On Thursday, April 9 Ventura County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin issued a new “Stay Well At Home” order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Ventura County.
The new order prohibits all public and private gatherings of two or more people. There are some exceptions to the order like families who live in the same household are allowed to engage in essential travel and essential activities together. Additionally, gatherings of up to 10 people only are allowed for graveside funeral services.
In a Ventura County Public Health press release, Levin talked about how the public should behave if they need to go outside for essential activities.
“I am asking that everyone avoid leaving their homes for anything except the most urgent matters. And when you do leave, please make sure to cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering if you will be around others, maintain a distance of at least six feet from everyone else and frequently wash your hands,” Levin said.
The order advises that long-term care facilities relocate COVID-19 positive patients to hospitals with COVID-19 holding units. This is to prevent outbreaks in long-term care facilities where seniors are confined together.
The order also adds to the list of essential businesses. Bicycle repair and supply shops, real estate companies and automobile dealerships are now considered essential but must preform sales online.
All essential businesses must post a “Social Distancing Protocol” no later than April 12. A “Social Distancing Protocol” must explain how businesses are utilizing social distancing and precautions for their customers to take. Rigoberto Vargas, director of Ventura County Public Health, stated the goal for these new orders.
“The purpose of these additional orders is for continued safety and turning the curve on the expected surge that may still happen but perhaps is not going to be as severe as we once thought,” Vargas said.
In a Ventura County twitter live stream earlier today, it was reported that Ventura County has had 10 deaths due to COVID-19 and 298 positive cases. Out of roughly 5,500 tests, Ventura county has a 5.5% positive rate which is among the lowest of all California counties.
Ventura County CEO Mike Powers updated the public on some of the donations that the county is receiving, including one from Ventura College.
“Our wonderful public health lab, now they are doing an amazing job seven days a week doing great work, well they had some of their equipment go down,” Powers explained. “Two of our very generous organizations in the county, Amgen and Ventura Community College, stepped forward and helped actually supply the very lab equipment they needed to turn things back around and keep that lab running seven days a week.”
The “Stay Well At Home” order went into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday night and will last through April 19 unless it is extended, rescinded, superseded or amended by the county health officer. To stay up to date on COVID-19 news in Ventura County visit VC Emergency.
