City of West Sacramento

 New Yolo County Health Order

 Yolo County news release:

(Woodland, CA) – Due to rising increases in confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases over the past two weeks, Yolo County is likely to exceed the elevated disease transmission criteria on the State of California’s County Data Monitoring. To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and align with surrounding counties, Yolo County will pre-emptively close the same sectors that the State has required counties on the County Monitoring List (List) to close effective July 3, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. for a minimum of three weeks:    

On June 5, the State began using a series of metrics called County Data Monitoring to identify any emerging areas of concern related to COVID-19, which includes the criteria of increasing hospitalizations, limited hospital capacity, and elevated disease transmission. Counties that meet at least one of these criteria are placed on the State’s List. Counties are flagged for elevated disease transmission criteria if they meet one of the following two metrics: 

1. Case rate of more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period 
   OR
2. Case rate of more than 25 cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period AND a testing positivity rate of greater than 8% of test results over a 7-day period.

As of July 1, Yolo County has a case rate of 87 per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period and a test positivity rate of 7.1%.

The State mentioned in its press release on July 1 that “these sectors are all high risk of transmission due to a number of features of the businesses and the behaviors that occur within them. These sectors, foundationally, are settings where groups convene and may mix with others for prolonged periods of time often without a face covering. Additionally, physical movement within the establishment, duration of time spent in the establishment, and the degree of social mixing among individuals and groups outside one’s household are all significant in these sectors, which substantially elevates the risk of transmission even where face coverings can be worn. Furthermore, in some of these sectors centered on eating and drinking, compliance with face coverings is not possible for the full duration of time someone spends in these establishments.” 

A number of the recent, local cases have been attributed to social gatherings and a lack of social distancing. This increase in confirmed cases due to social gatherings and the lack of social distancing is happening throughout the region and in surrounding counties as well. Communities and residents are being asked to continue to social distance and wear a face covering, including around family members and friends from other households.

Face coverings are mandatory in the State of California and Yolo County and should be worn as directed in public situations and as detailed in various guidance for reopened activities. The Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and the California Department of Public Health have all stated that face coverings are an additional protective measure to help slow the spread of the virus, especially when social distancing is not possible.

“Unfortunately, the number of our positive COVID cases continues to increase.  We have to find a way to move those numbers down again,” said Yolo County Board Chair Gary Sandy. “We need everyone to take greater personal responsibility for safeguarding their own health and the health of their fellow community.  We all need to help.”

For additional information about counties on the State’s County Data Monitoring List, visit: http://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/. For additional information about Yolo County’s Roadmap to Recovery, visit: www.yolocounty.org/coronavirus-roadmap. Residents can also call Yolo 2-1-1 for resource information. For additional updates follow Yolo County on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/YoloCounty/ or Twitter at: http://twitter.com/YoloCountyCA.