MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) – Evolving state processes and guidelines for addressing the COVID-19 threat prompted Yuba-Sutter Bi-County Health Officer Dr. Phuong Luu to set aside a previous local health order and replace it with one that aligns with the state. Dr. Luu said the change is necessary to ensure residents have a clear understanding of what they need to do to progress further into less-restrictive tiers.

 “My previous May 4 Health Order was written to reflect guidelines and terminology used at that time by state public health officials, but they have greatly revamped their approach since then,” Dr. Luu said. “I want our residents to see a very clear path to reopening, so my new order aligns us with state requirements.”

Although the main Health Order is now revoked by Dr. Luu’s newest order, a Health Emergency ratified by the Board of Supervisors on March 10 – issued as COVID-19 was beginning to spread through California – remains in place. That emergency declaration is necessary to gain access to important state and federal resources to support local response to the virus.

A separate May 4 Health Order requiring residents to wear facial coverings when in public is still in effect.

Both Yuba and Sutter counties will qualify to enter the state’s Red Tier – Yuba County this week and Sutter County the following week. Dr. Luu and other county officials caution that the easing of restrictions makes daily precautions to guard against COVID-19 more important than ever.

“These past several weeks we have seen most of our residents step up and take extra precautions to protect themselves and others against the virus, and those precautions become even more important as we move through the various colored tiers,” Dr. Luu said. “We can’t lose sight of the fact that we are still seeing new COVID-19 cases every day and people are still being admitted to our local hospital.”

The new Yuba-Sutter Health Order still focuses on the basic tenets needed to protect residents from COVID-19 but points to California’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” as the guide for how businesses and organizations can reopen.

“As we move through the reopening stages over the coming weeks, we have a team dedicated to helping businesses, churches, and other non-profit organizations navigate the various state tier colors,” said Yuba County CAO Kevin Mallen. “The YES Team in Yuba County, like its counterpart the SCORE Team in Sutter County, can connect all of these with the resources they need until that time when we can fully reopen.”

Dr. Luu said the pace at which the two counties move from tier to tier depends largely on how well residents continue to practice the tenets of hand hygiene, social distancing, staying home when sick and wearing a facial covering.

“It’s still a highly-contagious disease, and cases can go up just as quickly as they came down if we do not take this seriously,” Dr. Luu said.