symptoms, but some people develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. The disease is especially dangerous to the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 7:48 AM.
