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Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Santa Barbara County Moves into Red Tier

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At the (Sept, 22) special Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. According to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, Santa Barbara County has met the State’s red tier case rate and positivity rate criteria for two consecutive weeks. As a result, the risk of COVID-19 spread in Santa Barbara County has been downgraded, effective immediately, from widespread to substantial, allowing movement from the purple tier to the red tier. Currently we have 3 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 13 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 170 active cases County-wide.
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Some additional businesses, which may reopen indoors in the red tier with modifications shown below include personal care services, indoor dining in restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, movie theatres, museums, zoos, aquariums, places of worship, and cultural ceremonies. Schools may also reopen for in-person learning beginning October 13, 2020 without a school waiver, if they choose to do so. However, schools will need to maintain rigorous testing, which we as a County are helping make available to teachers and critical workforce. Testing for the general public is available at the state-run community testing sites. Click here to make an appointment.

For a reminder of what each tier allows according to state guidelines, click here. All businesses in Santa Barbara County, which are open or will be reopening, must follow all State guidance for their industry and self-certify that they are ready to reopen through completing the online self-attestation.
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We have achieved this success together as a County through adherence to safe practices such as wearing face coverings, physical distancing, good hand hygiene, limiting gatherings, and avoiding crowds. I will reiterate my message: “let’s not blow it.” With holidays approaching, we are understandably tempted to abandon these practices and take our guards down. However, it is imperative that we find new and creative ways to celebrate safely.

Take care,

Das