Dear neighbors, friends, community partners,
This afternoon, 3/17, the Monterey County Health Department announced the County’s first two cases of coronavirus, and a Shelter in Place order.
Per the news release:
With the confirmation of Monterey County’s first two cases of COVID-19 and increasing cases statewide, Public Health Officer Dr. Ed Moreno is issuing a Shelter in Place Order for all residents of Monterey County to enhance measures already being taken to slow the spread of novel coronavirus in our county and preserve critical health care capacity.
The order announced by Moreno will begin at 12:01 AM, March 18, 2020 and last for three weeks, until Midnight on April 8, 2020.
The City is here to support you
With this latest news, the City of Monterey wants to assure you that we have been working for over three weeks to put many measures in place to help our community get through this emergency. All of the measures already taken, including the County’s Shelter in Place order, are purposefully implemented to help reduce exposure and limit the spread of the coronavirus. This is important to understand. We can flatten the curve of the pandemic so the impacts will be less.
The City issued an emergency declaration last week, closed public facilities, and cancelled or postponed programs and events. The City realizes these closures impact many residents, especially those who need it most. Feeling isolated is not a good place to be. We are a close-knit, caring, community, and now more than ever, is a time to show our compassion and interest in helping others.
We want you to know - essential services continue - public safety and public health are top priority
- Police and Fire Services are 100% functional and operational
- CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) operations and response will continue - https://monterey.org/Portals/0/News/Covid19/CERT-Mar2020-Supplemental.pdf
- Public Works and Parks & Recreation are part of public safety and necessary work continues, with safety measures in place
- Many City staff from other departments are working remotely. If you have questions, we have phone numbers and a facility list available at https://monterey.org/Portals/0/News/Covid19/C19-Closed-Status.pdf
- We will bring you regular updates via email, Nextdoor, and other social media.
- Support for Businesses - We are working closely with the Chamber of Commerce and have formed a COVID-19 Business Action & Economic Recovery Team
- The City’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) is activated at Level 1, opening the Logistics, Intelligence, and Care and Shelter sections - identifying resources/needs and organizing support, including for the homeless
Local Resources
- United Way 211 - For Novel Coronavirus (2019-NCoV Or COVID-19) information, visit the Monterey County Health Department website; or Text "COVID19" to 211-211. United Way supports 211, a free and confidential service that helps people find the local resources they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- The Alliance on Aging can help people by phone (831) 655-1334 or (831) 758.4011 - their website is https://allianceonaging.org/ - many varied resources available
- Montage Health is offering its online virtual care option free for all community members who are experiencing mild respiratory symptoms including flu, hay fever/allergies, and COVID-19 (coronavirus). Answer a series of questions about symptoms, and a clinician will provide a treatment recommendation, usually within an hour. Available 24/7. If people have questions, you can call the COVID-19 information line at (831) 622-8001 or visit www.chomp.org/coronavirus.
You are a very important part of this community. These are the times that build our character and make us stronger. Together we will get through this.
