SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Newsom and Dr. Sonia Angell today reiterated some key points in California's response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Discussing the six key indicators for modifying the stay at home order, the most important Gov. Newsom says is the health and wellness of the elderly, the homeless and the most vulnerable populations here in California.
The six indicators include:
These six indicators along with up to date data drives the decision making as to when the stay at home order will expire.
The indicator currently being worked on is the ability to open businesses, schools and child care facilities. Newsom assures the community that "we are weeks away, not months to making meaningful modifications to the stay at home order."
Gov. Newsoms says he's aware of the disturbance in education and is considering pushing the school year to start at an earlier date, late July or early August.
Gov. Newsom provided an update on Project Room Key, as of today Project Room Key and a partnership with FEMA has secured 12,500 rooms of their 15,000 room goal. Project Room Key is a program implemented by the state of California to secure rooms for the homeless population.
Newsom then introduced Dr. Sonia Angell, California Department of Public Health director and State Health officer, who provided an update on the lifting of the stay at home order.
According to Angell there are four stages to ending the stay at home order and opening businesses in nonessential sectors which include:
These stages have been implemented to in regard to the ability to determine that we are moving in a way that is safest for Californians.
Newsom says that if we pull back, and reopen the state prematurely, there could be a surge in hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 cases.
As far as the stage we are in, it was noted by Dr. Angell that we are fully integrated in stage one.
To get from stage one to stage two certain actions must be taken beginning with government actions that include policies that allow people to stay home when they are sick, as will as provide guidance on how to reduce risk.
Business actions need to be taken next including wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick as well as the ability to work from home when possible.
Individuals actions also must take place as well, safety precautions like physical distancing, face coverings and avoiding all non-essential travel.
Stage two focuses on gradually opening lower risk workplaces with certain adaptations.
Stage three's focus will be on gradually opening higher risk workplaces that include personal care like gyms and nail salons.
Stage four is the end of the stay at home order all together and reopening high risk workplaces with all six indicators satisfied.
Dr. Angell stresses the importance of being a part of the solution.
Stages one and two can be reached in weeks, not months, stages three and four will take months not weeks.
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If you would like more information on COVID-19 and California's response, check here.
