Contra Costa Delays Reopening Plan Amid Coronavirus Resurgence

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Health officials on Monday delayed the reopening of numerous businesses in Contra Costa County originally planned for Wednesday, citing increasing rates of coronavirus transmission here and across the state.

The move came one day after Gov. Gavin Newsom asked Contra Costa County to keep its bars and nightclubs closed amid signs that virus cases were rebounding locally.

Earlier this month, the county said it planned to allow indoor dining, gyms and fitness centers, indoor museums, hotels and other leisure venues to reopen July 1. Now, the county says they will remain closed until the county's outbreak stabilizes.

The spike in California's virus outbreak that began around Memorial Day continues to grow more severe. That includes Contra Costa County, where the seven-day average of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 has grown by 75 percent since June 15, health officials said Monday.

Likewise, the seven-day average of newly confirmed coronavirus cases has grown from 38 per day to 87 per day, while the percentage of tests coming back positive increased from 4 to 6 percent.

"This suggests the change is not simply due to more testing but a true increase in community spread," Contra Costa Health Services said in a news release.

More young people are also testing positive for the coronavirus in Contra Costa County. This month, 55 percent of people testing positive have been 40 or younger, compared with 38 percent in April — suggesting that young people are helping to spread the virus, the county said.

Contra Costa officials will resume the reopening plan when the county reports at least a week of stable case numbers, hospitalizations and percentage of positive tests, the health department said, pledging to track that data daily.

Officials again asked the public to avoid social gatherings, maintain social distancing and wear face coverings when out in public, since many of those who spread the virus have no symptoms.

There were 2,802 cases of the coronavirus and 74 deaths related to COVID-19 in Contra Costa County as of Sunday.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know