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State unveils new criteria and system for countywide reopenings

Original post made on Aug 29, 2020

A color-coded, four-level tier system will replace the state's COVID-19 watchlist in an effort to create a "more stringent, but more steady" process that determines when counties can move forward with indoor business operations.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, August 28, 2020, 6:32 PM

Comments (9)

Posted by Jeremy
a resident of Midtown
on Aug 29, 2020 at 4:39 pm

Jeremy is a registered user.

Live performing arts--music, theatre, and dance--are also unaddressed in any of the tiers.


Posted by Lloyd
a resident of another community
on Aug 29, 2020 at 5:03 pm

Lloyd is a registered user.

Hi Jeremy, thanks for catching that!

Lloyd


Posted by Maggie
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Aug 30, 2020 at 11:48 pm

Maggie is a registered user.

I don't see entertainment coming back at all this year. I'm hoping but I just don't see it happening.


Posted by bjdpc
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Aug 31, 2020 at 11:33 am

bjdpc is a registered user.

The article says:

tier one — the most restrictive level that's labeled "widespread" and colored purple — represents counties that report a seven-day average of eight or more cases a day per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of more than 8%.

According to the chart that is shown, tier one actually represents counties that report a seven-day average of SEVEN or more cases a day per 100,000 residents.


Posted by Facts and Figures
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 31, 2020 at 11:59 am

Facts and Figures is a registered user.

@Weekly, Please dig deeper and address the tougher questions.

Why do you not publish Palo Alto's daily rates? You can dig through the County data and figure them out. All the public sees are cumulative reports.

Why are our school and business openings tied to rates in San Jose, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill, cities whose cumulative case rate are 2.5-5x higher than Palo Alto's?

If that's the situation and we can't change it, what are we as a community doing to lower the rates in those cities? What is our City Council doing to step in?

Covid-19 is deadly, but our rates in Palo Alto are likely moderate, well within rates for most to open with precautions.

So, what can we do as citizens to bring down the rates in these other areas? What is our City Council doing? What is our school district doing? What is our County Health Office doing? Please ask.


Posted by AnnetteG
a resident of Midtown
on Aug 31, 2020 at 12:17 pm

AnnetteG is a registered user.

To respond to the comments about the arts! Palo Alto Players (the longest running local theatre on the Peninsula) is opening its 90th season with a fully livestreamed production of the sinfully funny, irreverent comedy An Act of God, running September 4 - 20 in the virtual universe.

Three local actors will perform all 11 shows live, from the safety of their living rooms (converted to mini production studios). You'll be up close and personal with God and Her two socially-distanced archangels, as She re-writes The Ten Commandments and answers questions from the audience about life's great mysteries. This Broadway hit originally starred Sean Hayes and is written by David Javerbaum, the multi Emmy Award-winning head writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and creator of Twitter’s massively followed @TheTweetOfGod.

Recognizing the ongoing pandemic and to keep theatre accessible to all during this time, we are offering streaming tickets to An Act of God on a ‘pay-what-you-choose’ scale from $15-$40. Streaming tickets ($15-$40) can be purchased online now or by calling Players' remote box at 650-329-0891 (Tuesday-Friday, 11am-4pm hours).

Please consider purchasing one ticket per person in your household. With every ticket purchase you directly support the actors, creative team, and staff for this production, and ensure that Palo Alto Players can remain a vital part of this community when you will be warmly welcomeed in person.


Posted by Gale Johnson
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 31, 2020 at 12:42 pm

Gale Johnson is a registered user.

@Facts and Figures
I think they've done a pretty good job of developing these new criteria. There is only so far they can go in making assessments...countywide is the one they've chosen. Oh sure, they probably could go down to the city level and that would give PA more relief, but let's accept what they are doing. They could go down to the swimming pool level and collect data on people who swim in my hypothetical private backyard pool. They should start at community/city and private club pools first.


Posted by Facts and Figures
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 1, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Facts and Figures is a registered user.

@Gale Johnson, They could.

But PAUSD has 12K students who are being remotely taught, which educators uniformly agree is far from equivalent to good person.

And, Palo Alto has struggling small business owners.

It's really quite horrific.


Posted by Facts and Figures
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 1, 2020 at 10:10 pm

Facts and Figures is a registered user.

@Gale Johnson,
I encourage you to look at this map published by the County. Web Link

The White and Light Blue areas (including Palo Alto) are well below the State thresholds to open. We must address the DARK BLUE AREAS if our public schools and city businesses are to open any time soon.

Please don't make fun of this problem. 12K students in PAUSD, not to mention the many more students in the other low Covid-19 incidence cities, are suffering.


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