The state of California has awarded $100 million in emergency grant funding to California counties, continuums of care, and the state's 13 largest cities to help protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 17, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 89, which was approved unanimously by the state Legislature.
SB 89 authorized a total appropriation of up to $1 billion to provide assistance to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
On March 18, Gov. Newsom’s administration allocated $100 million in emergency funding from SB 89 to local governments to help protect this vulnerable population and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by safely getting individuals into shelter and providing immediate housing options.
The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency's Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council sent out award letters on Monday.
"The fast action by the legislature in approving this funding has been matched by the swift action taken by our Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to get this money out the door and to the local jurisdictions where it's needed," said Gov. Newsom. "This is money that will be immediately available to help those who are homeless – among the most vulnerable to COVID-19."
California’s 13 largest cities, or cities that are also a county, will receive $42,968,750, while the state’s 58 counties will receive $27,343,750 and California’s 44 Continuums of Care will receive $29,687,500.
The Lake County Continuum of Care will receive $79,511.74, while the county of Lake has been awarded $73,152.92. Information was not immediately available on how those funds will be used locally.
A full list of allocations is published below.
The funding is intended for measures to help prevent and contain COVID-19 and can be used for medically indicated services and supplies, such as testing and hand-washing stations.
It can also be used for such things as acquiring new shelters, supplies and equipment for emergency shelter operations, increasing shelter capacity, street outreach, and acquiring locations to place individuals who need to be isolated because of COVID-19 illness or exposure.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The issue of COVID-19, its impact on the county’s workforce and price gouging will be discussed by the Board of Supervisors this week.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Those planning to participate in Tuesday’s meeting are asked to contact the county in advance. Please write the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule.
Additionally, written comments regarding any agenda item may be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday, March 23, at 5 p.m., for inclusion in the public record. Please note the item number addressed by any written comment.
At 9:10 a.m., the board will get an update from Public Health Officer DR. Gary Pace.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution relating to workplace safety, employee leave and remote work in response to COVID-19, and continue its discussion and consideration of accommodations to facilitate electronic access to Board of Supervisors meetings in light of COVID-19.
Also on the agenda as an untimed item, the board will consider an urgency ordinance prohibiting rental housing price gouging and unlawful evictions in the unincorporated areas of the county during a state of emergency.
The full agenda is below.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve addition of special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2020.
5.2: Approve Application for Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant.
5.3: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, request to authorize the air pollution control officer to sign and submit the grant agreement between the district and CARB for the Woodsmoke Reduction Program, operate a woodstove changeout program, and sign all other program documents.
5.4: Adopt proclamation designating March 24, 2020, as National Agriculture Day.
5.5: Second Reading: Adopt Ag Department ordinance for industrial hemp regulations.
5.6: Adopt a resolution authorizing the Public Services director to submit applications to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle, for all available grants.
5.7: (a) Waive the competitive bidding process in accordance with County Code Section 2-38.2 because the unique nature of the goods or services precludes competitive bidding for the repair of the elevator located in the Lake County Historic Courthouse Museum; and (b) direct the Public Services director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the agreement with Dream Ride Elevator in the amount of $92,310.
5.8: Adopt proclamation commending Lyle Swartz, Public Works Road superintendent, for his service to the county of Lake.
5.9: Approve the 2020/21 Department of Boating and Waterways Financial Aid Program agreement in the amount of $315,312 to fund the sheriff/marine patrol budget unit 2205, and authorize the sheriff to sign.
5.10: Approve sealed bid 20-08 for the purchase of radio equipment for the St. Helena Communications site and authorize the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue a purchase order to Dailey Wells Communications.
5.11: Approve the second amendment to lease agreement between the county of Lake and Gary Weiser and Shelly Weiser, for $15,000 per fiscal year from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2025, for the Office Space Located at 4477 Moss Ave, Unit C, Clearlake, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating March 24, 2020, as National Agriculture Day; and (b) presentation of proclamation commending Public Works Road Superintendent Lyle Swartz for his service to the county of Lake.
