Stay-at-home order set to begin in Southern California, ICU availability falls to 10.3%
The entire region of Southern California is failing to meet the state's requirements that would allow it to avert a full stay-at-home order.
Under the state's new stay-at-home order, if a region's ICU capacity falls below 15% the order will become enacted within 24 hours.
On Sunday afternoon, the available ICU capacity in the Southern California region was reported at 10.3%. This is down from 12.5% reported Saturday, and 13.1% reported late Friday and lower than the threshold of 15% that triggers the order.
This change thrust the Southern California region into additional restrictions to help slow the pandemic. The new restrictions are now slated to take effect on Sunday, December 5. According to the state, "for regions under 15%, the Regional Stay Home Order goes into effect Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 11:59 PM." San Joaquin Valley also faces the restrictions, having 8.6% capacity in ICU on Saturday.
California's Department of Public Health issued a release, citing an "unprecedented" increase rate in COVID-19 cases:
"...the number of new cases per day has increased by over 112%, (from 8,743 to 18,588) and the rate of rise of new cases per day continues to increase dramatically. The number of new hospital admissions has increased from 777 on November 15, to 1,651 on December 2, and because of the lag between case identification and hospitalizations, we can only expect these numbers to increase."
Riverside County is apart of the Southern California region, along with Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
SAHO ICU bed % available as of December 5, 2020 for the 5 regions:
| Northern California | 24.1% | |
| Bay Area | 21.7% | |
| Greater Sacramento | 21.4% | |
| San Joaquin Valley | 8.6% | |
| Southern California | 12.5% |
Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma
Greater Sacramento: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
San Joaquin Valley: Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne
Southern California: Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
For regions under 15%, the Regional Stay Home Order goes into effect Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 11:59 PM.
Under the new stay-at-home order, barbershops and hair salons must close, restaurants are limited to take-out and delivery only, and capacity inside retail stores and shopping centers is maxed at 20%.
Hotels and lodging are may remain open for critical infrastructure support, as can offices.
Schools with waivers will be allowed to remain open. Places of worship are restricted to outdoor only services.
The following businesses/recreational facilities will be required to close:
-- indoor and outdoor playgrounds;
-- indoor recreational facilities;
-- hair salons and barbershops;
-- personal care services;
-- museums, zoos, and aquariums;
-- movie theaters;
-- wineries;
-- bars, breweries and distilleries;
-- family entertainment centers;
-- cardrooms and satellite wagering;
-- limited services;
-- live audience sports; and
-- amusement parks.
WATCH: Another shutdown of local businesses possibly devastating to employees during holiday season
On November 21, a month-long curfew was also enacted for counties that resided in the state's most restrictive purple tier. The curfew prevents non-essential activities from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
MORE: Sheriff Bianco: Gov. Newsom ‘dictatorial,’ department won’t be bullied into enforcing orders
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