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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Napa County Public Health on Sunday confirmed a second local case of COVID-19 in Napa County, hours after confirming that county’s first case.
The patient in the second confirmed case is currently isolated in St. Helena, officials said.
Napa County Public Health said there is no known connection to the case confirmed earlier on Sunday. That individual is in the city of Napa.
“With the increase in testing, finding additional cases is not unexpected,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s Public Health officer. “It is critical that people who develop respiratory symptoms stay at home and isolate themselves from others, even if they still feel well enough to go out. As a community, we need to act now to slow the spread of the virus.”
Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and/or shortness of breath. Older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease.
Patients that develop a fever and lower respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath, should first call their health care provider and share symptoms before visiting the clinic or emergency room.
The patient in the second confirmed case is currently isolated in St. Helena, officials said.
Napa County Public Health said there is no known connection to the case confirmed earlier on Sunday. That individual is in the city of Napa.
“With the increase in testing, finding additional cases is not unexpected,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s Public Health officer. “It is critical that people who develop respiratory symptoms stay at home and isolate themselves from others, even if they still feel well enough to go out. As a community, we need to act now to slow the spread of the virus.”
Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and/or shortness of breath. Older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease.
Patients that develop a fever and lower respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath, should first call their health care provider and share symptoms before visiting the clinic or emergency room.
In a letter to President Donald Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to assist in California’s COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts.
Federal officials said Sunday afternoon during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing that President Donald Trump will consider Newsom’s request immediately.
Earlier on Sunday, President Trump approved Presidential Major Disaster Declarations for both New York and Washingtons, which along with California are among the nation’s hardest-hit states.
Newsom’s office said the Major Disaster Declaration would include any and all individual assistance programs to assist those affected by the outbreak and lessen the economic impacts of the crisis.
The request would provide additional assistance, including but not limited to, mass care and emergency assistance, crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 1,550 Californians are reported to have COVID-19, with 29 reported deaths. No positive cases have so far been confirmed in Lake County.
During the Sunday afternoon Coronavirus Task Force briefing from the White House, President Trump announced several actions being directed in response to previous requests from California and other states fighting the rapid spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
“This is a challenging time for all Americans. We are enduring a great national trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment,” said Trump, adding that the nation ultimately will defeat “this horrible, invisible enemy.”
The measures the president announced include deploying the USNS Mercy hospital ship to the Port of Los Angeles, which Newsom had requested on Thursday, hours ahead of issuing a statewide stay at home order.
The USNS Mercy – now in San Diego – is expected to be in place within a week, the president said.
For the East Coast, Trump is deploying the USNS Comfort hospital ship to New York. He said that ship – which is in the midst of maintenance in Norfolk, Virginia – could be positioned in three weeks.
Trump also announced that federal medical stations with additional beds – including more than 2,000 for California – have been authorized for the three most impacted states.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is being sent out to build alternate care sites, more supplies are coming through the strategic national stockpile order, 19 emergency operation centers will be established throughout the country and the National Guard has been activated for California, New York and Washington, he said.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaylor emphasized that the activation of the National Guard “is not martial law.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the Coronavirus Task Force, said Sunday that so far 254,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 across the United States.
The latest COVID-19 statistics, reported separately, indicate more than 32,000 Americans have tested positive for the illness.
Pence said testing will continue to be rolled out nationwide, with the backlog of testing anticipated to be caught up by the middle of the week.
He said all commercial labs in the United States will receive guidance by Monday, and they will be urged to prioritize testing of patients who are in the hospital.
Pence said that on Saturday, the Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency authorization for a new COVID-19 test that could be in production by the end of March.
That test, said Pence, would yield results within 45 minutes. Currently, testing takes days.
Learn more about California’s ongoing COVID-19 emergency response here.
The governor’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the state’s COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts can be seen below.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Federal officials said Sunday afternoon during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing that President Donald Trump will consider Newsom’s request immediately.
Earlier on Sunday, President Trump approved Presidential Major Disaster Declarations for both New York and Washingtons, which along with California are among the nation’s hardest-hit states.
Newsom’s office said the Major Disaster Declaration would include any and all individual assistance programs to assist those affected by the outbreak and lessen the economic impacts of the crisis.
