- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lake County shelter in place order goes into effect; Mendocino County confirms first COVID-19 case
Dr. Gary Pace issued the order on Wednesday afternoon. It was enacted at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, and continues until 11:59 p.m. April 10.
Lake County residents are ordered to shelter in their homes but there is a list of exceptions that include allowing them to purchase gas and groceries, engage in certain activities, and work for essential business and government services. Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempted but urged to find shelter.
The order also directs all businesses and governmental agencies to cease nonessential operations at physical locations in the county, prohibits all nonessential gatherings of any number of individuals and orders a stop to all nonessential travel.
COVID-19 still hasn’t been confirmed in Lake County, although Pace said this week that about two dozen tests have been conducted. However, testing still remains limited and regional labs are at capacity.
While it’s not yet confirmed to be in Lake County, neighboring Mendocino County on Wednesday evening confirmed its first case of the virus.
Mendocino County health officials said the individual in question – who had a known exposure to a person with COVID-19 – is in stable condition and in isolation.
“This first case is not shocking to us,” said Mendocino County Public Health Officer Dr. Noemi Doohan. “Mendocino County has been preparing for a possible pandemic of COVID-19 since January, as many counties around us have reported cases and community spread of COVID-19.”
Like Pace, Doohan issued a health order directing Mendocino County residents to shelter in place. That order went into effect at 10 p.m. Wednesday and will remain in effect until April 7 at 11:59 p.m
Sonoma County’s shelter in place order went into effect ahead of Mendocino and Lake, beginning at 12 a.m. Wednesday. It will remain in place for three weeks, until April 7.
Lake County’s neighbor to the south, Napa County, will begin a shelter at home order at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Napa’s order also will continue until April 7 unless it’s extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio.
Other California counties issuing such orders to date include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. The cities of Berkeley and Fresno also have instituted shelter in place orders for their residents.
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