News – Page 2 – Ventura County ACS/ARES Communications

VC ARES Member Aids Sheriff in Finding Missing Hiker

(credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

A 45-year-old hiker who was reported missing after he texted a friend that he was lost in Angeles National Forest has been found. VC ARES member and satellite mapping enthusiast Ben Kuo-AI6YR, working from a cell phone photograph, helped authorities pinpoint the hiker’s location. View this interesting Twitter thread in which Ben explains how he was able to geolocate the hiker using only the general area and the grainy photograph on the left. Ben’s efforts resulted in nationwide attention from the New York Times to Good Morning America.

Screen shot of Ben-AI6YR being interviewed by Channel 7, KABC TV, Los Angeles.

State Aims to Fully Reopen on June 15

On June 15, California will fully open its economy if two criteria are met:

If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who wish to be inoculated; and
If hospitalization rates are stable and low

Ventura County Moves to Orange Tier

Ventura County moved to the State’s Orange Tier effective Wednesday, April 7 at 12:01 am. The California Department of Public Health announced that the County has met the State’s metrics to move forward.

“This progress, thanks to the hard work of our community members, means that our restaurants, retailers, gyms and other businesses can open to more customers which will help keep doors open, grow jobs in industries that were hit hard during the height of the pandemic and get us moving forward on the recovery path,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers. “This is the time to keep it local in supporting our businesses.”

Ventura County Moves to Red Tier

Ventura County moved to the State’s Red Tier beginning 12:01 am Wednesday, March 17, 2021. “This is great news for our community and an opportunity to work together to support our local businesses as we move forward in reopening our economy,” said County Executive Officer, Michael Powers. In alignment with the state’s reopening framework, masking, distancing, and infection control practices remain in place.

Stay Home Order Issued for Ventura County

The State of California’s Stay Home Order will go into effect on Sunday, December 6 at 11:59 pm in Ventura County and in all counties in Southern California, after the Southern California Region’s hospital ICU capacity dropped below 15%. The order closes many businesses and activities and urges people to stay at home whenever possible. The California Department of Public Health reported on Friday evening that Southern California’s ICU capacity dropped to 13.1%, triggering the Stay Home Order. The order requires bars, wineries, nail salons, hair salons and barbershops, and other personal care services to close. Private gatherings of any size are prohibited. Restaurants can stay open for takeout and delivery, but they have to shut down both indoor and outdoor dining.

Ventura County Moves Back to Purple Tier

Due to increasing case rates, Ventura County will move back to the more restrictive COVID-19 Tier 1 Purple. “Community members have taken action. Our average number of tests per day per 100,000 population was in the 200s and has increased to 400 this past week. This hard work from the community allowed for the State to provide the County with an adjustment factor downward. However, because our case rate was at 12 the week ending November 7th, even with the large adjustment factor, we were not able to get under the required metric of 7 or less,” said Mike Powers, County Executive Officer. “Testing is still very important for future case rate adjustments, but also for the Public Health team’s timely and effective contact investigation and tracing efforts. We are encouraging all community members to get tested. Testing is available 7 days a week at sites throughout our County.”

Business Closures Return as Covid-19 Cases Increase

As the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered a number of previously reopened business to close again.

All counties are required to close indoor operations of restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, card rooms and all bars.

Ventura County is one of 30 counties also ordered to close additional businesses including indoor fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, hair salons, barbershops and indoor malls.

New Closures in Ventura County

Following new State guidance, Ventura County will close indoor operations for certain sectors which promote the mixing of populations beyond households and make adherence to physical distancing with face coverings difficult. The following sectors may only operate outdoor operations with appropriate modifications, including physical distancing and face coverings: Dine-in Restaurants, Family Entertainment Centers, Zoos and Museums. In addition, all brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, wineries and tasting rooms must close indoor and outdoor operations. Movie theaters and cardrooms are not allowed to operate at this time. The closures will last for at least three weeks. Read the latest updates on Ventura County orders.

Beaches Closed 4th of July Weekend

Ventura County beaches have been ordered closed for the 4th of July weekend due to an increased threat from COVID-19. Also traditional fireworks shows in the county have been cancelled. Click here for the complete story in the Ventura County Star.

Stay Well VC Order Extended as More Businesses Reopen

The latest revision of the Ventura County health order extends quarantines and social distancing until June 14, 2020. However, the gradual reopening of the county continues as part of State’s Roadmap to reopening. Read the latest order.

Special restrictions on people 70 and over have been lifted. The state has also cleared the way for the reopening of indoor shopping malls, provided they follow safe opening requirements such a limiting store capacity to less than 50%.

The County moved forward with Stage 2 of the reopening on May 8, 2020 and has amended its order several times since then. “Our community has worked so hard to social distance and to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our County. As we move further into Stage 2, we must do so with caution. We must continue to practice social distancing and businesses must make modifications needed to lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure. This will help keep our numbers low so we can continue to move forward,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin.