This afternoon, the County of Santa Clara Public Health held a press conference to announce details of a new health order…
Places like gyms, nail salons, and hair salons would be allowed to open with restrictions. Also, small gatherings would be able to resume: outdoor gatherings with up to 60 people, and indoor gatherings with up to 20. However, the County will soon release guidelines for such gatherings.
Social Distancing Protocol Distancing requirements for businesses have also been changed in the new order. Per 250 gross square feet of a given facility, there can be no more than 1 worker. Also, per 150 square feet open to the public, there can only be 1 customer. Healthcare, education, and childcare facilities are exempt from these requirements. Also, these limits don’t apply to children under 12 who are with a parent in a business facility.
Places like nightclubs, theaters, stadiums, indoor swimming pools, indoor playgrounds, and indoor dining would not be able to open just yet.
At the conference, Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody and others spoke of how the new order was designed to allow people to resume normal activities, but with strong protocols in place.
“We’re at a point in this pandemic where it’s crystal clear COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. So we need to adapt to a new way of being, a new way of living that keeps us all safe and allows us to do some of the things that we miss and cherish and find most meaningful,” said Dr. Cody.
In recent days, COVID-19 cases have increased across the country.
Today, a record 53,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the United States. And here is the current dashboard of COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County from today:
“Although we’re testing much more than we have been before, these numbers reflect a true increase in the prevalence of COVID-19,” said Dr. Cody at the press conference. She mentioned that Santa Clara County would continue to be cautious and take a measured approach to reopening.
At present, the County is submitting an application to the State to get clearance to put the new order into effect and open more businesses. Right now, they’re aiming for the order to become effective on July 13. However, if the State approves the application after that date, it would go into effect 2 days after that approval.
Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that certain activities across 19 California Counties would have to close down in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 before July 4th weekend. These activities include indoor dining, movie theaters, museums, and wineries. It bears noting that the activities that Newsom closed down across the state have never been reopened in Santa Clara County since the initial shelter-in-place order.
Despite this being a holiday weekend, County officials issued a reminder that the shelter-in-place order is still in effect, and stressed the importance of staying safe by staying home, socially distancing, and wearing masks.
“This virus has proven time and time again in communities around the country and around the world that it will come back with a vengeance, if you let your guard down. We will not let our guard down here in Santa Clara County,” Dr. Cody said.
