ORANGE COUNTY remains in the “red” tier of coronavirus infection, and tourism is strongly affected. The Disneyland Resort could remain shuttered for months  (Flickr/Adam Smith).

Orange County remains in the “red” (substantial) tier for coronavirus pandemic infection, as announced today (Tuesday) by the California Department of Public Health.

To achieve the next less restrictive tier of “orange” (moderate), the county needs to have daily new cases of below 3.9 per 100,000 residents as well as between 2 and 4.9 percent positivity rate. Additionally, there is a health equity metric that measures whether improvements in fighting the COVID-19 infections is spread across all neighborhoods.

As of today, Orange County has a positivity rate of 3.2, which meets the requirements for orange, but falls short on case rate at 4.6. Additionally, the county does not meet the orange equity metric. The OC’s health equity target is between 2.2 and 5.2 percent, while the OC is at 5.6 percent.

The numbers are computed on a seven-day basis, with a seven-day lag. They are updated every Tuesday.

Bad news for Disneyland from Sacramento

Operators and fans of the Happiest Place on Earth are seeing red after the state health agency announced Tuesday that large amusement parks such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm may reopen only when their counties reach the “minimal” tier of coronavirus infection, color-coded as yellow.

“There is a path forward,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s secretary for health and human services. “We don’t when, but we know how,” reported the Los Angeles Times.

In a statement released today, Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort, said, “These state guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future, forcing thousands of people out of work, leading to the inevitable closure of small family-owned businesses and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community.

Disneyland’s woes have already had a major affect on Garden Grove, since upwards of 20 percent of its tax revenue comes from its hotel row, the occupancy of which is influenced heavily by the resort.

The minimal tier requites a case rate of less than one case per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of less than 2 percent over all and less that 2.2 percent in its health equity metric.