Coronavirus update, March 20: Stanislaus County ‘evaluating’ Newsom’s order to stay at home
Here’s your morning briefing on the coronavirus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday night that all Californians need to stay at home and avoid nonessential social contact to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s time for all of us to recognize as individuals and as a community we need to do more to meet this moment,” he said at an evening press conference.
Newsom said he hopes not to have to enforce the order, instead encouraging Californians to influence one another to do the right thing.
About an hour later, Stanislaus County officials Tweeted out: “Our emergency operations team watched the Governor’s press conference tonight and learned as you did of a new Statewide order regarding COVID-19. We are evaluating all of the information to determine any differences between this new order and our most recent guidance in Stanislaus County.”
Wrote Sheriff Jeff Dirkse on Facebook: “Until we have a better understanding of this information use common sense. Stay at home-if possible. Since there was absolutely no warning given to any of us, I fully understand that you were all caught (unaware) and may need to go out for supplies. Many of you will have to sort things out with employers. You’re not simply going to stay in your homes, potentially for weeks, without better information. Know this. No one will be arrested for violating this order. Just do the right thing and stay at home.”
Kristin Olsen, chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, said Thursday afternoon during a 5:30 p.m. Facebook live presentation that the county had implemented “stay-at-home if possible policies,” and referred to a “Level 2 Response,” which states: “A. Discontinue non-essential travel and large group gatherings. B. People at increased risk should avoid contact with others (e.g., 65+, elderly, underlying medical conditions). C. Stay at home — if possible.”
Specifics on the governor’s order,can be found here.
The county will update residents on the StanEmergency Facebook page daily at 5:30 p.m., according to Olsen.
Around the San Joaquin Valley
As California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned the coronavirus could infect up to half the state’s residents in the coming months, some hospitals in the central San Joaquin Valley already are concerned about running out of everything from beds, ventilators, and masks to doctors and nurses. Newsom, in a letter Wednesday to President Donald Trump, said that 25.5 million people will potentially be infected by COVID-19 by May. Already some Valley hospitals are seeing supply shortages
According to the Fresno Bee, two more coronavirus cases were confirmed in Tulare County on Thursday, bringing the total COVID-19 patients in that central San Joaquin Valley county up to seven. It’s unknown how the sixth person, who is between the age of 18 and 24, contracted the virus, wrote the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency in a news release.
Tax day is pushed to July
The deadline to file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service has been pushed back from April 15 to July 15, Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin said Friday morning. He said President Donald Trump directed the Treasury Department and the IRS to extend the deadline.
Help for Stanislaus County Seniors
In a deliberate effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Stanislaus County senior and community centers are closed to the public. However, many are now serving as distribution centers of frozen meal packs to replace the senior congregate lunch program that was closed.
Stanislaus County officials announced Thursday night that starting Monday, seniors older than 60 can visit the following senior or community centers listed below and register to pick-up a five-pack box of Sun Meadow frozen meals.
Each box containes five frozen entrees, milk, juice or fruit cup and a mini loaf of bread.
Those who are interested should call the Senior Information Line to reserve meals.
Supplies will be limited in the first week but the Area Agency on Aging plans to order additional meals to meet growing demand.
Monday: Riverbank Community Center & Grayson United Community Center
Tuesday: Oakdale Senior Center and Mancini Hall (Modesto)
Wednesday: Modesto Senior Center and Hughson Community Center
Thursday: Patterson Senior Center
Friday: Veterans Center (office at 3500 Coffee Road, Modesto), United Samaritan Foundation (USF)
There is no change to the current weekly delivery of frozen five-pack box of meals to homebound seniors.
The priority for the new ongoing weekly delivery of frozen meals is for homebound seniors who cannot drive and typically live alone struggling with limited shopping/cooking help.
Homebound spouses and/or disabled adult children residing with them may also be eligible.
Call the Senior Information Line at 209-558-8698 to learn more, to check eligibility, to apply for long-term home delivered meals or if you are a senior looking for assistance with meal pick up and grocery assistance.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 9:35 AM.
