Alameda County public health officials are asking local leaders to pause plans to move the county to its next phase of reopening as the new coronavirus continues to increase statewide.
The Alameda County Department of Public Health is withdrawing a request to the county Board of Supervisors to support a variation that would allow the county to move forward. A press release from the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services announced that increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates have forced the county to temporarily pause its reopening plans.
Alameda County has recorded 5,762 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, most of any Bay Area county. The county has added more than 700 cases to its count in the past seven days and has also recorded 13 additional deaths, bringing the number of COVID-19 deaths in Alameda County to 133.
“We are concerned about the increase in local cases, the disproportionate impact on communities of color, the local impact of the outbreak at San Quentin State Prison, and the alarming disease trends we see in counties that have opened at a faster rate. fast, “the statement said. .
The next phase of reopening in Alameda County was established to allow indoor restaurants, salons and barber shops, swimming pools and professional sports without fans to resume operations. It is unclear how the county’s decision to withdraw its support for the so-called “Variation Certification” will affect the Oakland Athletics, who planned to start training at the Colosseum in preparation for the 2020 regular season on Friday.
“Professional sports without fans” will have to wait, but the Athletics may be allowed to conduct practices and training sessions because “outdoor exercise” is allowed in the county.
The Alameda County announcement followed a similar decision made by Contra Costa County on Monday, which said it is halting plans to reopen businesses such as bars, gyms and restaurants in indoor restaurants.
The Office of Emergency Services noted that the Alameda County case rate per 100,000 residents increased from 63.2 to 71.1 in the past seven days, and said the hospitalization rate also increased in the past week.
The statement said this week “it will be critical to assessing the impact of activities authorized to resume in Alameda County on June 19, and we will continue to closely monitor our data to inform next steps regarding reopening and certification.”
On June 19, Alameda County allowed the reopening of retail stores, open-air restaurants, open-air museums, religious and cultural ceremonies, outdoor activities, and summer schools.
.
