What Central Coast counties are saying about some Bay Area counties voluntarily enacting stay-at-home order

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) -- County officials in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties are reacting to news of multiple Bay Area counties opting in to the stay-at-home order before meeting the threshold to do so.

On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a regional approach to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The state split California into 5 regions, where if those regions fall below 15% ICU capacity, they'd have to be placed under strict stay-at-home orders.

Friday, however, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Alameda, Marin and Contra Costa Counties, along with the City of Berkeley, decided to opt-in to the stricter order due to the rate of spread of COVID-19 in their respective counties.

Monterey and Santa Cruz County are in the same "Bay Area Region" as the listed counties, but so far aren't following suit.

Santa Cruz County issued a statement on the matter Friday: “We are aware of the decisions of the Bay Area counties to implement the Governor’s Stay At Home Order immediately rather than wait for the State criteria to be met regarding ICU capacity," says Santa Cruz County Communications Manager, Jason Hoppin. "In collaboration with County leadership, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel is considering what additional measures may be necessary to protect the health and safety of local residents. At this time, we have not reached any conclusions but are considering all options.”

Meanwhile, Monterey County officials say county health officer Dr. Ed Moreno has not indicated he will follow along with the other Bay Area counties.

"Monterey County is monitoring both local and regional adult ICU bed capacity.  Dr Edward Moreno, Monterey County Health Officer is reviewing the State Stay at Home Order and conferring with local and neighboring partners to determine whether State restrictions should also be implemented early in Monterey County to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect our hospital capacity," the Monterey County Health Department said in a statement.

San Benito County, the closest neighbor to Santa Clara County, says they intend to follow Governor Newsom's guidelines. San Benito County is in the San Joaquin Valley Region of the state's regional system.

Currently no region in the state, of the five, is required to be under the stricter stay-at-home order.