California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday laid out the broad strokes toward modification of California’s statewide stay-at-home orders, as a new metric emerged that looks beyond the number of hospitalizations and deaths resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The Governor indicated today there is not a precise timeline for modifying the stay-at-home orders, but that six critical indicators will serve as the framework for making that decision. A more detailed plan for restarting the state’s economic engine will be unveiled on Wednesday.

Gov. Newsom said, “While Californians have stepped up in a big way to flatten the curve and buy us time to prepare to fight the virus, at some point in the future we will need to modify our stay-at-home order. As we contemplate reopening parts of our state, we must be guided by science and data, and we must understand that things will look different than before.”

The goal is to align the plan to ensure the state can take care of the sick within its hospitals; prevent infection in people who are at high risk for severe disease; build the capacity to protect the health and well-being of the public; and reduce social, emotional and economic disruptions.

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order are:

• The ability to monitor and protect communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed
• The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19
• The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges
• The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand
• The ability for businesses, schools, and childcare facilities to support physical distancing
• The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary

Gov. Newsom noted that the progress in flattening the curve, increased preparedness of the health care delivery system, and the effects of other COVID-19 interventions have yielded positive results. However, these actions have also impacted the economy, poverty and overall health care in California. Any consideration of modifying the stay-at-home order must be done using a gradual, science-based and data-driven framework.