6.3, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.4: 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, appeal to Board of Supervisors, AB 19-03 for Minor Use Permit MUP 18-10 (Sandtner/Frey).
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued to April 7, Industrial Hemp Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (AM 20-01) Categorical Exemption (CE 20-07).
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: (a) Consideration of resolution of the county of Lake Board of Supervisors relating to workplace safety, employee leave and remote work in response to COVID-19; and (b) continued discussion and consideration of accommodations to facilitate electronic access to Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings in light of COVID-19.
7.3: Consideration of an urgency ordinance prohibiting rental housing price gouging and unlawful evictions in the unincorporated areas of the county of Lake during a state of emergency.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) chief negotiator: M. Long; county negotiators: C. Huchingson and P. Samac; and (b) employee organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA and LCSMA.
8.2: Conference with (a) temporary representatives designated to meet with county department heads regarding salary and benefits and (b) unrepresented management employees.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(3) Threat of litigation – city of Clearlake.
8.4: Public employee evaluations title: Interim Community Development director/ Interim Water Resource director/ Public Works director.
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.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Napa County Public Health on Sunday confirmed a second local case of COVID-19 in Napa County, hours after confirming that county’s first case.
The patient in the second confirmed case is currently isolated in St. Helena, officials said.
Napa County Public Health said there is no known connection to the case confirmed earlier on Sunday. That individual is in the city of Napa.
“With the increase in testing, finding additional cases is not unexpected,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s Public Health officer. “It is critical that people who develop respiratory symptoms stay at home and isolate themselves from others, even if they still feel well enough to go out. As a community, we need to act now to slow the spread of the virus.”
Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and/or shortness of breath. Older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease.
Patients that develop a fever and lower respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath, should first call their health care provider and share symptoms before visiting the clinic or emergency room.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Social Services is offering caregivers information on how to keep themselves and those they care for safe as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.
Caregivers may be providing services to one or more Lake County residents who may be in one of the groups of people that the governor of California or local authorities have urged to isolate themselves at home in order to keep from getting sick.
COVID-19 can cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including fever, cough and/or shortness of breath.
Caregivers can protect themselves and the people they are providing care for by:
• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying away from work and other people if you become sick with a fever, cough, or respiratory symptoms.
• Eliminating or minimizing visitors.
If you are an In-Home Supportive Services care provider, please note that after meeting certain criteria, IHSS providers accrue eight hours of sick leave. Your sick leave hours can be claimed through the Electronic Services Portal or by submitting a paper sick leave claim, SOC 2302.
IHSS providers can utilize accrued sick leave in addition to working all of the IHSS hours assigned to them without incurring an overtime violation. You can find the number of available sick leave hours you are eligible to claim on your pay stub.
If you become ill or are experiencing the symptoms listed above, it is advised that you do not report to your recipient’s home. Instead, you should call your recipient and let them know you are ill, so they can contact another provider or their local county office to request assistance with finding another provider.
Please be advised, if you are not experiencing symptoms and have not tested positive for COVID-19, you should continue to provide services to your IHSS or another recipient.
The state and county are working hard to make sure you and your recipient remain safe and healthy. Please follow the guidelines described in this notice to prevent yourself from getting sick by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, and follow public health guidance about other gatherings or activities.
In certain circumstances, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits, paid family leave and disability insurance benefits. For more information, please refer to the Employment Development Department FAQs and the Resources for Employers and Workers from the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
Please also see the California Department of Public Health website for more general information regarding COVID-19.
Nevan Krogan, University of California, San Francisco
Why don’t we have drugs to treat COVID-19 and how long will it take to develop them?
SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 – is completely new and attacks cells in a novel way. Every virus is different and so are the drugs used to treat them. That’s why there wasn’t a drug ready to tackle the new coronavirus that only emerged a few months ago.
As a systems biologist who studies how cells are affected by viruses during infections, I’m especially interested in the second question. Finding points of vulnerability and developing a drug to treat a disease typically takes years. But the new coronavirus isn’t giving the world that kind of time. With most of the world on lockdown and the looming threat of millions of deaths, researchers need to find an effective drug much faster.
