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Ventura County Public Health Officials Worried About Hike In COVID-19 Cases; Some Reopenings At Risk

Ventura County Public Health officials are saying the county is facing a critical period in efforts to control COVID-19.  A recent uptick in the number of daily new cases diagnosed is pushing the county back towards the state’s most restrictive reopening tier.

638 cases were reported last week.  That compares with 390 cases the week of October 30th, and 423 the week of October 23rd.

If the numbers continue to go up, it could push the county from the state’s red monitoring tier backwards to purple.  That could mean things like restaurants again losing their ability to offer indoor service.  It could be devastating, because with colder weather many people might pass on outdoor dining.

Ventura County Public Health officials say it’s critical people maintain their guard, and continue to follow safety steps like social distancing, the wearing of masks, and avoiding large group gatherings.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.