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Regional Stay Home Order Issued For San Joaquin Valley
covid19

The California Department of Public Health has officially announced a Regional Stay Home Order for the San Joaquin Valley Region, which includes Stanislaus County. The new Regional Order is a protective measure to limit the spread of COVID-19 and support the most vulnerable community members and hospital frontline workers. As of Dec. 5, Regional ICU capacity has fallen below 15 percent available capacity. The order takes effect Sunday, Dec. 6 at 11.59 pm. It will remain in effect for at least three weeks and, after that period, will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15 percent. This will be assessed on a weekly basis after the initial three-week period.

“We recognize that these closures or restrictions are adding frustrations to our community; however, our rising cases of COVID-19 places our healthcare system at a critical level,” said Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, Stanislaus County Public Health Officer. “We need to ensure that they continue to have capacity to serve our families and community. It is very important for each one of us to do our part in preventing the spread by wearing a face covering, keeping six feet of distance, and staying home as much as possible, especially when sick.”

“Our mountain communities rely on the region for ICU-level care for COVID and other serious medical conditions, transferring our sickest to hospitals in the San Joaquin Valley. These hospitals are stretched to capacity. It is crucial that each one of us does our part to decrease the transmission of COVID. Our collective actions will make a difference,” added Dr. Eric Sergienko, Mariposa County Health Officer and Acting Health Officer for Tuolumne County.

Due to the activation of the Regional Stay Home Order, the following sectors have to close operations:

• Indoor and outdoor playgrounds, indoor recreational facilities, museums, zoos, and aquariums, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, cardrooms and satellite wagering, live audience sports, amusement parks.

• Hair salons and barbershops, personal care services.

• Wineries, Bars, breweries, and distilleries.

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100 percent masking and physical distancing:

• Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

• Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20 percent capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

• Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20 percent capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

• Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

• Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery.

• Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

• Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

• Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

For more information on the Regional Stay Home Order, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/.

Stanislaus County Public Health encourages members of the community to assess their risk of contracting the disease and the risk of the members of their households while participating in activities, especially during this holiday season. People over 60 and those with underlying medical conditions are the most vulnerable to serious outcomes, including death. Now is the time for all residents to adhere to strict guidance so that the healthcare system remains there for all community members should they need it.

Stanislaus County Public Health continues to work closely with its partners in the Emergency Operations Center to address the COVID-19 pandemic through guidance provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, and other partners. For more information on the cases in Stanislaus County, visit www.Stancounty.com/coronavirus.