This situation has presented my colleagues and me with the challenge and opportunity of a lifetime: to help solve this huge public health and economic crisis posed by the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2.
Facing this crisis, we assembled a team here at the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at the University of California, San Francisco, to discover how the virus attacks cells. But instead of trying to create a new drug based on this information, we are first looking to see if there are any drugs available today that can disrupt these pathways and fight the coronavirus.
The team of 22 labs, that we named the QCRG, is working at breakneck speed – literally around the clock and in shifts – seven days a week. I imagine this is what it felt like to be in wartime efforts like the Enigma code-breaking group during World War II, and our team is similarly hoping to disarm our enemy by understanding its inner workings.
To get around this limited set of tools, the virus cleverly turns the human body against itself. The pathways into a human cell are normally locked to outside invaders, but the coronavirus uses its own proteins like keys to open these “locks” and enter a person’s cells.
Once inside, the virus binds to proteins the cell normally uses for its own functions, essentially hijacking the cell and turning it into a coronavirus factory. As the resources and mechanics of infected cells get retooled to produce thousands and thousands of viruses, the cells start dying.
Lung cells are particularly vulnerable to this because they express high amounts of the “lock” protein SARS-CoV-2 uses for entry. A large number of a person’s lung cells dying causes the respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19.
There are two ways to fight back. First, drugs could attack the virus’s own proteins, preventing them from doing jobs like entering the cell or copying their genetic material once they are inside. This is how remdesivir – a drug currently in clinical trials for COVID-19 – works.
A problem with this approach is that viruses mutate and change over time. In the future, the coronavirus could evolve in ways that render a drug like remdesivir useless. This arms race between drugs and viruses is why you need a new flu shot every year.
Alternatively, a drug can work by blocking a viral protein from interacting with a human protein it needs. This approach – essentially protecting the host machinery – has a big advantage over disabling the virus itself, because the human cell doesn’t change as fast. Once you find a good drug, it should keep working. This is the approach that our team is taking. And it may also work against other emergent viruses.
Learning the enemy’s plans
The first thing our group needed to do was identify every part of the cellular factory that the coronavirus relies on to reproduce. We needed to find out what proteins the virus was hijacking.
To do this, a team in my lab went on a molecular fishing expedition inside human cells. Instead of a worm on a hook, they used viral proteins with tiny chemical tags attached to them - termed a “bait.” We put these baits into lab-grown human cells and then pulled them out to see what we caught. Anything that stuck was a human protein that the virus hijacks during infection.
By March 2, we had a partial list of the human proteins that the coronavirus needs to thrive. These were the first clues we could use. A team member sent a message to our group, “First iteration, just 3 baits … next 5 baits coming.” The fight was on.
Counterattack
Once we had this list of molecular targets the virus needs to survive, members of the team raced to identify known compounds that might bind to these targets and prevent the virus from using them to replicate. If a compound can prevent the virus from copying itself in a person’s body, the infection stops. But you can’t simply interfere with cellular processes at will without potentially causing harm to the body. Our team needed to be sure the compounds we identified would be safe and nontoxic for people.
Ourchemists used a massive database to match the approved drugs and proteins they interact with to the proteins on our list. They found 10 candidate drugs last week. For example, one of the hits was a cancer drug called JQ1. While we cannot predict how this drug might affect the virus, it has a good chance of doing something. Through testing, we will know if that something helps patients.
Our team will soon learn from our collaborators at Mt. Sinai and the Pasteur Institute whether any of these first 10 drugs work against SARS-CoV-2 infections. Meanwhile, the team has continued fishing with viral baits, finding hundreds of additional human proteins that the coronavirus co-opts. We will be publishing the results in the online repository BioRxiv soon.
The good news is that so far, our team has found 50 existing drugs that bind the human proteins we’ve identified. This large number makes me hopeful that we’ll be able to find a drug to treat COVID-19. If we find an approved drug that even slows down the virus’s progression, doctors should be able to start getting it to patients quickly and save lives.
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In a letter to President Donald Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to assist in California’s COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts.
