County Recommends 'Safe Social Gatherings' To Stay In Orange Tier

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — With Contra Costa County residents now allowed to attend gatherings of up to 25 people from a maximum of three households, county public health officials urged residents Thursday to use caution with gatherings because of the potential for a surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks.

As Contra Costa County public health officials work to amend the county's public health order to allow the gatherings, which became permitted Tuesday when the county moved to the less-restrictive Orange Tier of the state of California's Blueprint for a Safer Economy, they warn that a spike in cases could put the county right back into a more restrictive tier.

"Gatherings where people from multiple households are together for a prolonged period of time, especially indoors, and settings where people remove their masks to eat and drink, pose a high risk for spreading COVID-19," said County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano.

However, the safest option, Farnitano said, is to connect with loved ones virtually through Zoom or other online platforms.

County health officials recommend these tips for safe social gatherings:

• Outdoors is safer than indoors: During the colder months, gathering outside will be more challenging. Dr. Farnitano suggests that people plan to dress warmly or purchase outdoor space heaters so events can be held outside comfortably.
• Try not to mix with too many other households: Participating in gatherings with different households or groups increases your risk of coming into contact with someone who has COVID. Keep it short: Gatherings should be two hours or less. The longer the duration, the risk of transmission increases.
• Wear face coverings: This is especially important when coming into contact with people from another household – even if they’re family relatives. People at gatherings may remove their face coverings briefly to eat or drink as long as they stay at least 6 feet away from everyone outside their own household, and put their face covering back on as soon as they are done with the activity.
• Don’t attend a gathering if you feel sick

"Since there is no vaccine or cure for COVID, people need to continue to practice physical distancing, washing their hands regularly and wearing face coverings when around people they don’t live with," Farnitano said.

With the county's move to the Orange Tier, worship services and other cultural activities indoors are permitted at 50 percent occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer; indoor dining is allowed at 50 percent occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer; indoor swimming pools are allowed to open; bars and other businesses that sell alcohol without meals are allowed to open for outdoor operation; family entertainment centers are allowed to open indoors for “naturally distanced” activities, such as bowling alleys, escape rooms and climbing-wall gyms, at 25 percent occupancy; and cardrooms are allowed to open indoors at 25 percent occupancy.