News

County ramps up restrictions: Gatherings over 100 people banned, smaller events limited

COVID-19 cases jump to 79 as officials shut schools, address additional precautions

In an attempt to slow down community spread of the new coronavirus, Santa Clara County’s chief health officer, Dr. Sara Cody, on Friday morning issued a legal directive banning gatherings of more than 100 people and put a conditional moratorium on smaller gatherings.

Under the conditional moratorium, residents should immediately cancel or postpone all events of 35 to 100 people. If a gathering is necessary for essential societal functions, the county has a strict set of guidelines to follow. The order includes gatherings in any room or space, including conference rooms, cafes, bars, restaurants and other locations, including even those outdoors. The order has updated guidance for businesses.

The directive excludes airports, offices, classrooms, medical offices and retail establishments such as pharmacies and grocery stores, County Counsel James Williams said. Law enforcement agencies have enforcement authority over the ban.

The order becomes mandatory at midnight, March 14.

"I recognize we are in very difficult times. These decisions are very difficult to make," Cody said.

Help sustain the local news you depend on.

Your contribution matters. Become a member today.

Join

The situation is rapidly evolving and county leaders are taking these actions based on the most recent medical updates and to protect the community, she said.

At the same press conference, she announced the mandatory closure of all public schools in the county for three weeks.

"These are tough decisions and we have to make them quickly. … I know it will have a big impact on our community and our families," she said.

The county currently has 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 37 of the patients hospitalized. Of the total cases, 43 were community transmitted, meaning they spread from an unknown source, presumably from person to person. The number of confirmed cases is 36 more than was reported on Monday and represents a three-fold increase in the past week, she said.

"We anticipate many, many more cases in the days and weeks to come," Cody said.

Stay informed

Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter.

Stay informed

Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter.

Santa Clara County has the most cases in any California county, more than a quarter of the state’s 277 cases as of March 13.

Although laboratory testing for the virus started slowly due to a shortage of testing kits from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Cody said the number of tests being done is significantly increasing because of the involvement of commercial, state and hospital laboratories, although she didn’t have an exact number.

County public health laboratories are not designed to handle general testing and are set up as reference laboratories with small capacity -- Cody has said previously that the Santa Clara County lab can test 30 to 40 cases a day -- but more laboratories through the state and commercial facilities are now set to test many more people. (Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Thursday that those numbers will be in the many thousands by next week.)

Cody said four TSA agents at San Jose International Airport have tested positive for the virus. Because the agents were in positions that put them in contact with many people passing through, the positive tests are to be expected.

County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan said schools would be closed from March 16 through April 3.

County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cindy Chavez said the county has a network of funding for people at risk of losing their homes due to wage loss associated with COVID-19 and is looking at expanding their resources.

County Executive Jeff Smith said the county has just purchased a couple of hotels and is looking at other properties where they can isolate homeless individuals who test positive for the virus. Teams of nurses and psychologists are in contact with homeless encampments seeking anyone who might have symptoms of the illness. Thus far, no homeless person has been quarantined, he said.

Sheriff Laurie Smith said that two inmates at the county jail were exposed to a person who later tested positive for COVID-19 and had visited the jail to interview them. The inmates have been isolated and are being monitored, she said.

Chavez, who said she is in the high-risk category of people who would become highly ill from COVID-19, said that the pandemic "will require us to work together as we never have done. Let’s look out for each other."

The crisis, while frightening, also offers opportunities for "deeper, more meaningful collaborations," such as people getting to know their neighbors on their block, Chavez said. She urged residents to work together and to especially offer aid to neighbors who are in high-risk categories, such as seniors and those with chronic medical conditions.

Information on the new guidelines can be found on the county public health department’s website here. translations are also posted in Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula's response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and Almanac here.

Craving a new voice in Peninsula dining?

Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter.

Sign up now
Sue Dremann
 
Sue Dremann is a veteran journalist who joined the Palo Alto Weekly in 2001. She is a breaking news and general assignment reporter who also covers the regional environmental, health and crime beats. Read more >>

Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

County ramps up restrictions: Gatherings over 100 people banned, smaller events limited

COVID-19 cases jump to 79 as officials shut schools, address additional precautions

by / Palo Alto Weekly

Uploaded: Fri, Mar 13, 2020, 2:10 pm

In an attempt to slow down community spread of the new coronavirus, Santa Clara County’s chief health officer, Dr. Sara Cody, on Friday morning issued a legal directive banning gatherings of more than 100 people and put a conditional moratorium on smaller gatherings.

