By edhat staff
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a statewide shelter in place order for all residents during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Nearly 40 million people are ordered to stay home until further notice unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave starting at midnight on Thursday. An end date was not given as this is expected to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The order states the following businesses are allowed to remain open: gas stations, pharmacies, food stores (grocery, foodbanks, convenience stores, take out, delivery), banks, laundry services. Essential state and local government functions will also remain open, including law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services.
The same closure guidelines are in place for dine-in restaurants, bars and nightclubs, entertainment venues, gyms and fitness studios, public events and gatherings, and convention centers.
Individuals working in “Critical Infrastructure Sectors” as defined by the federal government may continue work. This includes healthcare, energy, transportation, water and waste management, and more.
State law dictates that violations of the order are punishable of a fine up to $1,000, however, officials state they do not plan to direct police to enforce this.
“This is a moment we need to make tough decisions,” said Newsom. “This is a moment where we need some straight talk and we need to tell people the truth: We need to bend the curve in the state of California.”
Newsom also requested the immediate deployment of the USNS Mercy Hospital Ship to the Port of Los Angeles through September 1, 2020, to help decompress the state’s health care delivery system in Los Angeles.
California health officials predict 56% of the state’s population, approximately 25.5 million people, will be infected with COVID-19 within the next eight weeks, according to a letter Newsom sent to President Donald Trump on Thursday morning.
The governor’s announcement comes after Los Angeles and Bay Area counties issued “shelter-in-place” mandates to their residents.
As of Thursday evening, there are 9 cases of positive COVID-19 with at least 100 pending test results in Santa Barbara County. California currently has 1,040 confirmed cases with 19 deaths. These numbers are expected to grow as more testing results are released.
Santa Barbara County health officials previously stated they were planning to issue a shelter in place mandate for those over 75 years of age and those 70 years of age and over with underlying health issues.
There are currently 17 confirmed cases in Ventura County, 13 in San Luis Obispo, and 230 in Los Angeles County.
The full announcement can be viewed below:
Governor Gavin Newsom makes a major announcement on California’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. https://t.co/VlQM38OkYK
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) March 20, 2020
Does this mean I cannot go to a friends house, even with social distancing?
Going to your friends house is not essential. So no, stay at home and don’t risk infecting or getting infected.
Or behave as if everyone else is infected and keep your distance from them.
I guess I can send my missed work billing to the State to cover everything I miss.
Work continues for me, virus or not. No income, then I become homeless…. the State’s problem.
What’s he doing for the ever growing homeless population ?
Does he want them to “stay at home” too ???
Here’s a link for enduring a lock down: *** https://www.zerohedge.com/health/home-lockdown-survival-guide-staying-healthy-sane-solvent-during-covid-19-crisis *** Being Zerohedge, the comments will make sailors blush since there appears to be no moderator.
Painful but the right thing to do. If you need more convincing, look at this hospital beds analysis from Harvard Global Health Institute (enter “Santa Barbara” in the Hospital Region box because the graphs depend on where you live) …… https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/covid-hospitals
no walking, no hiking, no biking ?
This will not be easy, but we will get through this
Silver linings: no street sweeping for two weeks! Free money from the Feds April 6 and May 18 (I hope it includes me?). Now I can lie in bed all day and not feel guilty about it. Except, old man wants me to shop for him and I don’t want to get him sick…so that kinda sucks. Anyway, YEAH, LET’S SUE CHINA!
https://local12.com/news/coronavirus/americans-may-see-first-round-of-checks-from-us-government-by-april-6-03-18-2020
Best case if we flatten the curve is 60,000 deaths by mid July.
Looks like you’ve looked into your crystal ball Bobby. How the heck would you know and why induce more speculation and fear through a comment like that?
Here comes martial law! Oh the arrogance .
Not cool Bobbyk
Inappropriate to compare this to the Nazi era
Seems like nothing has changed since yesterday. Dozens of construction workers all over the East Beach area. How are they “essential?” The more we isolate, all of us, the quicker we will all have more stability in our lives. Thanks for doing your part.
did you just blame drug addiction on your mother having a job? What about your father?
You’re right, Sue. Nothing has changed on the Mesa. There are workers at EVERY construction site on La Coronilla and Harbor Hills. I counted 15 trucks at a new home construction site where La Coronilla and Harbor Hills meet. All of them in close contact. It is appalling!!! I guess there are two sets of rules.
Jence. Thank China.
Fond of SB. He will play robin hood and take from all of us for the sake of his beloved vagrants.
Sue, SB Local. Click on the “Critical Infrastructure Sector” on the link in the article. Many companies still in business today are included on this very large list. Mine, thank God, is one of them. Our Country and our economy would completely crumble in an instant if this was not the case and everyone simply stayed home. Stay safe, we can all get through this.
You’re fortunate, my income just went to zero.
Yeti, here’s what is really arrogant.
Hanging out with your pals creating additional nexus points for viral transmission without giving a crap that you are putting other people’s lives in danger and extending the overall timeline of this pandemic and further blowing up the economy.
I have no problem at all with house arrests for people that damage others in this fashion.
This is spreading misinformation and should be REMOVED!!! Private home construction is not a critical Infrastructure sector
Imagine refusing to turn off your lights when the Nazi’s were night-bombing London in WWII. There are going to be self-righteous dummies like that during this crises. If enough people act that foolishly, that’s when martial law will be needed.
To Alexblue
Construction work is absolutely essential. Why wouldn’t it be? We are supposed to ignore infrastructure issues? What danger are they posing to the general public?
Hello East Beach! You are right; it wasn’t so long ago that people had to hide and make do with what was on hand just to feed the kids and women. We, as a nation, are not so far removed from those times. This is no comparison to WW2; however, I think it be hooves us all to stay calm, be great full for what we do have and be giving to our neighbors.
Right on! Do we shut down the guys that are straddling the ladders just to get our windows’water tight’? No. Thank them.
You bring up a good point; however, I can not and do not blame my parents. This is not the proper venue for such a discussion.
FROM CHANNEL CITY LUMBER “To Our Valued Customers and Community Members,
We would like to update you regarding some business changes due to the COVID19 outbreak and the new shelter in place policy. Channel City Lumber has been listed as an Essential business and we are going to remain OPEN, but with limited hours. Until further notice, Channel City will be open from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm (M-F) and 8:00 am – 12 pm (Saturday). We are committed to remain open as long as our vendors can get supplies. We are receiving constant updates from our suppliers and have been put on notice that lead times and availability are subject to change pending any number of variables. Special orders have yet to be affected, but this can change at any moment, and then change again. Hang tight, we will do everything we can for you. Our staff is working hard to modify the way folks shop in order to reduce foot traffic and maintain the social distance. We have added a Will Call walk up window and suggest calling in your order (805-968-9645) OR email your list of items ( ccl@silcom.com ). As always we have 2 trucks running non-stop and deliveries are available upon request. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay safe!”
@ 8:20pm You can do whatever you want on private property. The government can’t tell people who they can invite to their home.
“no walking, no hiking, no biking ?” — outdoor exercise is allowed, as long as you are practicing social distancing.
Focusing on politics is an unnecessary and possibly deadly distraction. Our only focus should be doing everything possible to keep the transmission of this virus to as few people as possible. Staying at home and social distancing when we have to leave the house are the only things we can do. If we can’t do that, then unimaginable suffering and death will come to our town which will require martial law to contain just as is happening in Italy right now. I fear for New York City.