El Dorado County lifts orders but California stay-at-home orders still in place

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One layer of stay-at-home orders has been lifted for El Dorado County as its Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams, has lifted her stay-at-home directive effective April 30, the original date it was to be lifted when set on March 19.

This doesn't mean that South Lake Tahoe and the county are open for business though as the State's order is still in effect.

"We are requesting from the Governor that we [South Lake Tahoe] can move towards reopening in a phased approach with attention paid to his six guidelines," said South Lake Tahoe Mayor Jason Collin.

"A phased approach is still being worked on," added Collin. "It's exciting to be talking about it, a good next step."

Collin and other area counties and health facilities are in communication on how everything can reopen safely once Governor Newsom lifts his orders.

"We will be very deliberate and thoughtful in how we do it and use data, not move too fast," Collin added.

With the State's order still in place, there is still no non-essential travel allowed to South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, or California. Fines for use of vacation home rentals and non-essential travel are still in place. At this time the USFS fines for use of their sites in Lake Tahoe is set to go through Friday.

“The County Order restricting nonessential travel to the unincorporated portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin remains in effect, as does the County’s emergency ordinance allowing administrative fines for visitors to short-term rentals," said Dr. Williams.

Collin said that six bay area counties are extending their stay-at-home orders through May as they work on reopening plans.

"We still have concerns in Tahoe with the number of visitors that could come here once orders lifted," said Collin. "It is one of the whole area's concerns."

Too many at once could create problems for the health care system if the floodgates for visitors and Collin said the City will consider the phased approach of opening businesses first that wouldn't be attracting tourists.

"We want to keep everyone safe and not go one step forward, two steps back," said Collin.

“I later augmented it {he stay-at-home order} with a subsequent order and the Board of Supervisors approved an emergency ordinance restricting nonessential travel to the El Dorado County portion of the Lake Tahoe basin. This additional restriction was due to concerns that the healthcare system in the South Lake Tahoe area could become overloaded as had occurred in similar resort communities in the Western U.S. Like those resort communities, South Lake Tahoe draws many tourists but has limited medical resources and other essential goods and services," said Dr. Williams.

“I am extremely pleased with how cooperative the vast majority of El Dorado County residents, businesses and California residents, in general, have been in complying with state and local health orders and directives. This cooperation has resulted in very positive results, with only 43 confirmed and five active cases in the County as of April 27, 2020," added Dr. Williams. The stay-at-home order was very effective in reducing the import of virus into and spread within our community,
thus protecting our residents."

"I will remain vigilant and am prepared to reinstate County-level restrictions if necessary to protect our health care systems and our residents," said Williams if concerns arise with her order partially lifted.

Last week City of South Lake Tahoe, City of Placerville, and El Dorado County officials had sent Dr. Williams a letter, asking for support in a well-communicated plan on how non-essential may businesses may reopen in a safe manner that prevents the spread of COVID-19.

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order are:

1) The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed;
2) The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19;
3) The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges;
4) The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand;
5) The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and
6) The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

In their letter, the three entities outlined their current success at most levels, and through their Business Protection Working Group with collaboration with local chambers, will work with businesses to open safely with physical distancing, use of masks, and hand sanitizer.

The County does not widespread test but the letter states that they are confident with the County's ability to track positive cases.