California restaurants to reopen as virus rules ease

California has lifted regional stay-at-home orders statewide in response to improving coronavirus conditions. The change allows restaurants and churches to resume outdoor operations and hair and nail salons to reopen in many areas, though local officials could choose to impose stricter rules.

In the city of Laguna Beach in Orange County, anxious restaurant workers prepared to reopen for outdoor dining. "We've already called everyone back and told them 'ok, get ready to work.' Everyone's excited," said Catherine Rinehart, restaurant manager of Alessa Little Italy.

Nearby, general manager Lucy Delgadillo swept the entrance to 230 Forest Avenue restaurant. "You can actually see a light at the end of the tunnel," she said "So we're pretty grateful. Pretty grateful."

Public health officials said Monday that the state will return to a system of county-by-county restrictions intended to stem the spread of the virus. Local officials could choose to continue stricter rules. The state is also lifting a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

The decision comes with improving trends in the rate of infections, hospitalizations, intensive care unit capacity and vaccinations.

The lifting of the order is based on projections that the state says show improving ICU conditions. But officials have not disclosed the data behind the forecasts.

California has lifted regional stay-at-home orders statewide in response to improving coronavirus conditions. Public health officials said Monday that the state will return to a system of county-by-county restrictions intended to stem the spread of the virus. Local officials could choose to continue stricter rules.

The state is also lifting a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. The decision comes with improving trends in the rate of infections, hospitalizations, intensive care unit capacity and vaccinations.

The lifting of the order is based on projections that the state says show improving ICU conditions. But officials have not disclosed the data behind the forecasts.

Image credits: AP