Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
We Explain L.A.
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:

KPCC Logo

Live Stream Schedule In Person

Keep up with LAist

Our top stories delivered weeknights
Donate

Share This
News

Ventura County Lifts More Restrictions On Businesses And Gatherings

By Julia Paskin
Published Apr 19, 2020 2:20 PM
5e9cbf89f4671c00088b3bfa-eight.jpg
People wait in line at Godspeaker Calvary Chapel sanctuary on Palm Sunday, Despite state and local public health ordering churches, being deemed non-essential, to close, the Newbury Park church opened its doors for a Communion service. (APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)
LAist relies on your reader support, not paywalls.
Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today during our fall member drive.

Ventura County is beginning to lift some restrictions of its stay-at-home orders.

Parks have reopened and golf courses will now too. Small gatherings of no more than five people will be permitted, as will non-essential businesses that do not interact with the public.

And that’s only if they operate with fewer than 10 employees and observe physical distancing.

Ventura County CEO Mike Powers told NBC4 the easing of restrictions will be gradual:

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
"But it's a reflection of the work that they’re doing and their commitment. And that if we keep going in this direction and we all lean in together, we’re going to get through ... this"

Ventura County officials are still advising anyone over 70 or with preexisting medical conditions to continue sheltering at home. And the modifications also came at the same time county officials extended orders to May 15 that had initially scheduled to expire last night.

The county of about 846,000 residents has reported 416 confirmed COVID-19 and 13 deaths as of Saturday. Roughly 200 county residents are currently in quarantine. Ventura County officials say they intend to increase testing capacity, and that if coronavirus infections increase again, these restrictions will go back into place.

Here's a look at how Ventura County compares to the rest of the state, courtesy of the JSK Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University and the Big Local News group, in partnership with the Google News Initiative.

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.