District 5 Updates – Stay-At-Home Order

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District 5 Updates – Stay-At-Home Order

One of my top priorities is making sure you are informed.  I may not always like or agree with the information I am sharing; however, I think it is critical that you have the information you need and have it timely. The topic of COVID-19 Compliance is complex.  It comes down to money.  When our County is compliant with State mandates, our state funding remains in place.  These funds provide for social services, mental health, etc. As we manage the ever-changing compliance requirements, please understand that you and your family are my top priorities, and from my perspective you are all essential.

Governor Newsom has changed things again.  We are no longer managing Covid-19 county by county.  All the counties have now been grouped into regions with Merced County, now part of the San Joaquin Valley Region.

Regions map

When a region falls below 15% total ICU Capacity, Stay-at-Home Orders go into effect. As of December 6th, our region had less than 7% of total ICU capacity available.  This means the Governor has issued the San Joaquin Valley Region a “Regional Stay-at- Home Order.” Due to this activation, the following sectors closed operations as of December 6th at 11:59pm:

  • Indoor and outdoor playgrounds
  • Indoor recreational facilities
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Personal care services
  • Museums, zoos, and aquariums
  • Movie theaters
  • Wineries
  • Bars, breweries, and distilleries
  • Family entertainment centers
  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering
  • Limited services
  • Live audience sports
  • Amusement parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% 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% 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% 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.

The following sectors are allowed to remain open when a remote option is not possible with appropriate infectious disease preventative measures including 100% masking and physical distancing:

  • Critical infrastructure
  • Schools (Schools that are currently open are able to continue to provide in-person
  • Instruction on school sites.)
  • Non-urgent medical and dental care
  • Childcare and pre-K

For more information on the Regional Stay-at-Home Order on the State’s website at www.COVID-19.ca.gov. If I can be of service, or you need assistance, please call me at (209) 385-7366, or send me an email at Scott.Silveira@CountyofMerced.com.

Scott