LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Public Health officer is continuing to urge people to stay home and practice precautions as COVID-19 cases rise across the state.
By Thursday night, cases statewide had topped 11,000, with nearly 250 deaths, according to numbers Lake County News compiled from health departments across the state.
With state health experts predicting COVID-19 cases are due to peak later this month, earlier this week several counties around the Bay Area extended their shelter in place orders to May 3.
On Thursday, Napa became the latest county to take that action. Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio reported during a Thursday afternoon webcast that she had also extended that order until May 3.
Lake County’s shelter in place order, which went into effect on March 19, is due to expire on April 10.
However, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told Lake County News on Thursday that he wasn’t yet prepared to extend the local order.
“There are a few clarifications that will need to be made, so likely something will come out next week,” he said.
Separately, Pace issued a Thursday update that touched on testing numbers and emphasized the need to continue to stay at home.
“We continue to perform testing as allowed by available supplies,” Pace said.
At that point, more than 150 tests had been conducted, with more than over 120 results back, and all of those negative, he said.
However, with California’s cases rising rapidly, Pace said it remains critical that everyone commit to these primary strategies to limit entry and spread of the virus:
– Stay home: leave only to conduct essential business, and maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing while out.
– Do not gather or mix with people outside of your immediate household – there are reported cases of COVID-19 spread and even death resulting from gatherings of extended family and/or friends.
– Wash your hands frequently, and regularly disinfect common surfaces.
Pace also urged people not to meet with friends or do nonessential activities, as the virus can be spread for a few days before symptoms appear.
“People who knowingly ignore the rules are jeopardizing the safety of their friends and neighbors by choosing to satisfy their own desires over the well-being of the community,” he said.
“We have been fortunate to not yet see the infections that are beginning to surge in neighboring counties. Taking precautions now has the potential to dramatically change the outcome of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please take every precaution you can to help slow the spread of this virus,” Pace said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Public Health officer urges community to continue taking precautions against COVID-19
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On