‘Today is a test.’ As Sacramento coronavirus cases climb, mayor wants bars closed
Following the lead of Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sacramento County health officials on Tuesday called on all restaurants in the county to shutter their dining service, asked all gyms to close and called on people age 65 and older to essentially hunker down at home.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg, speaking to The Sacramento Bee, made a point of calling on bars and brew pubs to follow the governor’s guidance to stay closed despite temptations to open for St. Patrick’s Day.
The new restrictions were issued in the form of a firm request. Officials said however they have the authority to make their guidance a requirement.
County officials say the number of people in Sacramento who have tested positive for the virus is 40, up from 33 on Sunday. There have been two deaths, an elderly woman in a nursing home and a Sacramento city schools substitute teacher in her 70s.
County health official Dr. Peter Beilenson said there likely are more people in the county with the virus than 40, but due to lack of widespread testing, the true number is unknown.
The new directive from county health officials adheres to the governor’s list of restrictions posted Monday night, and comes as much of the Sacramento region already is in the process of shutting down business, travel and social activity in an effort to avoid the type of mass infection and deaths seen first in China earlier this year, then in Italy and other countries in recent weeks.
Steinberg said it is important for bars to remain closed in the interest of public health during a critical juncture in the state and country’s fight to restrict the spread of the virus. The City Council this afternoon will discuss potential financial help for local businesses harmed during the next few key weeks or months.
“Today is a test,” the mayor said. “I presume everyone is going to comply with the directions.” But, he acknowledged, “it is not a legal requirement at this point. It is not a police enforcement issue. It is a strongest of strong requests.”
Health officials say about 80 percent of people who get the virus will have no or only mild symptoms, but the virus is proving lethal to older people and to people with chronic respiratory and other illnesses.
Dozens of major restaurants have already closed. The legislature called an early recess Monday night. And transit and airlines say they have been cutting service drastically due to lack of passengers and the desire to reduce spread of the virus.
Sacramento’s stepped up “shelter-in-place” guidelines follow similar guidelines issued by Governor Gavin Newsom Monday night.
The guidelines ask anyone over 65 to stay at home until further guidance is issued. Notably, though, the county guidance” exempts individuals who work in essential services, such as hospital and health care workers, pharmacists, peace officers, firefighters, staff at skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly, and other essential workers.”
The goal, officials said, is to reduce the spread of the virus and limit the potential impacts to healthcare providers.
Gyms, movie theaters, bars should close
Newsom on Monday urged all movie theaters and gyms across California to shut down temporarily, and for restaurants to close except for takeout service. That order built upon and escalated the governor’s directive a day earlier, when he said all bars and nightclubs statewide should close and that restaurants should limit their occupancy, and that Californians over age 65 should voluntarily self-isolate at home.
Several Bay Area counties earlier Monday announced a lawful order to shelter in place for millions of residents, requiring that everyone stay home except for essential reasons. Sacramento’s restrictions are less severe.
Many employers however are already ordering employees to work from home. Transit and airlines have begun cutting service in Sacramento. A number of major restaurants have already voluntarily shut their doors.
The Sacramento City Council will hold a session this afternoon to discuss steps to protect workers from evictions and to provide loans to businesses to keep them from failing during the shutdowns.
Successive restrictions have gotten tighter almost by the day, since last week, when state and federal officials begin asking people not assemble.
Last week, Newsom asked for cancellation of events that would draw 1,000 or more. The next day, he amended that to 250. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amended suggested 50 persons, and on Monday, President Trump called for no groupings of more than 10 people.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 10:47 AM.