The request would provide additional assistance, including but not limited to, mass care and emergency assistance, crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 1,550 Californians are reported to have COVID-19, with 29 reported deaths. No positive cases have so far been confirmed in Lake County.
During the Sunday afternoon Coronavirus Task Force briefing from the White House, President Trump announced several actions being directed in response to previous requests from California and other states fighting the rapid spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
“This is a challenging time for all Americans. We are enduring a great national trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment,” said Trump, adding that the nation ultimately will defeat “this horrible, invisible enemy.”
The measures the president announced include deploying the USNS Mercy hospital ship to the Port of Los Angeles, which Newsom had requested on Thursday, hours ahead of issuing a statewide stay at home order.
The USNS Mercy – now in San Diego – is expected to be in place within a week, the president said.
For the East Coast, Trump is deploying the USNS Comfort hospital ship to New York. He said that ship – which is in the midst of maintenance in Norfolk, Virginia – could be positioned in three weeks.
Trump also announced that federal medical stations with additional beds – including more than 2,000 for California – have been authorized for the three most impacted states.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is being sent out to build alternate care sites, more supplies are coming through the strategic national stockpile order, 19 emergency operation centers will be established throughout the country and the National Guard has been activated for California, New York and Washington, he said.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaylor emphasized that the activation of the National Guard “is not martial law.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the Coronavirus Task Force, said Sunday that so far 254,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 across the United States.
The latest COVID-19 statistics, reported separately, indicate more than 32,000 Americans have tested positive for the illness.
Pence said testing will continue to be rolled out nationwide, with the backlog of testing anticipated to be caught up by the middle of the week.
He said all commercial labs in the United States will receive guidance by Monday, and they will be urged to prioritize testing of patients who are in the hospital.
Pence said that on Saturday, the Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency authorization for a new COVID-19 test that could be in production by the end of March.
That test, said Pence, would yield results within 45 minutes. Currently, testing takes days.
Learn more about California’s ongoing COVID-19 emergency response here.
The governor’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the state’s COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts can be seen below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
3.22.20 Major Disaster Decl COVID19 by LakeCoNews on Scribd
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Sunday, Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora, acting as the director of Emergency Services for the city of Clearlake, announced the immediate closure of Redbud Park and Thompson Harbor in the interest of public health and safety.
The closure of Redbud Park includes the boat launch ramps, parking lot and other recreation facilities.
No person shall enter the park during the closure or remain in the park after having been notified of the closure and having been asked to leave by any peace officer or other person so designated by the city manager or chief of police.
The order does not apply to peace officers, fire and rescue personnel or other
governmental officials, or electrical, sewage or utility workers, or contractors acting within the scope of their official duties.
“Under normal circumstances, it is wonderful to see so many enjoying our local recreational facilities, but in this state of emergency we must take additional action to protect the public,” said Flora.
“Hundreds of people have been utilizing the park and launching facilities and there have been many examples of patrons not practicing proper social distancing,” Flora said.
“According to Dr. Gary Pace, the Lake County Public Health officer, all navigable water bodies in Lake County, including Clear Lake, will be closed in the near future. The city understands this is disappointing, especially due to the wonderful weekend weather, but extraordinary measures are necessary immediately to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Flora said.
The closure of Redbud Park includes the boat launch ramps, parking lot and other recreation facilities.
No person shall enter the park during the closure or remain in the park after having been notified of the closure and having been asked to leave by any peace officer or other person so designated by the city manager or chief of police.
The order does not apply to peace officers, fire and rescue personnel or other
governmental officials, or electrical, sewage or utility workers, or contractors acting within the scope of their official duties.
“Under normal circumstances, it is wonderful to see so many enjoying our local recreational facilities, but in this state of emergency we must take additional action to protect the public,” said Flora.
“Hundreds of people have been utilizing the park and launching facilities and there have been many examples of patrons not practicing proper social distancing,” Flora said.
“According to Dr. Gary Pace, the Lake County Public Health officer, all navigable water bodies in Lake County, including Clear Lake, will be closed in the near future. The city understands this is disappointing, especially due to the wonderful weekend weather, but extraordinary measures are necessary immediately to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Flora said.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Sunday, another of Lake’s neighboring counties, Napa, announced it has confirmed its first local case of COVID-19.
