New State of California Framework Provides Blueprint for
Orange County Re-Openings
(Santa Ana, CA) – A new blueprint for business sector re-opening was unveiled by Governor Newsom on August 28, 2020, which includes a color-coded, tiered system that will use two metrics to measure the novel coronavirus: spread rate and test positivity percentage.
The tiers are designated by four colors: purple (widespread), red (substantial), orange (moderate) and yellow (minimal with the lowest restrictions). Orange County is currently in a blended purple/red tier; and, with our numbers trending in the right direction, is on track to transition to the red tier on September 8, 2020.
Counties must remain at each tier for a minimum of 21 days. The State’s new website, www.COVID19.ca.gov, will track the metrics, show an interactive map and list business sectors open by each county.
The Orange County school waiver process will not be impacted by the Governor’s new system. Schools can re-open on a widespread basis (without a waiver) once a county is in the red tier for at least two weeks. County Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health on August 31, 2020 as respects Orange County’s K-12 in-person education re-opening plan:
Orange County is on track to enter into the red tier on September 8, 2020 providing that our metrics meet the conditions for that tier.
There will then be a 14-day wait for all K-12 schools in Orange County to be eligible for re-opening in-person education, which will put us on track for September 22, 2020.