Federal officials said Sunday afternoon during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing that President Donald Trump will consider Newsom’s request immediately.
Earlier on Sunday, President Trump approved Presidential Major Disaster Declarations for both New York and Washingtons, which along with California are among the nation’s hardest-hit states.
Newsom’s office said the Major Disaster Declaration would include any and all individual assistance programs to assist those affected by the outbreak and lessen the economic impacts of the crisis.
The request would provide additional assistance, including but not limited to, mass care and emergency assistance, crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 1,550 Californians are reported to have COVID-19, with 29 reported deaths. No positive cases have so far been confirmed in Lake County.
During the Sunday afternoon Coronavirus Task Force briefing from the White House, President Trump announced several actions being directed in response to previous requests from California and other states fighting the rapid spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
“This is a challenging time for all Americans. We are enduring a great national trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment,” said Trump, adding that the nation ultimately will defeat “this horrible, invisible enemy.”
The measures the president announced include deploying the USNS Mercy hospital ship to the Port of Los Angeles, which Newsom had requested on Thursday, hours ahead of issuing a statewide stay at home order.
The USNS Mercy – now in San Diego – is expected to be in place within a week, the president said.
For the East Coast, Trump is deploying the USNS Comfort hospital ship to New York. He said that ship – which is in the midst of maintenance in Norfolk, Virginia – could be positioned in three weeks.
Trump also announced that federal medical stations with additional beds – including more than 2,000 for California – have been authorized for the three most impacted states.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is being sent out to build alternate care sites, more supplies are coming through the strategic national stockpile order, 19 emergency operation centers will be established throughout the country and the National Guard has been activated for California, New York and Washington, he said.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaylor emphasized that the activation of the National Guard “is not martial law.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the Coronavirus Task Force, said Sunday that so far 254,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 across the United States.
The latest COVID-19 statistics, reported separately, indicate more than 32,000 Americans have tested positive for the illness.
Pence said testing will continue to be rolled out nationwide, with the backlog of testing anticipated to be caught up by the middle of the week.
He said all commercial labs in the United States will receive guidance by Monday, and they will be urged to prioritize testing of patients who are in the hospital.
Pence said that on Saturday, the Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency authorization for a new COVID-19 test that could be in production by the end of March.
That test, said Pence, would yield results within 45 minutes. Currently, testing takes days.
Learn more about California’s ongoing COVID-19 emergency response here.
The governor’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the state’s COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts can be seen below.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace issued the second addendum to his order last week that orders Lake County residents to shelter in place, offering new clarifications about lodging and boating activities.
The measures have been taken to prevent transmission of COVID-19. No positive cases have so far been confirmed in Lake County although dozens of tests have been conducted.
Pace’s original order to shelter in place was issued on Wednesday and went into effect on Thursday.
On Sunday, he issued Addendum No. 1 to the Order of the Health Officer No. C20-3, which kept all previous Health Officer Orders in place, but in section 5, parts A to J, ordered a set of listed facilities and activities closed and/or stopped. Section 6 was added regarding lodging restrictions and exceptions.
Following release of Addendum No. 1 to Order of the Health Officer No. C20-3, further clarifications were made, which are reflected in Addendum No. 2.
In Section 6, emphasis has been added, clarifying that “NO Hotel, Motel, vacation rental property, VRBO, recreational vehicle park, campground, timeshare or other similar facilities… shall rent or provide accommodations to any person until such time [Order of the Health Officer No. C20-3] is modified or rescinded,” unless one of the exceptions listed in the Order is determined applicable.
Additionally, changes were made to Section number 7, prohibiting recreational boating activity on all public waterways in the unincorporated areas and cities within the boundaries of Lake County.
Clarifications indicate the order, “applies to all motorized and non-motorized vessels, or any device designed or used to transport a person or persons across water.”
Additionally, language was added to specify that vessels “currently moored or docked do not need to be removed from the lake, but shall not be used for the duration of the order.”
Shown below is a flow chart for lodging businesses.
Also published below are versions of Addendum No. 2 in English and Spanish.
