County enters order to stay home
Santa Cruz County spokesman says no ICU beds are available
SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz County will enter a regional stay-at-home order with the rest of the Bay Area region as a result of regional ICU bed availability dropping to 12.9% capacity. The order will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Locally, ICU bed availability is bottoming out, Santa Cruz County communications manager Jason Hoppin confirmed to the Sentinel. “The beds are full,” Hoppin said. “There is zero capacity.”
The order will remain in place for at least three weeks. If at that time ICU bed availability in the Bay Area region is more than 15%, Santa Cruz County could be reassessed to enter into a lessrestrictive reopening tier.
If three weeks from Dec. 17, ICU beds remain less than 15%, the region will be reassessed atlarge weekly.
There are 16 ICU beds at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, and six at Watsonville Community Hospital. Staffing also remains an issue amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We urge people to do everything they can to slow the spread of COVID-19 by redoubling efforts around safe behaviors. In preparation for the influx of COVID-19 cases, Dominican Hospital has identified additional beds that can be
converted for ICU use,” Dominican Hospital President Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz said in a statement.
According to Mickiewicz, the hospital has a total of 222 beds, 16 of which are ICU beds. As part of the hospital’s surge plan, Mickiewicz said, Dominican
could increase the number of negative pressure rooms — that prevents air from circulating from room to room.
Local businesses will be able to operate under current COVID-19 restrictions through Thursday.
As part of the regional stay-at-home order, travel for purposes other than essential trips will be prohibited. Residents are encouraged to exercise outside,
near home.
Hair salons and other beauty businesses such as waxing and tattoo parlors must close all operations starting Friday.
Schools that have already opened for in-person instruction will be allowed to continue classes under the order. Medical and dental offices along with child care services and pre-K schools may also remain open. Parks and play
grounds will remain open in the county.
Restaurants, breweries, wineries and eateries will only be allowed to offer to-go orders and delivery service. Grocery stores will continue to stay open, but limit capacity to 35%, according to a Santa Cruz County press release. Retailers will also be allowed to stay open at 20% capacity. Gyms will be allowed to continue offering out
door services, with precautions.
“We urge all residents to adhere to state guidelines as closely as possible to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and help reduce impacts to our most vulnerable residents,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said in a statement. “Our actions now will help us return to our normal lives sooner rather than later.”