SANTA ANA (CNS)—Citing improving conditions in hospitals, state health officials Jan. 25 lifted all regional stay-at-home orders, including in the 11-county Southern California region, but counties will still be subject to tight regulations of the restrictive “purple” tier of economic reopening guidelines.
The regional stay-at-home order was imposed in Southern California last December when intensive care unit (ICU) capacity dropped below 15 percent. The regional capacity subsequently dropped to an adjusted 0 percent.
But state officials said Monday that with hospitalization numbers trending downward, four-week projections now indicate ICU capacity will rise above the 15 percent threshold.
“Californians heard the urgent message to stay home as much as possible and accepted that challenge to slow the surge and save lives,'‘ said Dr. Tomas Aragon, California Department of Public Health director and state public health officer. “Together, we changed our activities knowing our short-term sacrifices would lead to longer-term gains. COVID-19 is still here and still deadly, so our work is not over, but it’s important to recognize our collective actions saved lives and we are turning a critical corner.’’
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