Newsom to release county reopening guidelines this week

Napa and Santa Cruz counties fell off the list over the last 10 days, allowing them to reopen indoor operations for businesses like hair salons and gyms as well as places of worship.

However, the state has given little instruction to the eight counties that have fallen off the list in recent weeks about how quickly they can resume indoor operations for certain businesses.

Newsom said he discussed reopening guidelines over the weekend both with state and local public health officials and business leaders to ensure everyone is on the same page.

“None of this delays this fundamental fact: there has to be a 14-day period between the application, implementation of not only schools but reopening any sector of the economy,” Newsom said.

Falling off the monitoring list will also have consequences for schools, as counties that have been off the monitoring list for at least 14 days will be allowed to resume in-person classes.

“We look forward to advancing the opportunity for those districts that are determined on the basis of local conditions, what they believe is in the best interest for their kids and moving back to in-person learning,” Newsom said of counties not on the monitoring list. “They have that option.”

Counties on the monitoring list, however, must continue with fully online classes indefinitely. A total of 35 counties in the state have been on the watchlist for at least three consecutive days.

State public health officials have now confirmed 668,615 coronavirus cases and 12,152 deaths across California.

The state’s 14-day test positivity rate sits at 6.5 percent while the seven-day rate is down to 5.6 percent, Newsom said. The state continues to average over 100,000 tests per day.