Orange County removed from state coronavirus watch list

Orange County on Sunday was removed from the state’s watch list of counties hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, punctuating weeks of improvement from a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in July.

Now, if Orange County can keep its rate of new cases, percentage of positive tests and other watch list metrics at acceptable levels for two weeks, K-12 students could physically go back to newly spaced-out classrooms after Labor Day weekend. The decision to reopen schools lies with each district.

But it’s not yet clear what else might shift back toward normalcy in Orange County — residents and businesses are still bound by the state’s July 13 health order that again closed places such as indoor malls, gyms and salons.

Officials from the state’s Department of Public Health have said that these businesses must remain closed, even if a county is dropped from the watch list, until the order is updated. Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted Wednesday that changes to the state order could be announced in the coming week.

On Friday, Dr. Clayton Chau, Orange County’s Health Care Agency director and acting health officer, said he would prefer to see a phased approach, staggering certain business sectors.

But Chau did not elaborate on what types of businesses might be picked, saying he would wait for new guidance from state health officials.

Neighboring Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties still are on the watch list with recent rates of more than 100 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents. San Diego County came off the list Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Orange County had been on the watch list since late June.