SD County reports 96 new coronavirus cases

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County has reported another 96 cases of

COVID-19 and no additional deaths, bringing the county's total to 6,797 cases

and 249 deaths as statewide stay-at-home orders begin to loosen.

The total number of cases requiring hospitalization is 1,244 and cases

requiring intensive care are 370, the County Health and Human Services

Agency reported. Of the 3,700 tests reported to the county Sunday, 96 were

positive new cases.

The 14-day rolling-average percentage of new positive cases among

county residents is 3.2%.

In the meantime, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued guidance Monday to churches

and other houses of worship in California on how they can safely reopen amid

the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the guidelines, places of worship must limit attendance to 25%

of building capacity or 100 attendees, whichever is lower. This limitation will

be in effect for the first 21 days of each county public health department's

approval of religious services within their jurisdictions, after which the

California Department of Public Health will review the limits.

They must also arrange for social distancing of at least 6 feet

between people, establish and implement a COVID-19 prevention plan for every

location, train staff and regularly evaluate workplaces for compliance.

Churches and other houses of worship were ordered closed to the public

on March 19. Since then many have adjusted by holding virtual services,

while a few have recently resumed in-person services in violation of the order.

Newsom said the state has been ``working with the faith community to

advance the efforts to begin to put out guidelines, processes and procedures to

(protect the) health and safety of congregants and parishioners.''

The entire statement can be found at

https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship.pdf.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released ``interim

guidance'' Friday for houses of worship, while continuing to warn that

``gatherings present a risk for increasing the spread of COVID-19 during this

public health emergency.''

The CDC guidance includes standard recommendations such as frequent

hand-washing, encouraging face coverings for staff and congregants, frequent

cleaning of surfaces and promotion of social distancing through physical set-up

and limited attendance.

More than 1,200 pastors and clergy from across California sent the

governor a letter last week saying they plan to resume in-person services May

31, regardless of state restrictions.

Some churches and faith leaders have also sued the state, seeking to

compel the reopening of houses of worship, and the U.S. Department of Justice

recently sent a letter to the state warning that restrictions on such

facilities could be a violation of federal law.

In San Diego County, some 1.3 million Roman Catholics are being

invited to attend in-person Masses as early June 8, church officials said this

weekend.

Parishes may adopt different logistics, such as indoors, outdoors or a

hybrid.

``After a great deal of discussion, we concluded that the first

weekend for the public celebration of the Eucharist in our parishes should be

the feast of Corpus Christi, June 14,'' Bishop Robert McElroy said in a letter

posted Saturday on Facebook. ``This seems a beautifully symbolic and joyful

feast in which to bring together anew our Eucharistic communities.''

But McElroy said a weekday opening has been suggested.

``Thus, if a pastor wishes to initiate daily Mass from Monday, June 8,

that will be permitted,'' he wrote in the two-page letter.

Parishioners are not required to attend in-person Masses. McElroy said

he has removed the obligation ``for the foreseeable future,'' so people can

opt to worship online. ``All of us must urge sick or especially vulnerable

members of our communities to refrain from coming to Mass, and we must continue

the wonderful online Masses that so many of you have been providing for your

people in these days,'' he said.

In his letter, Bishop McElroy said he spoke at length Friday with Dr.

Wilma Wooten, San Diego County's public health director, ``and received support

for our plan to reopen our parishes in a manner that will vigorously safeguard

public health.''

I the meantime, Barona Resort and Casino also announced their re-

opening plan, which welcomes patrons back to the casino on Wednesday.

Other tribal casinos began re-opening their doors this past week,

despite disapproval from county officials. Tribal casinos are on federally

regulated land, outside the county's jurisdiction. Barona Resort and Casino is

the eighth tribal casino to restart operation in San Diego County.

Barona's first phase of re-opening will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Table games will be limited to a maximum of three players per table and every

other slot machine will be turned off to further encourage space between

players.

Patrons and staff will be screened for high temperatures and symptoms

of the novel coronavirus before entry, a casino report said. All will be

required to wear masks and practice social distancing.

``Our first concern is always the health and wellness of Barona's

Tribal elders and Tribal community along with all of our staff, our players and

surrounding community,'' Chairman Edwin ''Thorpe'' Romero of the Barona Band of

Mission Indians, said.

One of the casino's restaurants will run at half capacity and its

hotel will maintain a 35% capacity, casino officials said. The buffet will

remain closed as will the casino's bussing service and wedding chapel.

The California Department of Public Health today also announced the

statewide reopening of in-store retail shopping, a major step in California's

emergence from shutdown orders issued in March to slow the spread of the

coronavirus.

The retail guidance for in-person shopping that is already in place

for certain counties, including San Diego County, now applies statewide,

officials said.

Retail does not include personal services such as hair salons, nail

salons and barbershops.