VISALIA, Calif. — (AP) — Defying state health orders intended to prevent spread of COVID-19, elected leaders of California’s Tulare County have voted to allow businesses and churches to immediately reopen. This comes as other counties seek the governor’s approval to reopen.

The Visalia Times Delta says the 3-2 vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors allows nearly all businesses to reopen that fall under Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the state’s plan. That includes dine-in restaurants, barbers, movie theaters and malls. Churches are also included.

The vote came as the Central Valley county of 442,000 residents reported a spike of 101 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths.