California Gov. Gavin Newsom said today (Thursday) that he will impose a new stay-at-home order for areas where empty capacity at intensive care units falls below 15%.
Newsom announced the new plans amid a surge of new coronavirus cases and fears that hospitals could be overwhelmed within weeks.
The new order divides the state into five regions. Newsom said none of the regions currently meet the threshold for the new rules.
Monterey and Santa Cruz County are in the Bay Area region, which is expected to reach the threshold in mid-to late-December, and San Benito County is in the San Joaquin Valley region, which is expected to meet the threshold potentially in the next few days.
When they do, the state will order them to close hair salons and barber shops, limit retail stores to 20% capacity and only allow restaurants to offer take-out and delivery.
The rules don’t apply to school districts.
