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Santa Barbara County could move into lower COVID-19 tier next week

Posted at 2:37 PM, Sep 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-22 17:39:52-04

Santa Barbara County could move into the next COVID-19 tier next week.

Dr. Van Do-Reynoso, with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, updated the Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning.

If COVID-19 metrics stay at or below where they currently are for another week, Do-Reynoso announced that Santa Barbara County could move into the red, less restrictive tier Sept. 29, which allows for more indoor operations.

If the county continues meeting those metrics for another two weeks, schools could re-open on Oct. 13.

As of Sept. 21, Santa Barbara County had 8,930 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 151 of those cases still active/infectious.

The county’s goal as of now is between 18-31 cases per day.

Do-Reynosa added that the county has seen a decreasing trend in many areas of the county, including in Santa Maria and Lompoc. However, a slight uptick is occurring in Goleta, Isla Vista, Santa Ynez and the unincorporated area of the northern part of the county.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are also decreasing.

Twenty waivers have currently been approved for schools in Santa Barbara County.

San Luis Obispo County moved into the red tier on Tuesday.