LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Friday afternoon, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin proclaimed the existence of a local emergency due to existing conditions that could introduce COVID-19 into Lake County.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace proclaimed a local health emergency regarding COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on March 10 and the Lake County Board of Supervisors ratified that proclamation that same day, as Lake County News has reported.
On March 4, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency, on Wednesday the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and on Friday, hours ahead of Sheriff Martin’s action, President Donald Trump announced a national emergency.
There are no known cases of COVID-19 in Lake County as of the signing of Sheriff Martin’s declaration, according to Undersheriff Chris Macedo.
There are, however, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the other counties around the region, including Humboldt and Sonoma, Macedo said.
The prevalence of confirmed cases in surrounding counties combined with the worldwide-uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 indicate there is an imminent and proximate threat to public health from the introduction of COVID-19 in Lake County, Macedo said.
Macedo said Sheriff Martin’s emergency declaration enables the county of Lake to more effectively respond to an imminent outbreak, seek and utilize mutual aid, and potentially obtain reimbursement.
Sheriff Martin will be asking the Lake County Board of Supervisors to ratify this proclamation at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 17.
Lake County’s sheriff declares local emergency in response to COVID-19
- Lake County News reports
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