California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday afternoon that the 13-county greater Sacramento region has been released from its month-long COVID-19 shutdown order, the result of new data that show hospitals likely will not be as crowded with COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks.
“We’re seeing stabilization in ICUs and positivity rates,” Newsom said in a social media post at 4:30 p.m. “Greater Sacramento is coming out of the regional stay-at-home and going back to purple tier effective today.
“We must continue to wear a mask and stay home as much as possible. There is a light at the end of this tunnel.”
The Sacramento region is the first of four California regions to be given the green light to reopen some businesses. Southern California, the Bay Area, and the San Joaquin Valley remain under the restrictive shut-down order as of Tuesday evening.
The announcement means the Sacramento region can allow restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining. Other businesses, including barbers, hair salons and nail salons would be allowed to reopen.
Also, stores can allow more customers in at one time.
NEW: We’re seeing stabilization in ICUs & positivity rates. Greater Sacramento is coming out of the Regional Stay-at-Home & going back to purple tier effective today.
We must continue to wear a mask & stay home as much as possible.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
pic.twitter.com/zHFxiZQqqW
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor)
January 13, 2021
Sacramento public health spokeswoman Brenda Bongiorno confirmed before the announcement that was “information shared that indicates the Greater Sacramento Region is exiting the state’s ‘Regional Stay at Home Order’ effective immediately.
“Sacramento County will still need to revise the local Public Health Order,” she said. “At that time, Sacramento County would revert back to the purple tier restrictions outlined in the ‘
Blueprint for a Safer Economy.’”
County officials said the new county order, reopening those businesses, will go into effect Wednesday, Jan. 13.