The SS Red Oak Victory will no longer hold its grand reopening on Independence Day after county health officials decided Tuesday that a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations warranted a delay in the easing of shelter-in-place restrictions.
Before Tuesday, Contra Costa Health Services had planned to reopen indoor dining, nail salons, fitness centers and other businesses and also museums on July 1, part of a gradual reopening timeline that aims to prevent outbreaks that could overwhelm hospitals. The county has since paused the timeline after it said the seven-day average number of COVID-19 patients in county hospitals increased by 75 percent in the last two weeks.
The SS Red Oak Victory crew said on Facebook they worked very hard to get ready for the ship’s reopening to visitors. As the current delay in the COVID-19 reopening is indefinite, the crew doesn’t know if it will affect its Pancake Breakfast scheduled for Aug. 9.
“What we do know is that without visitors, we still need funds to keep the ship docked in Richmond,” the crew stated.
Folks are encouraged to donate to the SS Red Oak Victory’s Fund the Ship for a Day program by clicking here.
“We don’t know how long it [will] be before we can open but we hope it is just a few weeks,” the crew stated. “We miss all of you and we look forward to seeing you on board again soon!”