More CA Restrictions, Stay-Home Orders Possible: Newsom

CALIFORNIA — Some counties in the most-restrictive purple tier of California's COVID-19 risk assessment system may see additional restrictions as part of a "deep purple" stay-at-home order, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday.

The stay-at-home order could be enacted in counties that are experiencing particularly concerning trends when it comes to hospitalizations and intensive care unit capacity, he said. It will be more akin to the stay-at-home order issued at the onset of the pandemic with modifications.

"If these trends continue, we're going to have to take much more dramatic — arguably drastic — action," Newsom said.

California officials are considering implementing the "deep purple" stay-at-home order as the risk increases that hospitals could become overwhelmed. State officials will be evaluating real-time data on the availability of hospital and ICU beds over the next day or two to assess which counties should be placed into the new sub-tier.

The news comes after some significant developments in recent days: Nine counties moved into a more-restrictive tier over the weekend, and Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties enacted additional restrictions. Currently, 51 of California's 58 counties are in the most-restrictive purple tier.

The state could see hospitalizations increase two to three times by Christmas Eve on Dec. 24, if California does not step up efforts to fight the coronavirus, Newsom said.

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California's COVID-19 projections look particularly grim when it comes to ICU beds. If trends do not improve, 112 percent of the state's ICU beds will be occupied by Dec. 24. Currently, 75 percent of ICU beds are occupied.

Northern California — excluding the Bay Area and greater Sacramento — is projected to be most impacted.

Here's the breakdown by region, based on current patterns:

Currently, 59 percent of California's hospital beds are occupied. Projections show 78 percent of hospital beds will be occupied by Dec. 24, if trends do not improve.

The San Joaquin Valley is projected to be hit the hardest.

Here's the breakdown by region, based on current patterns:

An average of 59 people died per day, over the past week, Newsom said. The death rate is starting to climb.

There have been 1.2 million COVID-19 cases confirmed in California. The virus has been linked to 19,141 deaths.

Despite the concerning trends, there were some bright spots in Monday's briefing.

California is expected to receive 327,000 doses of the first COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December, Newsom said. Patients must receive two doses, and a batch of second-dose vaccines is expected to follow in three weeks.

The state expects to release this week its guidelines for distribution of the vaccine, which will detail who is highest-priority for the vaccine, he said. Health care workers and residents of congregate living facilities are among those who will be first in line.

Newsom also announced Monday that small businesses with less than $1 million in sales tax will receive an automatic three-month extension. That means billions of dollars in sales tax deferrals across the state.

Larger companies with up to $5 million in sales and less than $1 million in sales tax can fill out a form to enter into an interest-free payment agreement with the state.

The governor's office and legislature worked over the weekend to pave the way for the distribution of a half-billion dollars to small businesses as part of an emergency relief package, Newsom said. Small businesses, nonprofits and cultural institutions can apply for grants of up to $25,000.

The emergency relief package is meant to tide businesses over until elected officials can reconvene in January for the next legislative session.

The Golden State has amassed the country's largest stockpile of protective gear, Newsom said. California has more ventilators than any other state and 40 million more N-95 masks than the federal government has in its Strategic National Stockpile. There are 11 surge facilities across the state ready to accommodate patients in 1,862 additional beds.

California's Health Corps of 871 active and registered health care staff are standing by, ready to be deployed as the state's case count increases.

This article originally appeared on the Across California Patch