Protesters Remain Problem For OC Supes, Yellow Tier Numbers Hold

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —Hundreds of critics of the county's pandemic response showed up at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, the appropriate forum for debate and discussion, according to Orange County CEO Frank Kim.

Recently, anti-vaccination and anti-mask activists have also taken to holding protests at the homes of county officials.

Last year, the former Orange County Public Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned amid protests at her home. Last week, the activists showed up at the home of the current county public health officer, Dr. Clayton Chau, who is also the Orange County Health Care Agency director.
It appears the activists may be planning another protest in front of the home of newly elected Supervisor Katrina Foley.

Supervisor Don Wagner criticized the protests.

"Apparently, they didn't make any threats (to Chau)," Wagner said. "He is not worried for his own safety, but he's sort of upset for the neighbors. They are not helping themselves and their case. As I've said before, Dr. Chau is not the problem. The problem is the damned governor."

Read: Activists Protest Outside Of Orange County Top Doc's Home

Some of the critics of the pandemic-related restrictions have continually called on the supervisors to override the state's orders, which they legally cannot do. Some have called for Chau's firing and some have perpetuated multiple debunked conspiracy theories such as the pandemic was a hoax.

Orange County continues its stretch in the yellow tier of Gov. Gavin Newsom's Blueprint for a Safer Economy. With just 22 new coronavirus infections countywide, the cumulative case count now is just over 255,000 since the pandemic broke out last March.

Five residents have died due to coronavirus in May, with 40 deaths in April, 181 in March and 581 in February. January had the most significant death toll, with 1,545 residents dying of COVID-19 complications.

Hospitalizations declined from 76 on Monday to 72, with the number of intensive care unit patients dropping from 11 to nine.

According to the weekly state data released every Tuesday, the average for the county's daily case rate per 100,000 people dropped from 1.5 to 1.3. The overall test positivity rate improved from 0.9% to 0.8%, and the county's Health Equity Quartile rate, which measures positivity in hot spots in disadvantaged communities, declined from 0.9% to 0.7%.

Another 8,272 COVID-19 tests were reported Tuesday, bringing the county's total to 3,879,109.

Orange County, last Wednesday, officially entered the least-restrictive yellow tier of the reopening blueprint, which allows for greater attendance for many businesses such as movie theaters and gyms. At the same time, museums, zoos and aquariums can open at full capacity. For the first time, bars and distilleries can open indoors. Theme parks such as Disneyland can expand attendance.

On Monday, Orange County Probation Department officials announced that in-person visiting would resume at the Orange County Juvenile Hall, Youth Leadership Academy and Youth Guidance Center on May 31 for the first time since March 2020. Visitors must wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.