Though “it’s not in effect today,” the local public health officer anticipates Del Norte and other Northern California counties to be subjected to a stay-at-home order to curtail the surge of COVID-19.

Triggered by an intensive-care unit capacity of less than 15 percent, a regional stay-at-home order would bring the community back to where it was in March, Del Norte County Public Health Officer Dr. Warren Rehwaldt said in a Zoom address Friday.

However, schools can remain open and some retailers will still be able to operate, though at diminished capacity.

“It hasn’t impacted us yet,” Rehwaldt said. “But it definitely could and possibly will.”

Rehwaldt’s video address to the county comes after the state public health officer, Erica S. Pan, announced Thursday that the California Department of Public Health would issue directives based on regions, including evaluating the number of ICU beds.

If a region’s ICU bed capacity is less than 15 percent, private gatherings will be prohibited, restaurants will have to go to take-out and delivery service only, indoor and outdoor playgrounds and recreational facilities would have to close and hair salons, barbershops and personal care services would have to cease operating, according to a CDPH news release. Places of worship will be required to hold outdoor services only and offices will have to operate remotely.

Critical infrastructure sectors may still be able to operate if working remotely isn’t possible, according to the county’s COVID-19 web page.

The stay-at-home order would also require everyone to wear a mask and to social distance. According to CDPH, remaining ICU capacity in Northern California was at 18.6 percent as of Thursday. If it dips below 15 percent, stricter safety measures will go into effect within 24 hours, according to a Facebook post from the Del Norte Economic Resiliency task force.

In Del Norte County, though a high volume of new cases has kept public health staff too busy to update the COVID-19 Information Hub, Rehwaldt estimated that about 90 new cases have been reported since Nov. 25.

There are currently 120 to 150 active COVID-19 cases and more than 400 total cases as of the beginning of the pandemic, Rehwaldt said Friday. He said the county has hired new staff and hope to have a “rough update” by the end of the day.

As of Friday morning, no one has been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, Rehwaldt told the Wild Rivers Outpost.

Locally, Sutter Coast Hospital normally has four ICU beds and can quickly expand that to six beds and nine if necessary, Rehwaldt said. The hospital can also produce between 18-20 ICU beds if they expand into other areas, he said.

Documents:

• CDPH Stay At Home Order

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