Pace said the updated order will extend through May 3.
The order, which went into effect on March 19, had an original end date of April 10.
However, Pace said Monday that, with Lake County now having two confirmed cases of COVID-19, there are clear indications regional activity of the virus continues to escalate.
As of Monday morning, Pace said the California Department of Public Health had confirmed 15,158 total positive cases in California, and 350 deaths.
“Effects in cities and rural areas, alike, around the country have been truly sobering, and it has never been more important that we remain vigilant to protect those close to us, and those most vulnerable in our communities,” Pace said.
At the recommendation of Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, the Lake County Office of Education acted on Friday, April 3, to extend its distance-based instruction “through the end of the school year, unless the situation improves and warrants a safe return to the classroom.”
Pace said he’s been in regular contact with Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg and others, and strongly believes this move reflects the actual conditions brought by the COVID-19 epidemic.
As a result, Pace said he issued an addendum to his school operations order and to the shelter in place order and its two addenda.
Through May 3, 2020, all individuals currently living within Lake County – including the incorporated cities of Clearlake and Lakeport – are ordered to shelter at their place of residence, unless leaving for essential activities, essential government functions, to work for essential businesses or to perform minimum basic operations for non-essential businesses. Each of these terms is defined as indicated in his Addendum 3 to Public Health Order No. C20-3.
“Individuals experiencing homelessness remain exempt, but are strongly urged to find shelter, and I am grateful for the work of Pastor Shannon and the Warming Center to expand their services, and provide shelter for many at this critical time,” said Pace.
Anyone ignoring the shelter in place order is breaking the law and is subject to a misdemeanor citation and fine.
Precautions must be taken, especially for those leaving their residence to perform essential activities. Any individual leaving their place of residence, for any purpose allowed by the order, must strictly comply with the order’s social distancing and hygiene requirements, Pace said.
“Essentially all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household or living unit are prohibited,” he said.
Pace said individuals working exclusively from home can continue work-related activities. However, all businesses with a facility in Lake County, except essential businesses, must suspend all activities at their facility, except minimum basic operations.
Essential businesses must prepare, post, and implement social distancing protocols and follow industry-specific guidance from the California Department of Public Health, and businesses with nonessential components to their business operation must scale down operations to only essential business operations, Pace said.
Pace offered some further clarifications of limited exceptions.
Real estate, for example, has been deemed an “essential business,” per Gov. Gavin Newsom’s supplemental guidance to Executive Order N-33-20, issued March 20. Pace said this order addendum requires that appointments and other residential viewings occur virtually, unless an exemption is specifically provided by the Health Department.
To discourage travel, and to protect those sheltering in place, exemptions will only be considered for local residents, and only when the unit is unoccupied. Hand washing and disinfecting of surfaces are likewise required, Pace said.
In the interest of limiting wildfire risk to Lake County, Pace said essential workers now explicitly include landscapers and tree trimmers that are working on wildfire abatement, to include vegetation services, tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners and property managers.
Directives for hotels have likewise been clarified, noting Lake County residents with special medical or other needs for temporary residence outside of the home may be accommodated when specifically exempted by the Health Department, Pace said.
“Please know I am aware how disruptive these mandates are, and that many facets of basic family life and business activity have become more difficult, or been precluded, altogether,” Pace said. “Fortunately, there are some positive signs that statewide shelter-in-place orders are having a positive benefit, and slowing the spread of the virus. We were proactive, even anticipating the governor’s mandate, in the interest of giving our local healthcare system the best possible chance to keep Lake County’s cases at a manageable level.”
Pace added, “Thanks to the cooperation of so many residents, we were able to buy valuable time, and there remains no evidence of community spread in Lake County, which is a great positive.”
With the virus now confirmed in Lake County, Pace said everyone must commit to these primary strategies to limit entry and spread of the virus:
– Stay at home (and in contact with those in your immediate household, only) except for essential business;
– Isolate, even from family, if you develop symptoms;
– Wash your hands frequently; and
– Use cloth masks (not N95 or surgical masks) when out of the house.
Guidance and options for making your own cloth masks are provided here.
For Lake County-specific Coronavirus information, visit the Lake County Health Services Department’s website, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Public Health during business hours at 707-263-8174.
2020-04-06 Lake County Order of the Public Health Officer C20-1 (A2) by LakeCoNews on Scribd