State orders Placer County to close many indoor businesses as coronavirus cases surge
Placer County, having been included on the state of California’s coronavirus watchlist for more than three days, was ordered by the California Department of Public Health to limit its economy once again, as many other nearby county have already done.
The state health department’s director issued an amended order to the county on Saturday, to take effect Sunday, that effectively shut down bars, limited restaurants to outdoor seating and closed many entertainment venues.
The closures are to remain in place until further notice, although the order indicates that they are not to be lifted until at least the start of August.
“I understand how frustrating this is for our local businesses, and my hope is that our whole community will pull together and promote the personal precautions that can help reverse these disease trends,” Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson said in a prepared statement on Sunday. “Please wash your hands, maintain physical distance, wear a face covering in public, and do not gather with non-household members.”
Placer County has been experiencing increased rates of infection. As of Saturday, a total of 1,077 tests have come back positive in the county, and 11 people have died. On Saturday, 34 cases were added to the total, followed by 22 more on Sunday. The county set a record for daily coronavirus infections on July 5, when 49 people tested positive for the virus. The day before, 42 people tested positive.
Two people who died in Placer County were between the ages of 50 and 64. The rest were 65 or older. Currently, 31 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, and five are being treated in ICUs, according to state data. In late June, just eight people were hospitalized. The county has 25 available ICU beds.
Placer County officials pointed to large household gatherings, community events and indoor work as factors in the increased infection rates, and suggested that patients in Sacramento County may also be playing a role in hospital capacity. Many large hospitals near the county line serve residents of both Sacramento and Placer counties.
CDPH officials pointed out in the state coronavirus watchlist that Placer County’s most troubling trend is its “increased hospitalizations and limited hospital capacity,” but added that “the rising number of cases of COVID-19 in Placer County as well as in neighboring counties are driving an increase in hospitalizations. Placer County’s two largest hospitals lie on the Placer-Sacramento County border and provide care to residents of both counties, as well as other neighboring counties.”
This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 11:15 AM.
