Orange County is well on the way to meeting guidelines to prepare for the gradual reopening of businesses, schools and public facilities once the threat of the coronavirus begins to wane, county health officials said.

Hospital capacity is adequate, testing is being ramped up, special provisions are underway for nursing homes and an existing program to trace the contacts of people with infectious diseases is ready to go, Orange County Health Care Agency Assistant Director Lilly Simmering and County Public Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick told county supervisors Tuesday, April 28.

But some things beyond the county’s control, such as continued shortages of certain medical supplies and pending federal approval of a test for COVID-19 antibodies, could slow the county’s efforts. COVID-19 is the contagious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

In a Tuesday news conference, Gov. Gavin Newsom described what’s expected in each of four stages, the last of which entails ending the statewide stay-at-home order, but he didn’t give specific dates or a timeline to each phase.