Manteca officials are grappling with two distinct emergencies — preventing people from getting ill from the coronavirus as well as food insecure children who are missing breakfast and lunch with schools being shut down and parents out of work due to the effort to contain the pandemic.
If there was any doubt the coronavirus hasn’t surfaced in Manteca it was dispelled Thursday night. That’s when three Manteca firefighters were exposed to an individual later diagnosed with the coronavirus when they responded to a 9-1-1 medical call. The San Joaquin County Health Department alerted the department once they found the patient tested positive for the coronavirus.
The three firefighters are now on home isolation for 14 days. All three are healthy and are asymptomatic at this time.
“As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our employees and our citizens we have chosen to exceed the recommended home isolation period,” noted Lantz Rey, who serves as Manteca public information officer. “As such, the firefighters will be isolated at home for 14 days.”
The station the three firefighters worked at was shut down briefly and deep cleaned with disinfectant. The station is now open. All firefighters have been called back to duty meaning all of four of the city’s fire stations are now fully staffed with three firefighters.
Fire Chief Kyle Shipherd reassured the public the fire department stands ready to assist when needed.
Countywide, the known coronavirus cases ballooned by almost 50 percent Friday at mid-day reaching 25 up from 17 just 24 hours earlier. There have been two deaths so far.
Manteca Unified starts
‘grab & go’ meals Monday
Manteca Unified students in need ages 2 to 18 can pick up “grab and go” meals starting Monday at all comprehensive schools in the Manteca Unified district.
Pre-packaged breakfast and lunch will be served at the same time. The meals will be distributed Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through April 3. Students can go to the school nearest their home. Students must be present to receive a meal. All meals are free.
The Manteca locations are East Union High, Sierra High, Manteca High, Brock Elliott, George McParland, Golden West, Joshua Cowell, Lincoln, Manteca Day High School, New Haven, Neil Hafley, Nile Garden, Sequoia, Shasta, Stella Brockman, Veritas, and Woodward.
The Lathrop locations are Lathrop High, Lathrop Elementary, Mossdale, and Widmer.
The Weston Ranch-French Camp locations are Weston Ranch High, August Knodt, French Camp, George Komure, and Great Valley.
City stresses need
to stay at home
City officials again are stressing people need to follow the state order to stay at homes unless they need to make trips for essential needs such as to purchase food, secure medical car, or work at a job that has been deemed essential.
Lentz stressed the need for people to follow the governor’s orders noting the Centers for Disease Control indicated a large segment of the population can be infected and not get sick while at the same time spread it to others who may develop symptoms and become ill.
“If you don’t need to be out, stay at home,” Lentz said.
Manteca officials are concerned about the number of people congregating at stores such as Costco where the line to get into the store before it opened Friday stretched toward Daniels Street. They urge people not to go to the stores if they are simply “hoarding” to stockpile supplies beyond a week or so and to only go when they need. People in many stores — or standing in lines to get in or check out — are not maintaining anywhere close to the six feet recommended for social distancing.
Those who are using this time to clean out garages yards to haul items to the Lovelace Landfill Transfer station north of Manteca may want to wait on loading the junk on a truck. Starting today the county is limiting the dumping of items at the transfer station to commercial vendors and city solid waste departments.
Even medical services not deemed essential such as dental and optometry offices have closed. Most have left messages on office phones that provide patients with a number to contact the dentist if they have an emergency or are in pain.
The City of Manteca emergency command center at the City Council chambers at the Civic Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to try and answer what questions they could from citizens emailing or calling in as well as to monitor the ongoing situation.
The phone number for questions related to the coronavirus emergency is 456-8854 while the email is eocinfo@mantecagov.com
City maintaining coronavirus
info pages on city website
The City of Manteca is also maintaining a coronavirus update site on its website at ci.manteca.ca.us
It is on top of the home page. Click on the banner and it sends you to resources dealing with the pandemic from the Centers for Disease Control to state and county agencies. There is also information regarding what businesses can remain open as well as possible help with virus related financial issues.
They also are posting a list of Manteca restaurants that are open for business for curbside pickup or delivery service.
The city has compiled a list of resources for seniors including which stores are conducting special hours to accommodate senior shoppers as well as those auto-immune compromised and who are physically challenged.
The stores are:
*Safeway every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m.
*Target every day from 8 to 9 a.m.
*Dollar General every day from 8 to 9 a.m.
*Food-4-Less every day from 7 to 8 a.m.
*Walmart on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 a.m.
*Costco every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 9 a.m.
*Grocery Outlet will make deliveries for seniors who call (209) 239-4295.
*Nature’s Corner will make deliveries for seniors who call (209) -5355.
*SaveMart every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 a.m.
*Raley’s every day is offering Senior Essential bags for $20 in-store or curbside. The bags are filled with pantry staples and are available while supplies last. For more information call (209) 825-0242.
Local food pantry resources are Meals on Wheels (209) 468-1104, St. Paul’s Methodist Church (209) 823-7154, and Second Harvest Food Bank (209) 239-2091.
A congregate lunch program is being offered to seniors 60 years and older at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane. You need to call each Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to reserve a meal box that will include five lunches that are frozen or non-perishable. The meals will be delivered Monday morning by senior center staff. There is also a brow bag program available for needy seniors 60 and older that need groceries. Call (209) 456-8650 to reserve a bag.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
