YUBA CITY – Today, a bi-partisan group of legislators, county officials and mayors sent a letter to the Governor asking him to allow six Northern California counties to come out of the statewide stay-at-home order, in accordance with their respective local and regional plans.  Signers of the letter requested the ability to initiate a thoughtful and science-based reopening of local economies, that is also consistent with state and national guidelines. In total 14 Mayors and 6 County Board of Supervisor Chairs made the request.

The letter notes that infection rates have remained low in these six counties (Yuba, Sutter, Butte, Glenn, Tehama, and Colusa), which have a combined population of more than 500,000 residents. As of Friday April 24th, 69 individuals had tested positive for COVID-19 in these six counties, 50 of those who tested positive are now fully recovered. There was only one confirmed COVID-19 patient in the ICU.

Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) said, “California is weathering this pandemic well. In the North State, we have even fewer infections than those in other regions of the state. We must re-open our economy so Californians can get back to work. Families need to put food on the table and pay their rent and mortgage. Put simply, Californians need to continue living their best lives.”

“We all appreciate the quick action taken to flatten the curve of this virus,” said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). “That effort has been successfully implemented, but it has not been without great cost to our people and our future ability to provide for the health and prosperity of our communities. It is time to begin a re-opening.  Our cases are low, our healthcare capabilities have been beefed up, and we are ready to get our economy moving again.”

A copy of the signed letter can be found here.