Napa County health officials said the patient – whose age and gender were not reported – is located in the city of Napa.
Napa County Public Health, which is investigating the case, has issued a legal order for the patient to isolate and for close contacts of the patient to quarantine.
At the same time, county officials said the general public should continue to comply with both the Napa County and state shelter in place orders, and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet when out seeking essential services or getting fresh air or exercise.
“This is Napa County’s first case and evidence that COVID-19 is in our community,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s Public Health officer. “I understand this may be concerning to the community, but this is why I, and the state of California, have issued shelter-at-home orders to slow the spread of illness and not overwhelm the local health care system. It is imperative that the local community comply with these orders.”
Napa County officials said a priority now that the disease is within its borders will be to conduct surveillance to determine the extent of local transmission and quickly evaluate what is happening in the community.
Statewide, on Sunday more than 1,550 Californians are reported to have COVID-19, with 29 reported deaths.
Based on figures provided by the California Department of Public Health, the majority of the cases are in people ages 18 to 64, followed by those over age 65.
CDPH reported that as of Saturday afternoon, 26,200 tests have been conducted in California, a total which includes the latest numbers the state has received from commercial and private labs. At least 13,467 results have been received and more than 12,700 are pending. Twenty-two state and county health labs are currently testing.
Lake County Public Health has so far not confirmed any local COVID-19 cases.
The latest figures given by the agency on its Facebook page – which haven’t changed in several days – estimate that as many as 40 tests have been conducted.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said finding labs to do testing has continued to be a challenge due to capacity. Recently, the commercial lab Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital uses rejected specimens for testing because of too much testing demand, he said.
Pace said getting testing results also is prolonged, with the results taking as long as seven days.
Altogether, Lake’s neighboring counties report the following confirmed COVID-19 case numbers as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday: Colusa, 0; Glenn, 0; Mendocino, 1; Napa, 1; Sonoma, 24 cases, 1 death; Yolo, 6.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Napa County health officials said the patient – whose age and gender were not reported – is located in the city of Napa.
Napa County Public Health, which is investigating the case, has issued a legal order for the patient to isolate and for close contacts of the patient to quarantine.
At the same time, county officials said the general public should continue to comply with both the Napa County and state shelter in place orders, and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet when out seeking essential services or getting fresh air or exercise.
“This is Napa County’s first case and evidence that COVID-19 is in our community,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County’s Public Health officer. “I understand this may be concerning to the community, but this is why I, and the state of California, have issued shelter-at-home orders to slow the spread of illness and not overwhelm the local health care system. It is imperative that the local community comply with these orders.”
Napa County officials said a priority now that the disease is within its borders will be to conduct surveillance to determine the extent of local transmission and quickly evaluate what is happening in the community.
Statewide, on Sunday more than 1,550 Californians are reported to have COVID-19, with 29 reported deaths.
Based on figures provided by the California Department of Public Health, the majority of the cases are in people ages 18 to 64, followed by those over age 65.
CDPH reported that as of Saturday afternoon, 26,200 tests have been conducted in California, a total which includes the latest numbers the state has received from commercial and private labs. At least 13,467 results have been received and more than 12,700 are pending. Twenty-two state and county health labs are currently testing.
Lake County Public Health has so far not confirmed any local COVID-19 cases.
The latest figures given by the agency on its Facebook page – which haven’t changed in several days – estimate that as many as 40 tests have been conducted.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said finding labs to do testing has continued to be a challenge due to capacity. Recently, the commercial lab Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital uses rejected specimens for testing because of too much testing demand, he said.
Pace said getting testing results also is prolonged, with the results taking as long as seven days.
Altogether, Lake’s neighboring counties report the following confirmed COVID-19 case numbers as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday: Colusa, 0; Glenn, 0; Mendocino, 1; Napa, 1; Sonoma, 24 cases, 1 death; Yolo, 6.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local school districts are continuing to educate students while facing the uncertainty of whether the traditional schooling model of meeting in person on campuses will be able to take place anytime soon.
