County Microbiologist Jovan Shepherd prepares a specimen for testing of the novel coronavirus. (County of San Diego)
New regulations issued: restaurants, businesses
(March 16) The total number of coronavirus cases reported in the San Diego region has reached 55: 47 in San Diego County residents, four from the federal quarantine and four in non-residents.
The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency issued amended orders in response to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. Effective midnight on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Health Officer Orders in part:
- All events with 50 or more people in a single space at the same time, regardless of whether it occurs indoors or outdoors, are prohibited. All non-essential gatherings of any size are strongly discouraged.
- All businesses that serve alcohol and do not serve food shall close.
- All restaurants and business establishments that serve food shall close all on-site dining. All food served shall be by delivery, pick-up or drive-thru.
- All businesses shall enact social distancing, increased sanitation standards, and shall make every effort to use telecommuting for its workforce.
- Schools shall not hold classes or other activities where students gather on the school campus.
- A strong recommendation is made that all persons who are 65 years old or older, have a chronic underlying condition, or have a compromised immune system self-quarantine themselves at home.
- All persons arriving in the country from CDC Warning Level 3 Travel Advisory locations shall be subject to a 14-day home quarantine and self-monitoring.
The full Public Health Order is available here: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/Epidemiology/HealthOfficerOrderCOVID19.pdf
This order shall be reevaluated and extended if appropriate on or before March 31, 2020.