Most of California to enter sweeping new virus lockdown

Dec 07, 20200

Robyn Beck/afp – Tns - Tns count

A sign is seen outside a Covid-19 testing site in Los Angeles, California as the state followed Texas and became the second in the US to surpass one million coronavirus infections, November 12, 2020.

SAN FRANCISCO - The vast region of Southern California, much of the San Francisco Bay area and a large swath of the Central Valley are about to be placed under a sweeping new lockdown in an urgent attempt to slow the rapid rise of coronavirus cases.

The California Department of Public Health said Saturday the intensive care unit capacity in Southern California and Central Valley hospitals had fallen below a 15% threshold that triggers the new measures, which include strict closures for businesses and a ban on gathering with anyone outside of your own household. The new measures will take effect Sunday evening and remain in place for at least three weeks, meaning the lockdown will cover the Christmas holiday.

Much of the state is on the brink of the same restrictions. Some counties have opted to impose them even before the mandate kicks in, including five San Francisco Bay Area counties where the measures also take effect starting Sunday.

https://www.startribune.com/most-of-california-to-enter-sweeping-new-virus-lockdown/573306621/