Almost No Coronavirus Cases In OC's Hardest Hit Zip Codes: Report

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Broad efforts to reach the masses in the hardest-hit communities are paying off this week as new coronavirus cases reach record lows, Orange County's Chief Executive Officer Frank Kim says.

This is good news, especially when it comes to the latest mask-wearing designations released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control.

That day, the CDC says that mask-wearing for most vaccinated people is no longer necessary in most cases. The specifics of "ditching" the mask remain to be seen, according to Kim. In Orange County, residents have lined up at the microphone at most Board of Supervisors meetings to decry the idea of having to prove vaccination in any way, shape or form.

Still, the idea of not having to wear masks in all situations markedly good news according to many Orange County residents who have long argued over the wearing of masks.

As county officials await statewide guidance, expected later this month or at least by June 15, officials remain bound by the rules set in place by Cal OSHA, Kim says.

"Cal OSHA still indicates you must still wear a mask in places of work," Kim says.

Supervisor Lisa Bartlett also spoke out on the differences between state ordinances and what the federal government's CDC agency has reported.

"The state can put something that's more restrictive in place, Bartlett said Thursday. Based on Gov. Gavin Newsom's comments on the topic of late the state is expected to continue to require face coverings for "large-scale events and activities," Bartlett said.

In the meantime, Orange County saw 35 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, and three more deaths, bringing the cumulative totals to 254,457 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 5,025 deaths related to the disease. Thus far, no coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Orange County in May.

Hospitalizations continue to drop along with ICU rates.

According to data released Tuesday, the weekly average for the county's daily case rate per 100,000 people improved from 2.4 last Tuesday to 1.8 this week.

The overall test positivity rate improved from 1.3% to 1%, and the county's Health Equity Quartile rate, which measures positivity in hot spots in disadvantaged communities, declined from 1.4% to 1.2%.

The state releases its weekly figures every Tuesday.

Graduating to the yellow tier allows for greater attendance for many businesses such as movie theaters and gyms. "Museums, zoos and aquariums can open up at 100%," Bartlett said. "And for the first time bars and distilleries can open indoors."

So close we can almost touch it, the county and area businesses are preparing to reach Yellow Tier designations by May 19, barring any changes in statistics.

City News Service contributed to this report.