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MANTECA CLOSES PARKS
Health director: Do not travel in & out of county except for essential activities
lincoln pak

Manteca is closing its parks — including the golf course as well BMX, dog, and skate parks — until further notice.

The city’s decision Thursday was followed by the San Joaquin County Health Department emergency order restricting travel in and out of the county except for essential activities. The county also ordered residents not to use park or playground equipment.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the county were at 83 — up 11 from the previous 24 hours — with three deaths.

The city’s emergency decree is in direct response to the wholesale violation of the social distancing rule of six feet the Centers for Disease Control recommends — and Gov. Gavin Newsom has imposed — in a bid to slowdown the spreading of the coronavirus.

People will be allowed to walk, bicycle, or run through parks. They still must maintain social distancing from those who are not part of their household.

 

Manteca, however, won’t

roust homeless gathering

at various city parks

That said do not expect Manteca to disperse the homeless who gather at parks such as Library Park during the day time.

Given Manteca has not provided a place for the homeless to take shelter and the CDC recommends against removing “encampments” during the pandemic emergency, the city will not be closing parks to the homeless that congregate daily.

The city has taken the extra step of placing portable restrooms and wash stations on the western edge of Library Park given the park restrooms have been locked and since the restrooms in the library aren’t accessible due to the facility’s closure.

Authorities have noted since the homeless do not have shelter, dispersing them so they would hang out during the day outside of businesses and other locations would potentially jeopardize the health of other citizens as well as the homeless.

Manteca Police Lt. Stephen Schuler, who is serving as a public information officer for the city’s emergency operations center during the pandemic, said officials had repeatedly warned people about not social distancing at parks but to no avail.

He pointed to a number of pickup basketball games that had “a lot of close contact” that continued to take place after participants were told to stop the games.

City parks were in the process of being posted with closure signs on Thursday.

“We are relying on voluntary compliance and social peer pressure to enforce the park closures,” Schuler said.

However, if there is not compliance, Schuler noted the city has other options they could pursue including removing basketball hoops at parks.

 

New county emergency

order replaces previous

mandatory instructions

Maggie Park, M.D., San Joaquin County Public Health Officer, and Marcia Cunningham, Director of Emergency Services issued an updated stay-at-home order for San Joaquin County residents on March 26 that was to take effect as of 11:59 p.m. on Thursday,

 The updated order is due to evidence of an accelerated incidence of COVID-19 within San Joaquin County and throughout Northern California, indicating that additional efforts must be implemented to slow the rate of spread.

The order updates and clarifies some language and references from the previous order, such as ordering all bars, wineries and brewpubs to be closed, all in-dining at restaurants to cease — except home delivery and takeout — and all gyms, bingo halls, golf courses, and card rooms to close. All public and private gatherings of any number outside a household or living unit is prohibited.

 

 

 

Travel is only allowed for essential activities, such as those essential to health and safety, to obtain necessary supplies and services for themselves or family, or to perform work as an Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker. When citizens engage in outdoor activities, they are to comply with social distancing requirements and are not to use parks and or public playground equipment. The order further clarifies the travel requirements including banning in and out of county travel except for essential activities.

 

 

 


 

COVID-19 positive cases have increased significantly over the last week. There are increasing instances where some individuals who contract COVID-19 virus have no symptoms or have mild symptoms meaning they may not be aware they carry the virus.

 “Since people without symptoms can transmit the disease and evidence shows the disease is easily spread, it is imperative that public activities which can result in preventable transmission of the virus must be stopped or significantly limited,” cautioned Park. “It’s up to every one of us to take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19, help to preserve critical and limited capacity in our healthcare system and save lives. This updated Order takes urgent action to implement those necessary restrictions.”

City maintaining center

to answer questions

 

The City of Manteca emergency command center is operating daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to try and answer what questions they can 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

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.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com