For more 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 the department during business hours at 707-263-8174.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Earlier this month, the 2020 Census fully kicked off, and invitations continue to arrive in mailboxes across the nation.
So far, nearly 19 million households have responded, officials reported.
The California response rate so far is 19 percent. For Lake County, the response rate is 11.6 percent.
In an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, 2020 Census field operations are suspended until April 1.
The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees, and everyone going through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions.
In late May, census takers around the nation will begin visiting households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census to help complete the count.
As the Census Bureau continues to monitor the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, it will adjust census taker and survey operations as necessary in order to follow the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities.
The public is strongly encouraged to respond to the 2020 Census online using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet, and can also respond by phone or mail.
Everyone should respond to the 2020 Census as soon as they receive their invitation – and when they’re finished, they can make sure their friends, families and social networks know about the importance of responding.
It has never been easier to respond to the census, and the 2020 Census will count everyone accurately.
For all other Census Bureau household and economic surveys separate from the 2020 Decennial Census, bureau personnel will begin using phone calls instead of in-person visits. In the limited number of instances where an in-person visit is necessary, they are working closely with public health authorities to ensure each visit is accomplished safely.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Sunday, Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora, acting as the director of Emergency Services for the city of Clearlake, announced the immediate closure of Redbud Park and Thompson Harbor in the interest of public health and safety.
The closure of Redbud Park includes the boat launch ramps, parking lot and other recreation facilities.
No person shall enter the park during the closure or remain in the park after having been notified of the closure and having been asked to leave by any peace officer or other person so designated by the city manager or chief of police.
The order does not apply to peace officers, fire and rescue personnel or other governmental officials, or electrical, sewage or utility workers, or contractors acting within the scope of their official duties.
“Under normal circumstances, it is wonderful to see so many enjoying our local recreational facilities, but in this state of emergency we must take additional action to protect the public,” said Flora.
“Hundreds of people have been utilizing the park and launching facilities and there have been many examples of patrons not practicing proper social distancing,” Flora said.
“According to Dr. Gary Pace, the Lake County Public Health officer, all navigable water bodies in Lake County, including Clear Lake, will be closed in the near future. The city understands this is disappointing, especially due to the wonderful weekend weather, but extraordinary measures are necessary immediately to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Flora said.
On Sunday evening, President Donald Trump approved a request submitted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier in the day for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support the state's COVID-19 emergency response.
“The declaration will supplement our state’s comprehensive COVID-19 surge planning and make vital resources available. We appreciate the quick response and partnership from the White House,” said Newsom.
It was the third Presidential Major Disaster Declaration that President Trump approved on Sunday to help the states hit hardest by COVID-19. He also signed declarations for New York and Washington state.
The Governor’s Office reported that the declaration includes any and all individual assistance programs to assist those affected by the outbreak and lessen the economic impacts of the crisis.
It will provide additional assistance, including but not limited to, mass care and emergency assistance, crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.
Also on Sunday, the president announced other measures to assist California, including approving Newsom’s request from Thursday to deploy the USNS Mercy hospital ship to the Port of Los Angeles, where it’s expected to be in place within a week; federal medical stations with 2,000 additional beds for California have been authorized; and the National Guard has been activated.
Californians remain under Newsom’s stay at home order, issued on Thursday evening, meant to stop the spread of the virus, which so far hasn’t been confirmed by testing in Lake County. Earlier that same day, Lake County’s shelter in place order went into effect.
Congressman Mike Thompson, whose Fifth Congressional District includes the southern portion of Lake County, lauded the president’s decision to declare a major disaster in California due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday, Thompson wrote to President Trump to ask for the declaration in response to the pandemic, which began on Jan. 20.
“Our state has been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, and we are working together to combat it and support each other,” said Thompson, adding he was pleased to see the president issue the declaration for the state, giving the governor and local leaders further tools and resources to combat this crisis.
