LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County residents on Tuesday evening were told to prepare for the issuance of a shelter in place order within the next 24 to 36 hours due to the threat of COVID-19.
Officials said Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace is preparing to issue the order.
The news of the potential order, issued just after 5:30 p.m., came within half an hour of the county of Sonoma ordering its residents to shelter in place beginning at 12 a.m. Wednesday, March 18. That health order in Sonoma County – where there are confirmed cases – will be in place for three weeks, until April 7.
Dr. Pace confirmed to Lake County News on Tuesday evening that no COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Lake County so far.
However, he had told the Board of Supervisors during a Tuesday morning update that about two dozen county residents have been tested for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
Sheriff Brian Martin said in a Tuesday evening message on social media that neighboring counties are doing shelter in place orders, which appears to be one of the most effective ways of spreading COVId-19’s spread.
Martin said plans for the shelter in place order for Lake County came about as the result of some observations that were made in the community, specifically, residents from Bay Area counties – where sheltering in place has been ordered – are coming to Lake
“It doesn’t make sense that we don’t respond in kind as well,” he said.
That issue also was raised during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, when Supervisor Rob Brown pointed out that, “When the Bay Area shuts down, the people come to Lake County.”
Brown added, “That’s the concern I have.”
Martin told the board that he was seeing that in his own neighborhood, where Bay Area residents with vacation homes in Lake County are showing up. “This is already happening.”
In his Tuesday evening message, Martin said he wanted to let residents know what a shelter in place order will look like, and that local leaders are working together to tailor it for Lake County.
What it isn’t, said Martin, is locking people in their homes.
He said it is enforceable. “It does carry the weight of law with it.”
However, there will be a list of exceptions.
The list of activities that will be allowed under the order include attending medical and veterinary appointments; traveling to essential businesses such as grocery and hardware stores, pharmacies and restaurants for pickup/delivery; compliance with court orders such as child exchange; conducting business with banks; gas stations for fuel; outside activities with immediate family while adhering to social distancing; picking up school lunches; and private patrol operators working for planned communities such as Hidden Valley Lake.
He said it also won’t stop people from going outside to exercise.
Martin said it also won’t apply to the homeless, who are encouraged to find shelter. “Obviously, you can’t shelter in place if you don’t have a home.”
He said it isn’t applicable on tribal lands and won’t apply to essential workers such as those in government, health care, firefighters, police officers and deputy sheriffs, and banks.
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Lake County residents told to expect shelter in place order for COVID-19
- Elizabeth Larson
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