Summary of the Health Officer’s Shelter-In-Place Order Dated March 24, 2020,

Effective Until Rescinded

Everyone is Ordered to Stay Home, Except for Essential Activities.

Every person should stay home, except for those activities that are essential for the wellbeing of themselves, their families, or the community. For more information on what is and is not essential, please see the Health Officer’s Order and FAQ.

Sick People, and People at High Risk are Ordered to Stay Home “To the Extent Possible.”

This is more restrictive than the general Shelter in Place Order. Those who are sick or vulnerable should avoid leaving home, even for essential activities, as much as they reasonably can.

A person is vulnerable if they:

1. Are aged 65 years and older
2. Live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
3. Have another high-risk condition, such as:
   1. Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
   2. Serious heart conditions
   3. Immunocompromised, including cancer treatment
4. People of any age with severe obesity (BMI > 40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk

The degree to which it is possible to stay home will vary from person to person.  Unless they are leaving to seek medical care, each sick or vulnerable person should make reasonable efforts to avoid leaving home by utilizing delivery services, telecommunication, or other means available.  They may still leave their homes to perform essential activities if these alternatives are unavailable.  Leaving to seek medical care is exempted from this requirement.

The intent of this order is that seniors and other vulnerable persons utilize reasonable means of staying home to perform essential activities.  It does not prevent them from leaving the home for essential activities if needed.

Please note allowing an employee to work while experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as fever with cough is a violation of the Health Officer’s Order.

Nonessential Businesses Are Ordered to Close

Under both the Governor’s statewide orders and the County Health Officer’s local orders, any nonessential business must close.  The Health Officer’s Order allows closed businesses to conduct certain minimum business operations, such as payroll.  For more information on which businesses are essential, please see the Health Officer’s Order and the FAQ.

Restaurants May Serve Delivery or Carry-Out Only

Any business serving food may not allow a dine-in option.  They may not allow food to be handled by the customer through self-service using shared utensils, such as tongs, salad forks, or spoons.

Every person and essential business must utilize “social distancing,” to the greatest extent feasible.

When in public, everyone must make sure that they meet social distancing requirements, to the greatest extent that they can.  Essential businesses must take measures to ensure that employees and customers comply with social distancing requirements.  The social distancing requirements are:

• Staying at least six feet away from any person not in the same immediate household
• Washing hands or using hand sanitizer as frequently as possible
• Covering coughs or sneezes with something other than a bare hand
• Not shaking hands
• Regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces

Parks, Playgrounds, Beaches, and other Public Recreation Areas are Closed

Limited outdoor exercise and recreation is still allowed as an “essential activity,” provided that social distancing is adhered to.  The Health Officer, however, has determined that public recreation areas pose too much risk of spreading COVID-19, because they draw people from multiple communities and are not easily able to accommodate social distancing.  Due to this risk, all parks, playgrounds and other public recreation areas have been closed.

Nonessential Travel is Prohibited

Travel is restricted to certain essential activities.  Travel for recreational or other purposes is prohibited.  For more information on which types of travel are essential, please see the Health Officer’s Order and the FAQ.

Gatherings of Any Size are Prohibited

Any gathering outside of the same household is prohibited.  This does not prevent those essential businesses or essential activities allowed by the order. 

Please see visit www.mendocinocounty.org/community/novel-coronavirus for the redline version of the Health Officer’s March 24, 2020, Order.