Bay Area ICU Levels Trigger Regional Stay Home Order, effective Thursday at 11:59pm

The Bay Area region is now under the State’s Regional Stay Home Order, effective Thursday, December 17 at 11:59pm. The region’s ICU bed availability fell below the State’s threshold of 15 percent, to just 12.9 percent according to the State COVID website as of mid-day Wednesday. Santa Clara County adopted many provisions of the State’s order earlier this month.

Under the State’s Regional Stay Home Order, the following sectors are allowed to remain open with safety precautions:

  • Critical infrastructure (when remote option is not possible)
  • Schools
  • Non-urgent medical and dental care
  • Child care and pre-K

Under the Regional Stay Home order, retail and indoor shopping may continue at 20 percent capacity, and restaurants may open for takeout or delivery only. Offices allow remote work only, except where remote work is not possible. Personal care services, hair salons and barber shops, bars and wineries and other sectors are closed. Facilities allowed to remain open require 100 percent masking and physical distancing.

The State’s order permits hotels and lodging to remain open for COVID-related mitigation, containment and treatment; to accommodate essential workers or provide housing solutions including homeless assistance measures. Outdoor recreation is permitted to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness.

This story is developing.