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<\/a><\/p>\nLike every aspect of California\u2019s response, data and science are the North Star, and as a result, this new framework makes a number of changes to the state\u2019s previous resilience roadmap.<\/p>\n
Californians can go to\u00a0covid19.ca.gov<\/a>\u00a0to find out where their county falls and what activities are allowable in each county.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Blueprint is statewide, stringent and slow,\u201d said Governor Newsom. \u201cWe have made notable progress over recent weeks, but the disease is still too widespread across the state. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and we all need to adapt. We need to live differently. And we need to minimize exposure for our health, for our families and for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blueprint builds on lessons learned from the first six months of the disease \u2013 and the new scientific understanding that has been collected \u2013 to create a new system for regulating movement and COVID-19 transmissions. It includes:<\/p>\n Based on recent data, each county will fall into one of four colored tiers \u2013 Purple (Widespread), Red (Substantial), Orange (Moderate) and Yellow (Minimal) \u2013 based on how prevalent COVID-19 is in each county and the extent of community spread. That color will indicate how sectors can operate.<\/p>\n For example, in the Purple (Widespread) tier where the disease is widespread, restaurants can only operate outdoors. But once a county has achieved a lower level of disease transmission and moved into the Red (Substantial) tier, restaurants can operate with 25 percent capacity indoors or 100 patrons, whichever is fewer.<\/p>\n It relies on two leading health metrics: number of cases per 100,000 residents and percentage of COVID-19 tests that come back positive. In addition, counties will also be required to show they are targeting resources and making the greatest efforts to prevent and fight COVID in communities and with individuals with the highest risk, and demonstrate improvements in outcomes.<\/p>\n Counties must remain in every tier but purple for a minimum of 21 days before being eligible to move into the next tier. Each Tuesday, California will update each county\u2019s data for the previous week and make corresponding changes to tiers. In order to move into a less restrictive tier, a county must meet that tier\u2019s criteria for two straight weeks.<\/p>\n Conversely, counties that fail to meet the metrics for their current tier for two consecutive weeks must move to the next most restrictive tier. The plan also includes an \u201cemergency brake\u201d where the state can intervene more immediately for concerning factors like hospitalizations.<\/p>\n Purple (Widespread) is substituted for the previous County Data Monitoring List (which has equivalent criteria to Purple). Schools in the (Purple) Widespread tier aren\u2019t permitted to reopen for in-person instruction, unless they receive a waiver from their local health department for TK-6 grades. Schools can reopen for in-person instruction once their county has been in the Red (Substantial) tier for at least two weeks.<\/p>\n The plan also emphasizes that no matter what restrictions the state puts in place, COVID-19 will get the upper hand if Californians don\u2019t adapt their behaviors for the duration of the pandemic.<\/p>\n That means, until an effective vaccine is distributed, Californians must wear a mask every time they\u2019re with people outside their household. Residents must take activities outside and maintain distance even with loved ones who do not live with them. Californians must realize that the safest place to be is still at home. And the elderly and those with medical conditions should still stay away from others as much as possible.<\/p>\n The Governor today also announced\u00a0new<\/a>\u00a0PSAs<\/a>\u00a0highlighting the dangers of social gatherings during the pandemic and partnerships with Yelp, Facebook, Google and OpenTable, which will now encourage businesses to share COVID-19 safety precautions through new features so that customers can make informed decisions to protect their health and safety.<\/p>\n\n