Expecting a surge of COVID-19 cases to hit hospitals already dealing with an overwhelming number of patients, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday new stay-at-home orders for regions with ICU capacity that falls below 15%.
Newsom said he was pulling the emergency brake on the state's tier program and putting in place restrictions for various businesses as California continues to log record daily cases each consecutive day. On Wednesday, the state saw more than 18,000 new cases, according to the California Department of Public Health.
The order splits the state into five regions, with Stanislaus County in the San Joaquin Valley region. When a region reports ICU occupancy below 15% the stay-at-home order will go into effect and last for three weeks.
None of the regions have met the threshold as of Thursday, but four of the five, including the San Joaquin Valley are expected to reach it in the next day or two. The Bay Area region is expected to hit it in a week.
As of Wednesday, Stanislaus County had an ICU bed availability of 3.4% according to the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.
The stay-at-home order will close down bars, wineries, personal services, hair salons and barbershops. Retail stores will be allowed to remain open, but with occupancy set at 20%. Restaurants will only be allowed to do take-out or delivery.
Schools and critical industries, like grocery stores, will be allowed to remain open.
Residents will be asked to stay at home unless out to buy groceries, go to pharmacies or are essential workers. Above all else, state health officials are imploring residents to not gather with people outside their household, especially indoors.
Stanislaus County is already in the purple tier, which restricts indoor dining, gyms and indoor church services, among other industries.