With the minimal three-week Stay At Home Order expiring on Friday, New Year’s Day, Nevada County, along with the Greater Sacramento Region, is hoping there will be no extension. But even though the region’s overall ICU capacity for coronavirus patients has been near or above the 15-percent threshold most of the time, county Public Information Officer Taylor Wolfe says that’s not the criteria. She says it’s based on a state capacity projection for the following four weeks. And while reducing gatherings is still the main concern in reducing hospital stays, she says local businesses appear to be doing their part…

A decision for this region is expected in early January, according to Governor Newsom. Wolfe says a non-extension of the Order would still place most counties back in the most-infectious Purple Tier. But that would still allow some improved services…

But an even greater case surge in January, due to uncontrolled holiday season gatherings, may keep things status quo.