Under the conditional moratorium, residents should immediately cancel or postpone all events of 35 to 100 people. If a gathering is necessary for essential societal functions, the county has a strict set of guidelines to follow. The order includes gatherings in any room or space, including conference rooms, cafes, bars, restaurants and other locations, including even those outdoors. The order has updated guidance for businesses.

The directive excludes airports, offices, classrooms, medical offices and retail establishments such as pharmacies and grocery stores, County Counsel James Williams said. Law enforcement agencies have enforcement authority over the ban.

The order becomes mandatory at midnight, March 14.

"I recognize we are in very difficult times. These decisions are very difficult to make," Cody said.

The situation is rapidly evolving and county leaders are taking these actions based on the most recent medical updates and to protect the community, she said.

At the same press conference, she announced the mandatory closure of all public schools in the county for three weeks.

"These are tough decisions and we have to make them quickly. … I know it will have a big impact on our community and our families," she said.

The county currently has 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 37 of the patients hospitalized. Of the total cases, 43 were community transmitted, meaning they spread from an unknown source, presumably from person to person. The number of confirmed cases is 36 more than was reported on Monday and represents a three-fold increase in the past week, she said.

"We anticipate many, many more cases in the days and weeks to come," Cody said.

Santa Clara County has the most cases in any California county, more than a quarter of the state’s 277 cases as of March 13.

Although laboratory testing for the virus started slowly due to a shortage of testing kits from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Cody said the number of tests being done is significantly increasing because of the involvement of commercial, state and hospital laboratories, although she didn’t have an exact number.

County public health laboratories are not designed to handle general testing and are set up as reference laboratories with small capacity -- Cody has said previously that the Santa Clara County lab can test 30 to 40 cases a day -- but more laboratories through the state and commercial facilities are now set to test many more people. (Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Thursday that those numbers will be in the many thousands by next week.)

Cody said four TSA agents at San Jose International Airport have tested positive for the virus. Because the agents were in positions that put them in contact with many people passing through, the positive tests are to be expected.

County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan said schools would be closed from March 16 through April 3.

County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cindy Chavez said the county has a network of funding for people at risk of losing their homes due to wage loss associated with COVID-19 and is looking at expanding their resources.

County Executive Jeff Smith said the county has just purchased a couple of hotels and is looking at other properties where they can isolate homeless individuals who test positive for the virus. Teams of nurses and psychologists are in contact with homeless encampments seeking anyone who might have symptoms of the illness. Thus far, no homeless person has been quarantined, he said.

Sheriff Laurie Smith said that two inmates at the county jail were exposed to a person who later tested positive for COVID-19 and had visited the jail to interview them. The inmates have been isolated and are being monitored, she said.

Chavez, who said she is in the high-risk category of people who would become highly ill from COVID-19, said that the pandemic "will require us to work together as we never have done. Let’s look out for each other."

The crisis, while frightening, also offers opportunities for "deeper, more meaningful collaborations," such as people getting to know their neighbors on their block, Chavez said. She urged residents to work together and to especially offer aid to neighbors who are in high-risk categories, such as seniors and those with chronic medical conditions.

Information on the new guidelines can be found on the county public health department’s website here. translations are also posted in Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula's response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and Almanac here.

Comments

resident
Downtown North
on Mar 13, 2020 at 3:21 pm
resident, Downtown North
on Mar 13, 2020 at 3:21 pm

Does "gathering of 100 people" include regular business hours at restaurants or only special events? Are restaurants required to maintain 6 feet of space between tables at all times?


Resident
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 13, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Resident, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 13, 2020 at 3:24 pm

Will someone count the number of people in the libraries? Will they be kept below 100?


Precautions Abound
Community Center
on Mar 13, 2020 at 3:29 pm
Precautions Abound, Community Center
on Mar 13, 2020 at 3:29 pm

A lot of panic buying going on in the grocery stores + most restaurants are empty at prime dining hours.

People are staying home until this thing subsides.

Even church services will suffer the consequences of COVID-19.


Kevin
Greendell/Walnut Grove
on Mar 13, 2020 at 7:16 pm
Kevin, Greendell/Walnut Grove
on Mar 13, 2020 at 7:16 pm

Libraries are all closed thru the end of April:

Web Link


Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.