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Friday 13 November 2020
Note to editors: Contra Costa health worker Dr Chris Farnitano will answer questions via Zoom at 1 p.m. Click on this link to participate in the Zoom conference. Questions will be taken via chat and a recording of the event will be available directly after the event.
California hit the unfortunate milestone of one million statewide COVID cases on Thursday. With the increase in transmission and hospitalizations, health workers representing Bay Area counties are tightening local rules for high-risk indoor activities where the virus can more easily spread.
Contra Costa Health Services issued a closure order today, starting Tuesday, November 17 at 8 a.m.
- Meals inside
- Indoor fitness centers
- Concession in cinemas
The restaurant and gyms reopened at reduced capacity when the county entered state red in late September. But recent increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations make the closures necessary to help contain the spread of the virus.
“Indoor interactions in restaurants, theaters, gyms and indoor fitness centers are high-risk activities,” said Dr Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County Health Officer. “And given what we are seeing happening across the country and in the region, we need to act now.”
Restaurant patrons take off their masks to eat or drink, as do moviegoers when snacking on food at concession stands. People also breathe a lot when exercising in indoor gyms, which increases the risk of COVID-19 droplet and aerosol transmission, which can only be partially reduced by wearing a face mask.
Contra Costa recently went from the state’s orange level to the more restrictive red level due to an increasing number of cases in the county. Meanwhile, hospitalizations at Contra Costa have returned to levels not seen in several weeks. On November 11, 50 people with COVID were hospitalized in the county – the highest number since September.
“I’ve said it a few times before, but it’s so important that I can’t repeat it enough: the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to wear a face mask whenever you’re around people who don’t live with you, and every time you go to a building that is not your home, ”said Dr Farnitano.
Health officials are particularly concerned that people congregate indoors as the holidays approach and may consider further closures in the days and weeks ahead. Contra Costa County, which is now in the red level, could move to the state’s most restrictive level, the purple level, in the coming weeks. If the county goes to the purple level, schools that have not reopened will have to remain closed until the county returns to the red level or until they receive a waiver from the state.
“We hope that this new health order will slow the spread of COVID so that schools have a better chance of reopening,” said Dr Farnitano.
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