On March 15, following a meeting of all of the county school district superintendents, it was decided that all public schools would close from March 16 to April 10, as Lake County News has reported.
Three days later, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace – with whom the superintendents had consulted on their decision – issued a countywide shelter in place order that went into effect early Thursday morning.
Over the past week, in addition to the local shelter in place order and a statewide stay at home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom, local educators have been considering another development – Gov. Newsom’s Tuesday statement that schools are likely to remain closed through the end of the current school year.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said everyone's initial focus was on the time frame up to spring break.
“Our teachers and schools have done a stellar job preparing instructional activities to fill the three-week student dismissal. The teachers I have spoken with are online by 8 a.m. each day, answering emails and phone calls, or video conferencing with students to explain lessons and complex concepts. The hope was to monitor the situation and then return to school for the final quarter,” he said.
“However, the governor’s statement took educators up and down the state by surprise,” said Falkenberg.
He said he hosted a meeting of Lake County superintendents on Wednesday, the morning after the governor's announcement, to begin planning for long term student dismissal.
“Over the next three weeks teachers, schools and the County Office of Education will be working on enhancing online and other forms of non-classroom based instruction,” Falkenberg said.
In addition to keeping the mechanics of education going at a distance, districts also are offering other support.
“All districts in Lake County are continuing to support families by providing meals to everyone under 18 years of age,” said Falkenberg. “Our food service staff have been phenomenal in their flexibility. They are providing individually boxed meals to limit any potential exposure issues.”
He said each district has established different processes to address distribution. Food service directors and superintendents have begun to compare notes to identify best practices and adjust accordingly.
For the two community college districts serving Lake County, Mendocino College and Woodland Community College – which is part of the Yuba Community College District – officials also are preparing for a lengthy closure and have moved instruction online.
Mendocino College notified students via email on Wednesday that all courses and services were to be transitioned to an online or remote platform by Friday.
“We are now expecting for the current situation to last through the end of the Spring semester,” the email explained.
Students were directed to download the Canvas and Zoom apps and to observe local shelter in place orders.
Likewise, in a Friday online message to students, Yuba Community College District Chancellor Douglas Houston said he had decided that remote instruction will continue at all campuses of Woodland Community College and Yuba College through the end of the Spring 2020 semester.
“As you continue through the remainder of your spring classes I encourage you to ‘stick with it’
and not let this disruption cause you to sacrifice your educational goals. If you stay the course, you will succeed,” Houston wrote.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
On March 15, following a meeting of all of the county school district superintendents, it was decided that all public schools would close from March 16 to April 10, as Lake County News has reported.
Three days later, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace – with whom the superintendents had consulted on their decision – issued a countywide shelter in place order that went into effect early Thursday morning.
Over the past week, in addition to the local shelter in place order and a statewide stay at home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom, local educators have been considering another development – Gov. Newsom’s Tuesday statement that schools are likely to remain closed through the end of the current school year.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said everyone's initial focus was on the time frame up to spring break.
“Our teachers and schools have done a stellar job preparing instructional activities to fill the three-week student dismissal. The teachers I have spoken with are online by 8 a.m. each day, answering emails and phone calls, or video conferencing with students to explain lessons and complex concepts. The hope was to monitor the situation and then return to school for the final quarter,” he said.
“However, the governor’s statement took educators up and down the state by surprise,” said Falkenberg.
He said he hosted a meeting of Lake County superintendents on Wednesday, the morning after the governor's announcement, to begin planning for long term student dismissal.
“Over the next three weeks teachers, schools and the County Office of Education will be working on enhancing online and other forms of non-classroom based instruction,” Falkenberg said.
In addition to keeping the mechanics of education going at a distance, districts also are offering other support.
“All districts in Lake County are continuing to support families by providing meals to everyone under 18 years of age,” said Falkenberg. “Our food service staff have been phenomenal in their flexibility. They are providing individually boxed meals to limit any potential exposure issues.”
He said each district has established different processes to address distribution. Food service directors and superintendents have begun to compare notes to identify best practices and adjust accordingly.
For the two community college districts serving Lake County, Mendocino College and Woodland Community College – which is part of the Yuba Community College District – officials also are preparing for a lengthy closure and have moved instruction online.
