CONCORD, California. – Health officials in Contra Costa County said Wednesday that slight declines in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and in positive COVID-19 test results reflect progress in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and call for a slight relaxation of some social distancing rules.
“Based on what we can see, we can be cautiously optimistic that there is a slow declining trend in provincial cases, tests of positivity rates and hospitalizations,” said Drs. Chris Farnitano, the province’s health care provider, in a statement from Contra Costa Health Care.
The seven-day average number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Contra Costa has dropped slightly over the past three weeks, from 103 days on August 5 to 96 days on Monday.
The average percentage of tests managed in Contra Costa that returned positive fell from 8.8 percent on August 6 to 7.4 percent on Monday.
In view of that improvement, Contra Costa County on Wednesday announced small changes in the health care system to reopen certain business sectors. The changes, which take effect on Friday, include:
-Personal care services that do not involve close contact with the face, including nail salons and massages, may start working outside in accordance with the state-issued industrial guidelines.
-Gyms and fitness centers may operate outdoors in accordance with their own state directives.
-Hotels, motels and short-term rentals (such as Vrbo or Airbnb) in Contra Costa can be open for personal or recreational travel, not just for essential business purposes.
Hairdressers and hairdressers have already been allowed, with permits, to perform limited work abroad in Contra Costa County without reported outbreaks.
MORE: CDC Changes Test Guidance to Exclude Asymptomatic People Exposed to COVID-19, Stunning Experts
In Alameda County, the health official issued a change order last Friday, also effective this coming Friday, causing:
– Opening of public, shared public swimming pools and wading pools, with reduced capacity, job restrictions to make it physically possible
distance, by appointment only (aquatic fitness lessons allowed with restrictions)
-Personal service providers including hairdressing salons, hairdressers, nail salons, skin care and waxing services, and non-medical massage, to provide outside services, subject to applicable state and local regulations.
-Wineries with outdoor play facilities to provide tastings without food.
SEE: California COVID-19 Case Numbers Improve, But Don’t Expect Rush to Reopen
Contra Costa Health Services officials are careful to say that, although not growing as was the case in June and July, key data indicators for the pandemic this month remain at dangerously high levels in Contra Costa County.
“We need everyone to understand that this is a reason to keep track of what we do and not let our guards down,” Farnitano said.
Both Alameda and Contra Costa counties will remain on the state department’s provincial monitoring list as of Wednesday.
Contra Costa health officials are urging companies to also consider the area’s poor air quality, given all the smoke from the many wildfires in the region, when making reopening plans.
The foggy air can make doing business abroad impractical, even unsafe, and the province has issued health advice on smoke, encouraging all residents to stay indoors as much as possible with doors and windows closed.
Previous Contra Costa health orders remain in force. Health officials are urging residents to continue wearing face masks when going out or near people outside their homes; exercise physical distance; staying home from work or school if they do not feel well; and wash their hands thoroughly and often.
Details of the Contra Costa update, including the full text of the order, are available at cchealth.org/coronavirus. A summary of the Alameda County Order can be viewed at https://covid-19.acgov.org/covid19-assets/docs/shelter-in-place/20-14c-summary-eng.pdf.
