As reported in my newsletter last week, CA Department of Public Health has released further guidance on additional Stage 3 sectors that will be allowed to reopen June 12, with County Public Health Officer approval. Now that the guidance is out, our OC Public Health Officer will be evaluating the new guidelines to ensure it is safe for Orange County to advance into these specific Stage 3 sectors.

The following sectors were issued guidance today:

• Schools and School-Based Programs
• Child Care Programs and Providers
• Day Camps
• Tribal Casinos
• Music, Film and Television Production – Guidance document for Management Office Workspaces
• Professional Sports without Live Audiences – Guidance document for Retail within arenas and fields
• Campgrounds, RV Parks, and Outdoor Recreation
• Hotels, Lodging, and Short Term Rentals
• Cardrooms, Satellite Wagering Facilities and Racetracks
• Family Entertainment Centers
• Restaurants, Bars, and Wineries
• Fitness Facilities – including pools
• Museums, Galleries, Zoos, and Aquariums

If your business is included in any of these new guidance documents, please start to prepare your business to reopen with these specific guidelines so you are ready once we have approval from our Public Health Officer.

For more information, click here.

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) continues to release the daily COVID-19 case counts by cities in Orange County, in addition to the cumulative cases and deaths to date in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 7,614 positive cumulative cases including 185 deaths in Orange County, as well as 304 currently hospitalized with 146 in ICU.

Please be advised that the city data is reflective of where cases live, not necessarily where transmission occurred. Additionally, city numbers should not be interpreted to reflect where transmission is geographically focused or not, as COVID-19 is present in all communities in Orange County.

Case counts are also not reflective of all disease transmission in any given community because testing is prioritized for those at greatest risk or most sick. Asymptomatic and persons with mild disease may not be reflected due to not being tested.

Because transmission occurs throughout the County, it is important for all residents to practice social-distancing as directed by the Governor and the Orange County Health Officer regardless of the case count in their city. Doing so will help to reduce the spread of infection, ease the burden on our hospital and healthcare system, and protect those most vulnerable in our county.