COVID-19 State Policy Update 06.12.20

Today, Friday, June 12Governor Newsom did not provide a live update on the COVID-19 pandemic; however, today marks the first day gyms, fitness centers, zoos, museums, aquariums, bars, salons, film and TV production, professional sports without spectators, day camps, summer camps, and campgrounds may reopen only if the county in which the business is located has self-attested to their ability to meet the applied published guidelines. Some counties have pulled back on their reopening of some businesses, due to increases in positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations, other counties have only place restrictions on some types of businesses. Because each county decides the pace at which it will reopen the economy. The Governor has taken to social media to urge Californian’s to proceed with caution, enjoy the outdoors and reopened businesses but remember to wear a mask and respect social distancing to avoid contracting and spreading the deadly COVID-19 virus.

In budget news, Monday, June 15, marks the constitutional deadline for the Legislature to pass a balanced budget. The Senate and Assembly released a joint statement announcing the two bodies reached a budget agreement on June 3, 2020. The statement read in part, “The key budget goal is preserving programs serving those who are most vulnerable. Nevertheless, all the budget plans being discussed acknowledge the possibility that more difficult cuts will be necessary, due to COVID spending needs and weak revenues,” said Rendon. “This will be especially true if Washington, D.C. doesn’t step up. The Legislature is prepared to work closely with the Governor to achieve California’s goals. That’s how, over the past decade, we built the large budget reserve that now helps us face the fiscal crisis” (read morehere).  

On June 10, Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) issued a joint statement, which read in part, “We entered this process with Legislative budget priorities that are faithful to the pragmatic fiscal structure put forth by Governor Newsom in his May Revision. We shared the goal of closing the $54 billion budget gap and providing strong footing as California enters challenging economic times” (read more here). The Governor has until July 1, 2020 to sign the budget. Governor Newsom has stated he believes the federal government. Needs to step up and provide assistance to hard-hit states that have seen their budgets devastated by the high cost of the managing the COVID-19 outbreak and shut-down of the economy (read the Governor’s May revise here).

State Variance Guidelines

As noted in previous briefings the Governor outlined next steps in California’s reopening of the economy, including dining-in restaurants, as part of Phase 2 and working though the state’s Roadmap to Recovery (read more here). In anticipation of more counties moving forward for Phase 2 variances, the state has made available guidelines for businesses seeking variances from their local county public health department. Of particular interest are the guidelines for dine-in restaurants where business across the state is down an estimated 93% (read more about dine-in guidelines here). The following are links to the guidelines for other business sectors (read the guidelines for office workspaces here), malls, including enclosed, outdoor and strip malls to open for pick-up only (read the retail guidelines here). Find additional guidelines for other businesses here). 

Californians are urged to familiarize themselves with their county’s variances and requirements. Counties will report in real time their data related to testing, contact tracing, hospitalizations, and infection rates. The COVID-19 page will be updated regularly, so people are able to read about the current state of the stay-at-home order and Phase 2 progress for every county (read more about county guidelines here), including their self-certification and attestations.

Key milestones – COVID-19 numbers – as of today (6.12.20)

  • 4,943 deaths, up by 62 +1.3%
  • 141,983 positive cases +1.9% Officials are watching county trends, in light of protest activity and Phase 2 reopening and reports of increased positive cases from a number of counties, since entering further into Phase 2.
  • 2,662,258 tests conducted. Over 64,000 tests conducted since Wednesday.

    • Latinos continue to have the highest percentage of positive cases at 56.2%; Caucasians 18.3%; Asians 8.0%, and Blacks 4.8%.
  • Hospitalizations decreased by +45 to 3,222 down by 1.4%
  • The majority of hospitalizations are in LA County 1,397, followed by Orange County 325; San Diego County at 277; Riverside 238; San Bernardino 194; Kern 90; Alameda 86; Imperial 86; Fresno 67; Ventura 43; San Joaquin 42; Sacramento 39; Santa Clara 39; San Francisco 38.
  • ICU – 1,101- increased by +28 or down by 2.6%.

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