El Dorado County’s shelter in place order an ‘unprecedented step’ to slow coronavirus
Shortly before Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state to shelter in place Thursday, El Dorado County’s chief health officer issued a directive telling residents to remain at home for about month to slow the coronavirus spread.
As of Thursday, the county had no confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. El Dorado County Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams, however, felt it’s necessary for residents to stay home as much as possible and only go out for “essential activities.”
“I have taken this unprecedented step to stem the tide of the virus among our population to protect our most vulnerable residents,” Williams said in a news release. “Quite simply, how successful we are in protecting the health of the most number of people in El Dorado County will depend on our residents abiding by this directive.”
People at risk of COVID-19 or those who are already sick are ordered to stay home and only leave when it’s necessary to seek medical care.
“You may still go to the grocery store and get food, restaurants will still provide take out meals,” Placerville police officials said in a news release. “Do not call 9-1-1 if you see people walking outside. It is permitted to be outside, just limit your exposure. Common sense needs to prevail.”
Police officials also asked residents to not forget to check on friends and family and keep in contact with those who live alone. They assured residents that officers will continue to respond to emergency calls and provide extra patrols.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered that all Californians need to stay at home and avoid nonessential social contact to slow the coronavirus spread. He said he hopes not to have to enforce the order, so he was encouraging Californians to influence each other to do the right thing.
The essential activities in the El Dorado directive include:
- Tasks essential for health and safety of yourself, family member or household member, such as obtaining medication, seeing a doctor or getting supplies to work from home. Pets or livestock is included.
- To get food or home cleaning supplies, or to deliver food or cleaning supplies to others.
- To engage in outdoor activity such as walking, hiking or running, as long as social distancing requirements of six-feet apart, washing hands, covering coughs or sneezes with a sleeve or elbow and cleaning frequently touched surfaces are maintained.
- To work for an essential business providing essential products or services, which include public works, housing construction, maintaining utilities, airport services and public transportation.
- To care for a family member or pet in another home.
- To travel to care for the elderly, minors, or persons with disabilities.
All law enforcement, first responders, emergency management and court personnel are exempt from this directive. Grocery stores, convenience stores, food banks, farm or produce stands and any other food or household products retail businesses are considered essential. Food cultivation, such as farming, livestock, nurseries and fishing businesses also are considered essential.
The directive applies to the county’s unincorporated areas, Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. The directive will remain in effect through April 16.
Also, all businesses and county government agencies are directed to cease all non-essential operations, and all non-essential gatherings are prohibited, according to the directive posted online. The directive was issued based on the growing numnber of COVID-19 cases in surrounding counties and throughout California.
The El Dorado County Office of Education announced Wednesday it will extend the closure of all its public schools through the district’s upcoming spring break, which ends April 10 for some districts, and April 17 for others. Williams and and the districts urged families to prepare for closures to last longer, a day after Newsom predicted schools may stay closed through summer break.
The county’s Public Health Division has said it expects to begin seeing positive cases in the coming days and weeks, which may require a continued response.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 7:45 PM with the headline "El Dorado County’s shelter in place order an ‘unprecedented step’ to slow coronavirus."
