Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman has announced that, in an effort to protect the public from any possible spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, the County’s Public Health Officer today has ordered the immediate cancellation or postponement of gatherings of more than 250 people within the county until further notice.
The order applies to, but is not limited to, concerts, conferences, and professional, college, and school sporting events, and is in line with guidance issued today by the California Department of Public Health.
“The County realizes that this order will result in inconveniences to many people and businesses. However, the County’s primary concern is the health and wellbeing of its residents and visitors,” Hagman said.
Smaller gatherings should refer to guidance from the California Department of Public Health, which can be found here.
The County Public Health Officer’s order does not apply to activities such as attendance at regular school classes, work, or essential services.
“Certain activities are essential to the functioning of our state and must continue,” the order states. “Hence, this Order does not apply to essential public transportation, airport travel, or shopping at a store or mall. This Order also does not apply to congregate living situations, including dormitories and homeless encampments.”
Although there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the county, numerous cases have been confirmed in neighboring counties. Large gatherings that attract travelers and other people who don’t routinely congregate with each other increase the risk of COVID-19 appearing within San Bernardino County.
As should always be the case, people experiencing symptoms of contagious illness should seek medical guidance, not attend work or school, and avoid contact with other people.
On Tuesday, the County Public Health Officer and the Board of Supervisors declared a local health emergency to help ensure county government and the public are prepared for the possibility that COVID-19 will appear within the county.
Various appropriate County departments and agencies have been working together since Jan. 25 to prepare for the possible arrival of the virus within the county. That is when the County was notified an aircraft carrying U.S. citizens evacuated from the region in China where the virus had originated might be arriving at Ontario International Airport. The flight was eventually diverted to Riverside County. The County Department of Public Health activated its Department Operations Center on Feb. 13.
County Public Health continues to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health to respond to reports of COVID-19. Although Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency to help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19, the health risk from COVID-19 to the general public in San Bernardino County remains low at this time.
As with any virus, especially during the cold and flu season, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your health and those around you:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- If someone does become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough, they should stay away from work, school or other people to avoid spreading illness and seek assistance from their healthcare provider if symptoms become severe.
- N95 masks are not recommended outside a healthcare setting. Surgical masks can be worn by sick individuals to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs to others.
For more information on COVID-19, please call (800) 722-4794 or visit the County Public Health COVID-19 webpage at http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/coronavirus/. Information is updated as soon as it is made available.
Event organizers seeking guidance from the Public Health Officer specific to their planned events should send their inquiries to coronavirus@dph.sbcounty.gov.
More information is available here in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog.
My concerned is geared towards our responsibility as a community/county to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are becoming more aware that prevention is the key. I have 4 children attending the local schools, my concern is that why are we waiting for a case to show up in SB in order to take prevention? Once a case even gets reported- that just means its been too late. Some children have very poor immunity- if closure at this time is not feasible than the option of independent studies should become an option for those children and should be encouraged for those parents.
Hi Nida, the County Superintendent of Schools has closed schools. For more information about schools visit https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/. Take care.
When will schools be closed? Why hasn’t this county taken the pro active steps to prevent the spread? There are no cases because no body is testing.
Hi Eugene, the County Superintendent of Schools has closed schools. For more information about schools visit https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/.
The order applies to, but is not limited to, concerts, conferences, and professional, college, and school sporting events, and is in line with guidance issued today by the California Department of Public Health.
Churches? Or are they “essential services”? You should make this clear.
Hi David, Churches are not exempt from the order. Many churches are making adjustments including live streaming their services. Take care.
Churches play a vital role in our community’s “Emotional Health”. People can die from stress related heart attacks, strokes or even worse, mentally unstable episodes of panic far quicker than the covid-19 virus. Hope, faith, comfort, peace are but some of MANY “Essentials” we as a community need, especially during these times. Church community offers these essentials and many more. Not all churches are online, nor are all of the congregants.
How about the dependency court there hundreds of people there its really busy. I have a hearing on april 3
The courts are under the jurisdiction of the state of California and they have begun making adjustments to their schedules. Please check with your local courthouse at https://www.sb-court.org/
Why are they not cancelling cases for the next few weeks ?
WHY ISN’T THE COUNTY TESTING FOR CORONAVIRUS????
THERE CAN BE NO REPORTED CASES IF YOU ARE NOT TESTING !!!!!
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS!!
My place of employment had about a 1000 people in the building. Around 300-400 are on the same floor. Shouldn’t they be required to close since this is not a hospital or emergency center? It is just be as mortgage office.
Are the courts going to be closing? For child support, family court or small claims?
I work with management for an employer that houses roughly 350 employees everyday. Our employees travel to our facility from all over san bernardino county. Should we consider or start making preparations for a shut down or cut back on the amount of employees we allow to come in to work?
I am the owner of a small event company who has been very affected by the cancellation of gatherings. Although I completely agree with all of these events being cancelled for the time being, I can already foresee that it is going to get difficult to continue paying our employees, rent and our bills. Is the County considering making a disaster declaration to help local small businesses obtain a low interest federal disaster loan to stay afloat during these hard times?
Why hasn’t the mayor of San Bernardino or any official person from San Bernardino county given any information on TV as to how were are doing as a whole and the business that are being affected. The mayor from Los Angeles Eric Garcetti has addressed his county daily it seem like, giving them helpful information that people need to know. We as a whole are very concern as to what is going on and what will be done to help us all and especially our businesses.
Why are dine in restaurants still open this is a breading ground for virus. All other major County’s have already switched to a take out only option. Putting staff members health at risk.
It’s not just restaurants that are concerning. My complaint is closer to home. Why do family members keep having birthday Parties for their small kids? Gathering in one place knowing that invites are not of their inner circle. I wanna know where to report that as it is more than one party a month. Either a cousin or an auntie or whatever. So irresponsible.