Coronavirus updates: SLO County houses of worship reopen, gyms, bars might reopen this week
San Luis Obispo County has had 291 coronavirus cases since March as of Friday. The county no longer updates the number of new cases over the weekend.
This week, local gyms and bars may join restaurants, store and churches in reopening at a limited capacity. And county hotel restrictions have been lifted.
Here are your local COVID-19 updates for Monday:
SLO County churches reopen after coronavirus closures
San Luis Obispo County churches are allowed to open with restrictions after months of coronavirus-related closures, but most have remained closed until they can safely meet state guidelines.
Houses of worship shuttered their doors in March as the COVID-19 pandemic led to local and statewide shelter-at-home orders. They got the go-ahead to reopen May 26.
According to state guidelines, places of worship must limit attendance to 25% of their total capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees — whichever is fewer people. Physical distancing and limited contact with others are expected.
SLO County bars, gyms may be able to open this week
Bars, gyms and a wide range of other venues can begin reopening in California starting this week under new state guidance announced Friday.
Counties will decide how far to go under the state guidelines based on local conditions such as coronavirus infection rates and ability to track COVID-19 cases, state health and human services secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.
San Luis Obispo County public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said at a Friday news briefing that she anticipates the county will be able to move forward in the reopening plan because of its relatively low case count and a continually low number of new cases per day.
SLO County lifts orders restricting hotels, hospital bans
San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials on Friday lifted two executive orders related to hotel lodging and hospital visits, but it issued another order restricting visitation to skilled nursing facilities.
At a news briefing Friday, public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said that the county is lifting its executive order limiting lodging capacity to 50% occupancy, which went into effect May 17.
The county has also lifted a ban on hospital and residential facilities visits.
Santa Barbara County adds 28 new COVID-19 cases
Santa Barbara County had 28 new cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to the state Department of Public Health.
The county’s case total was 1,815.
As of Saturday, there were 30 confirmed COVID-19 patients being treated at local hospitals, of those, nine were in intensive care units.
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: SLO County houses of worship reopen, gyms, bars might reopen this week."
