Stanislaus County will look the other way if businesses defy Newsom’s stay-home order
Stanislaus County will not spend resources to enforce the governor’s coronavirus stay-at-home order, effectively sending a message that many non-essential businesses can open at their own risk.
The Board of Supervisors’ unanimous decision Tuesday was not a blanket approval for business owners to resume operations.
Supervisors stressed that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide order in March that closed non-essential businesses remains in effect and certain state-licensed businesses like cosmetology could hear from state authorities if they defy the governor’s order.
The sheriff may still use enforcement to stop large gatherings, which have generated cases of COVID-19 illness.
County leaders also made it clear that high-risk operations like movie theaters and entertainment venues are a long way from opening. Those venues and religious services are listed under the Stage 3 section of the state’s roadmap for lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
The county’s action Tuesday mainly pertained to the Stage 2 business activities like retail stores, personal services and offices. The county will look the other way if those decide to reopen.
Stanislaus joined some other counties in dissent against a statewide emergency order in March that closed thousands of businesses, boosted unemployment and has threatened severe revenue losses for state and local governments.
Though the pandemic ravaged Northern Italy and New York City, it has created near empty hospitals and mostly economic damage in lightly hit areas of California. Still, health experts warn that COVID-19 is a virulent respiratory disease that’s especially dangerous for the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.
The state’s death toll is projected to rise to 6,000 by August.
Supervisor Terry Withrow said the 2,770 coronavirus deaths in California are .007 percent of the state population and the 21 fatalities in this county are .005 percent of county residents.
“I don’t want to minimize the deaths and impacts on the families that have had to deal with this,” Withrow said at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Along with causing unemployment and business failures, Withrow said, the state’s prolonged shutdown order is pushing the county into a mental health crisis.
Calls to the county’s suicide hotline are averaging 46 per week, a four-fold increase over last year.
California stay-home order is challenged
Doug Buchanan, who called in to comment for Tuesday’s closed-to-the-public meeting, said the outbreak doesn’t seem severe enough to justify the statewide order under the Emergency Services Act. Facilities and public resources are not overwhelmed, he said.
Michael Wood said: “It is not fair to mom-and-pop stores that have worked many, many years and now we are threatened with losing what we have.”
Stanislaus County will send a letter to Sacramento outlining its progress in controlling the contagious disease outbreak and asking for a variance that would allow for safe reopening of businesses under the governor’s plan.
On Tuesday, Newsom announced some safety guidelines for dine-in restaurant services, office buildings and shopping malls to open. But counties first need to get state approval to move forward and the requirements are not easy for local jurisdictions.
Right now, Stanislaus County can’t meet the basic state requirements of zero deaths and no more than 56 new cases over a 14-day period. The county Health Services Agency has reported 86 new cases and 10 deaths since April 30.
County officials explain that a deadly outbreak at Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers is the primary source of recent deaths and a spike in cases.
Stanislaus health officer identified clusters
Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, county health officer, said 129 cases and 14 of the county’s 21 deaths are attributed to nursing home settings where the virus easily spreads among residents and staff. Another cluster is the Safeway distribution center in Tracy, which is outside the county’s boundaries but sickened 56 county residents who worked there, including a Turlock man who died.
In addition, a family funeral was cited as the reason for 26 cases. Those clusters are responsible for about 40 percent of the county’s 508 cases and 70 percent of the deaths.
County officials promised to continue with measures to prevent infections in skilled nursing facilities and to safeguard seniors.
Vaishampayan said the risk of catching the illness is low for people going out shopping as long as they take precautions such as social distancing and hand hygiene. She recommended wearing a face mask.
The county is also preparing an advisory letter on social distancing and other precautions for businesses to follow to prevent transmission of coronavirus.
County Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes said the county is working with Modesto on a plan for reopening Tenth Street Place to the public.
Plans for a phased reopening of reservoir parks are still on track, with Modesto Reservoir set to open for boating Saturday and Woodward Reservoir scheduled to open for watercraft June 6.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 4:58 PM.
