SLO County orders residents to shelter at home to slow coronavirus outbreak
San Luis Obispo County officials on Wednesday ordered residents to shelter at home to curb the spread of coronavirus, as the total number of confirmed local cases rose to seven.
“We must act aggressively to contain the continued spread of COVID-19 in our community,” County Emergency Services Director Wade Horton said in a news release. “We need to slow down the transmission of this disease, so our health care system has the capacity to care for our community.”
The order will take effect at 5 p.m. Thursday and remain in place until further notice, according to a news release. It was issued with the cooperation of all seven city governments and applies to all residents — those who live in unincorporated areas, as well as those who live in cities.
At a news conference Wednesday, Horton said that an additional case of COVID-19 has been confirmed, following three new cases on Tuesday.
Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said the newly-confirmed patient lives in South County and is in their 40s with underlying health concerns.
What does it mean to shelter at home?
Under the shelter-at-home order, public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a household or living space are prohibited, except under limited circumstances.
Local governments and public safety agencies will continue to operate and provide services.
“We’re taking actions based on the best evidence-based judgments of our health experts, locally and at the state level,” Horton said at the news conference.
County Counsel Rita Neal provided a list of activities residents can still leave their homes to undertake while the shelter at home order remains in place. These include:
- Obtaining goods, such as food and pharmaceutical and sanitary items
- Taking part in outdoor activities, such as hiking, walking and running
- Caring for pets or relatives in other households
- Going to healthcare appointments
Horton said he anticipates the order will remain in effect for 30 days, but officials will re-evaluate the situation after two weeks.
The order came shortly after the city of San Luis Obispo issued a mandate that all bars, breweries and wine-tasting facilities close to the public. All restaurants also must close dine-in service, but they can continue providing pickup and delivery.
Several other counties in California also announced shelter-at-home orders the same day or within the past week, including Monterey, Fresno and Yolo counties.
Residents relieved by shelter-at-home order
Before the announcement, several local residents had requested county Public Health Officials respond to the public health emergency more aggressively.
“I am glad our county decided to be proactive,” said Jamie Maraviglia. “I can’t imagine how difficult this is going to be for many people, but it is what is going to ultimately save lives.”
Shannon Brown of Arroyo Grande told The Tribune she thinks it is irresponsible and dangerous to have anyone out in the public right now.
“I am relieved to know SLO County has prioritized the health of our community. Many of us are scared and unprepared,” Brown said.
“Like most others in the working class, I am concerned about how my bank account balance will look in a few weeks’ time,” she added. “I hope that our state and federal governments can work together and prioritize supporting the Americans who will be struggling during this time and for a long while after.”
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest Public Health updates and recommendations, or call the Public Health information line at 805-788-2903.
Check back for updates on this continuing story.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 2:52 PM.
