California Lifts Stay-At-Home Order As ICU Capacity Improves

California has lifted regional stay-at-home orders across the state on Monday, January 25.

The California Department of Public Health found that the four-week ICU projections for areas still under regional stay-at-home orders had improved.

The rate of infections, hospitalizations, and the recent availability of the vaccine also played a factor in health officials lifting the order, reports ABC7.

The Southern California, San Joaquin Valley, and Bay Area regions were the last areas that the orders applied to.

The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions have the lowest ICU capacities, projecting a 1.3% and 0.0% availability respectively, reports CNN.

"California is slowly starting to emerge from the most dangerous surge of this pandemic yet, which is the light at the end of the tunnel we've been hoping for," said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.

Counties will now return to the state's color-coded tier-based system to dictate the level of restrictions on businesses and individuals.

Most counties are expected to return to the purple tier, which is still the most restrictive level.

The purple tier allows outdoor dining and church services, and hair and nail salons are able to reopen under strict safety protocol. Bars that do not serve food are required to stay closed.

Governor Gavin Newsom first announced the state-mandated stay-at-home orders in November.

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