Mendocino College notified students via email on Wednesday that all courses and services were to be transitioned to an online or remote platform by Friday.
“We are now expecting for the current situation to last through the end of the Spring semester,” the email explained.
Students were directed to download the Canvas and Zoom apps and to observe local shelter in place orders.
Likewise, in a Friday online message to students, Yuba Community College District Chancellor Douglas Houston said he had decided that remote instruction will continue at all campuses of Woodland Community College and Yuba College through the end of the Spring 2020 semester.
“As you continue through the remainder of your spring classes I encourage you to ‘stick with it’
and not let this disruption cause you to sacrifice your educational goals. If you stay the course, you will succeed,” Houston wrote.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A new gubernatorial executive order is offering new vote-by-mail procedures and giving elections offices across the state additional time to finish the final tally for the March 3 presidential primary, but the interim Lake County registrar expects to be done by the statutory deadline.
On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-34-20, which extends the deadlines for ballot counting, tabulation and other responsibilities related to the official canvass of California’s Presidential Primary Election that could risk undermining social distancing measures for COVID-19.
The statutory deadline is April 3; under the executive order, elections offices have until April 24 to complete the official canvass.
The order also permits vote-by-mail procedures to be used in three upcoming special elections, measures meant to protect public health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those special elections are for a recall in the city of Westminster in Orange County on April 7, and for a state Senate seat in Riverside County and a US House of Representatives seat for the 25th Congressional District, which covers portions of the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles, both of which will be held on May 12.
The governor’s order also suspends the timeframes for public hearings required by political subdivisions that are in the process of changing from an at-large method of election to district elections.
In Lake County, interim Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley – who headed the elections office before her December 2018 retirement – told Lake County News on Saturday that she is moving forward with finishing the official canvass within the normal statutory timeframe.
She said that, unless there are unforeseen circumstances that delay her certification, she expects to be done by March 31.
That’s also her last day as interim registrar of voters. Her former deputy registrar, Maria Valadez, is set to leave her job in Mendocino County to step into the Lake County registrar’s job on April 1.
In the meantime, Fridley is reminding vote-by-mail voters who received a “signature verification statement” or an “unsigned ballot envelope statement” that the deadline for the Lake County Registrar of Voters office to receive the completed forms either by mail service, fax, email or in person – by appointment only – is Friday, March 27.
Fridley said the Registrar of Voters Office cannot count a voter’s vote-by-mail ballot if the completed and signed statement is not returned by that date.
For more information, call the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-34-20, which extends the deadlines for ballot counting, tabulation and other responsibilities related to the official canvass of California’s Presidential Primary Election that could risk undermining social distancing measures for COVID-19.
The statutory deadline is April 3; under the executive order, elections offices have until April 24 to complete the official canvass.
The order also permits vote-by-mail procedures to be used in three upcoming special elections, measures meant to protect public health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those special elections are for a recall in the city of Westminster in Orange County on April 7, and for a state Senate seat in Riverside County and a US House of Representatives seat for the 25th Congressional District, which covers portions of the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles, both of which will be held on May 12.
The governor’s order also suspends the timeframes for public hearings required by political subdivisions that are in the process of changing from an at-large method of election to district elections.
In Lake County, interim Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley – who headed the elections office before her December 2018 retirement – told Lake County News on Saturday that she is moving forward with finishing the official canvass within the normal statutory timeframe.
She said that, unless there are unforeseen circumstances that delay her certification, she expects to be done by March 31.
That’s also her last day as interim registrar of voters. Her former deputy registrar, Maria Valadez, is set to leave her job in Mendocino County to step into the Lake County registrar’s job on April 1.
In the meantime, Fridley is reminding vote-by-mail voters who received a “signature verification statement” or an “unsigned ballot envelope statement” that the deadline for the Lake County Registrar of Voters office to receive the completed forms either by mail service, fax, email or in person – by appointment only – is Friday, March 27.
Fridley said the Registrar of Voters Office cannot count a voter’s vote-by-mail ballot if the completed and signed statement is not returned by that date.
For more information, call the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or email
Email Elizabeth Larson at
032020 California Governor's Executive Order N-34-20-COVID-19-Elections by LakeCoNews on Scribd