County Official Report 47 More COVID-19 Deaths

County health officials announced 47 more Coronavirus deaths on Wednesday as the death toll climbed to 1,659 and the total cases moved to 34,428 after 1,264 new cases were reported.

One month ago, the death toll was at 363, meaning roughly 1,300 people have died from COVID-19 in the county since mid-April.

The new numbers were announced as the county issued a new, open-ended public health order today allowing all retail businesses to reopen for curbside merchandise pickup only, except those located inside indoor shopping malls.

Also authorized to reopen were manufacturers that supply goods to lower-risk businesses, along with recreational facilities such as tennis and pickle ball courts, shooting and archery ranges, equestrian centers, model airplane centers, community gardens and bike parks.

The county also authorized individual cities to temporarily close some streets to automobile traffic to provide additional space for residents to engage in outdoor recreation.

The loosened restrictions were included in a new “Safer At Home” public health order, replacing one that was set to expire Friday.

The new order which continues to urge people to stay home as much as possible, engage in social distancing and wear face coverings when interacting in public — has no expiration date, an indication such mandates will be in place for months to come.

The county’s “Safer At Home” order has never barred people from leaving their homes, but it continues to mandate closures of dine-in restaurants, museums and gyms, while also banning large gatherings.

On Tuesday, county public health director Barbara Ferrer created a stir when she told the county Board of Supervisors that some form of public health restrictions will likely be in place at least another three months due to the continuing threat of the coronavirus.

The remark, made during a debate over a proposed moratorium on evictions, quickly made headlines and prompted groans from residents growing weary of business closures, stay-at-home orders and shuttered restaurants and
bars.

But Ferrer — who has been candid for weeks about the likelihood that mandates including wearing face coverings and social distancing will remain in effect for months as the “new normal” — issued a statement later Tuesday to clarify her remarks. She did so again Wednesday, saying that while personal protective measures will remain in effect, other restrictions in the order will be loosened in the coming weeks.

“We continue to call our health officer order `Safer At Home’ to emphasize that all of us are still more protected when we remain home as much as possible,” she said.

She followed through on the promise that some restrictions will be relaxed, announcing that the revised order allows “all retailers” in the county to reopen for door-side or curbide pickups or deliveries.

Stores that are located inside indoor shopping malls still must remain closed.