City of West Sacramento

Yolo County News Release

On November 4, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released COVID-19 metrics for the week ending October 24 in which Yolo County’s numbers increased to meet the more restrictive purple, or widespread, tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Social gatherings remain the predominant source of COVID-19 cases in Yolo County and for schools, businesses and other industries to stay open, everyone needs to exercise personal responsibility and avoid large gatherings.

To be officially moved from red into the purple tier, a county must meet those metrics for two consecutive weeks. If Yolo County's numbers don't improve next week, the County could move into the purple tier as early as November 10. For the week ending October 24, Yolo County’s adjusted case rate rose to 7.2 which exceeds the red tier metric and falls under the more restrictive purple tier metric. If a county’s case rate and positivity rate fall into different tiers, the county moves to the stricter tier.

“Yolo County is not alone in experiencing a rising COVID-19 case rate and testing positivity—numbers are increasing regionally and statewide,” said Yolo County Public Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. “As cases rise, it becomes all the more important for residents to take actions to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. Wear a face covering, stay at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with, minimize gathering, move activities outdoors whenever possible, and wash your hands.”

If on November 10 for the second consecutive week Yolo County meets the purple tier’s metrics, the State will review the most recent 10 days of data for the County, and if CDPH determines there are objective signs of improvement, Yolo County may remain in the red tier. If the County’s most recent 10 days data does not show signs of improvement, the County will move backward to the widespread, or purple tier. Any schools that have been allowed to reopen for in-person or hybrid learning while in the red tier or with an approved waiver are not required to close if the County moves back to the purple tier; however, schools that have not yet opened will need to get a waiver to reopen under the purple tier or wait until the County moves back into the red tier for 14 consecutive days.

A return to the purple tier would force many local businesses to close indoor business operations or reduce capacity including: retail; shopping centers; museums, zoos and aquariums; places of worship; movie theaters; gyms and fitness centers; and restaurants. To see how each business will be impacted, visit the CDPH ‘Activity and Business Tier’ document.

Yolo County Public Health strongly advises residents to follow these practices:

· Limit all gatherings to three households, for two hours or less and outdoors only, with a maximum of 16 people

· Stay home if you have symptoms of illness or are high-risk

· Wear a face covering

· Maintain at least six feet of physical distance from those not in your household

· Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer regularly

“Due to the recent uptick in new COVID-19 cases Yolo County now appears likely to be moved from the red tier into the more restrictive purple category,” said Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors Gary Sandy. “The likelihood that businesses and a variety of other activities could be curtailed as a result of increasing cases should be sufficient to remind everyone to avoid large gatherings and practice the common COVID-19 health protocols of masks, physical distancing and frequent hand washing. We must all cooperate and take personal responsibility for diminishing the spread of this virus.”

Yolo County was initially placed in the State’s purple tier on August 31 but moved into the red tier on September 29. The State’s Blueprint tracks three metrics: the seven-day daily case rate, the seven-day testing positivity rate and the health equity positivity rate. Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions should continue to stay at home as much as possible. By practicing healthy habits in accordance with the local and state health orders, everyone can help the County remain in the current tier.