California Capitol closes building to public for weekend, ends tours during coronavirus
Amid a coronavirus outbreak that’s put California in a state of emergency, the Capitol building in Sacramento will be closed to the public for the weekend and public tours will end.
The Senate and Assembly Joint Rules Committee did not specify in an internal memo sent to all legislators and staff on Friday why the building will be closed to the public, but notes that staff are still allowed to enter the Capitol.
“This is to notify you that the Capitol Building will be closed this weekend, except for staff presenting badges,” the memo reads. “If you plan to come into the Capitol Building on Saturday and/or Sunday, please have your ID badge.”
The Capitol State Parks also said it was temporarily suspending guided tours in the Capitol.
“While we are not directly affected by COVID-19, we are monitoring the situation carefully and are committed to being responsive and following California Governor’s updated policy on social gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” a Friday announcement reads.
Democratic leaders in the building said this week that there are no known positive coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases among staff. Legislative hearings and floor sessions have also not yet been canceled.
Office staff were told during a meeting for chiefs of staff on Thursday that members should postpone district events.
Friday’s internal memo arrived a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom urged Californians to postpone or cancel large public events. Newsom at a press conference Thursday said he was working with legislative leaders on a plan for the Capitol building.
Katie Talbot, spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, said on Thursday that leaders in the Capitol would inform lawmakers and staff if someone contracts the new coronavirus.
But so far, “we are not aware of anyone in the Assembly or its staff that have tested positive for COVID-19,” she added.
Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron urged Newsom and Rendon on Thursday to close the building to the public and postpone all committee hearings until March 31. Waldron asked for staff to be able to work remotely and ensure staff are paid should the Capitol have to close and workers do not have remote capabilities.
Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said her house was also considering the best way to accommodate individual situations and that her staff was busy evaluating the current risk.
Atkins said on Thursday that “remote legislating is not an option at this time” but acknowledged the situation remains “very fluid” and requested members not to “spread rumors.”
“We will be taking the next few days to do a hard evaluation of how to proceed within the new public health parameters,” she said.
The novel coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, includes mild to severe symptoms generally marked by a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older individuals and those with health conditions like heart and lung disease and diabetes are at higher risk of contracting the illness.
As of 8 a.m. on Friday, the California Department of Public Health had recorded 247 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and five deaths in the state. Another 11,400 people are self-monitoring for symptoms.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 5:53 PM.