“This is a good first step, but we must continue this effort. Know that I will do everything I can to bring back every federal dollar and resource to bear on our work to help our state through this public health emergency. I also want to remind everyone that we must all do our part to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Stay at home, listen to public health officials and together we will get through this,” Thompson 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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With COVID-19 infections around the North Coast region continuing to escalate, on Sunday evening Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace issued additional restrictions that close Clear Lake and other county waterways, and also put a stop to lodging in facilities ranging from hotels and campgrounds to vacation rentals.
Pace said Sunday that there are no confirmed cases in Lake County so far, but his updated order came hours after Napa County confirmed its first two cases of the illness, caused by the novel coronavirus.
The updated order also followed by several hours Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request to President Donald Trump for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration.
“We are moving into a new phase of preparation for the outbreak, which demands we take major steps towards limitation of social contact to prevent transmission,” Pace said.
Citing the spread of COVID-19 infections across the region, Pace reported that, “Despite concerns, and restrictions placed last week, significant recreational activity that increases the risk of transmission was observed this weekend in local parks, hotels and on Clear Lake.”
Based on those factors, Pace issued an addendum to Health Order c20-3, which he issued on Wednesday and which ordered residents countywide to shelter in place.
The Sunday addendum to the original Public Health order goes into effect at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, and will remain in effect until 11:59 pm. Friday, April 10.
Pace said the addendum immediately mandates the closure of Lake County waterways, including Clear Lake, Blue Lakes, Highland Springs Reservoir, Cache Creek, Lake Pillsbury, Indian Valley Reservoir and any other public, navigable waterway to any recreational boating activity.
In addition, he’s ordering the cessation of lodging in motels, hotels, campgrounds, RV parks, and vacation rentals – such as AirBNBs – except for medical staff, COVID-19 emergency workers, construction workers of critical infrastructure and permanent residents who have resided on-site since prior to March 9.
Anyone claiming exemption – other than first responders and medical staff – will need written approval from the Lake County Health Services Department, Pace said.
Pace said the addendum also imposes further restrictions on activity on the lake and on travel and lodging for people coming from outside of Lake County.
Violation of the order is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, jail time or both.
Community members wanting more information can 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 the department during business hours at 707-263-8174.
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.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Sunday, another of Lake’s neighboring counties, Napa, announced it has confirmed its first local case of COVID-19.
Napa County health officials said the patient – whose age and gender were not reported – is located in the city of Napa.
Napa County Public Health, which is investigating the case, has issued a legal order for the patient to isolate and for close contacts of the patient to quarantine.
At the same time, county officials said the general public should continue to comply with both the Napa County and state shelter in place orders, and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet when out seeking essential services or getting fresh air or exercise.
“This is Napa County’s first case and evidence that COVID-19 is in our community,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s Public Health officer. “I understand this may be concerning to the community, but this is why I, and the state of California, have issued shelter-at-home orders to slow the spread of illness and not overwhelm the local health care system. It is imperative that the local community comply with these orders.”
Napa County officials said a priority now that the disease is within its borders will be to conduct surveillance to determine the extent of local transmission and quickly evaluate what is happening in the community.
Statewide, on Sunday more than 1,550 Californians are reported to have COVID-19, with 29 reported deaths.
Based on figures provided by the California Department of Public Health, the majority of the cases are in people ages 18 to 64, followed by those over age 65.
CDPH reported that as of Saturday afternoon, 26,200 tests have been conducted in California, a total which includes the latest numbers the state has received from commercial and private labs. At least 13,467 results have been received and more than 12,700 are pending. Twenty-two state and county health labs are currently testing.
Lake County Public Health has so far not confirmed any local COVID-19 cases.
The latest figures given by the agency on its Facebook page – which haven’t changed in several days – estimate that as many as 40 tests have been conducted.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said finding labs to do testing has continued to be a challenge due to capacity. Recently, the commercial lab Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital uses rejected specimens for testing because of too much testing demand, he said.
Pace said getting testing results also is prolonged, with the results taking as long as seven days.
Altogether, Lake’s neighboring counties report the following confirmed COVID-19 case numbers as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday: Colusa, 0; Glenn, 0; Mendocino, 1; Napa, 1; Sonoma, 24 cases, 1 death; Yolo, 6.
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.