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Regional Stay Home Order Impacts San Joaquin Residents
covid19

San Joaquin County is among the counties included in a new regional ‘Stay Home’ order that takes effect Sunday, Dec. 6.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that all sectors other than retail and essential operations will close in regions of the State where less than 15 percent of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are available under a new Regional Stay Home Order. As of Dec. 5, Regional ICU capacity has fallen below 15 percent available capacity, applying the Regional Stay Home Order to all counties in the San Joaquin Valley Region, effective Sunday, Dec. 6 at 11:59 pm. 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.

The Regional Stay Home Order will be in effect for at least three weeks and urges Californians to stay at home as much as possible to limit the mixing with other households that can lead to COVID-19 spread. It allows access to (and travel for) critical services and allows outdoor activities to preserve Californians’ physical and mental health. This limited closure will help stop the surge and prevent overwhelming regional ICU capacity.

 “We know that people are tired of the stringent measures, but they are the only weapons we have to combat the virus. Now, more than ever, we need San Joaquin Valley residents to step up and take these actions seriously – wash hands, wear a face covering, limit gatherings, get tested and socially distance,” said Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer.

“We are at a point where surging cases and hospitalizations are not letting up. These protective measures require all of us to take action and be diligent. I can’t emphasize this enough – everyone must take personal steps to protect themselves and protect others,” said Dr. Salvador Sandoval, Merced County’s Public Health Officer.

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/.

“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.