City News: Your Weekly Update
April 8, 2020
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Sacramento County COVID-19 Public Health Order Extended
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The Sacramento County Public Health Officer has extended the countywide stay-at-home order through May 1 in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Public Health Order reinforces the direction for all individuals to stay home and has additional clarifications and directives.
“The main point remains clear: people in Sacramento County must keep social distancing to the max. The single most important thing everyone can do to beat this is to stay home,” said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Sacramento County Director of Health Services.
The new Order prohibits all non-essential gatherings of any number of people, sets new social distancing protocols for essential businesses, restricts access to recreation facilities countywide, and clarifies essential activities and travel.
Outdoor recreation activities are still permitted, but residents must follow social distancing requirements when they are out walking, biking, and running. Under the Order, essential businesses must now limit the number of people who can enter a facility at one time and ensure people always maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another. The Order also clarifies that real estate agents can show houses for sale when following guidelines, and funerals can take place if attendees are limited to 10.
As of Wednesday, April 8, there are 580 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sacramento County, and 13 in Folsom.
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Face Coverings Recommended by CDC
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced April 3 that cloth face coverings – such as bandanas, t-shirts, or homemade cloth coverings – are now recommended for people leaving the house for essential activities, such as buying food or obtaining medication.
Face coverings can help prevent asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers of COVID-19 from transmitting it to others. Residents are urged to leave N95 and surgical masks for those who need them most – our healthcare providers, first responders, caregivers, and other essential workers.
Health officials stress that face coverings can provide added protection, but are not a substitute for other precautions -- such as staying at home, hand washing, and social distancing. Please wash your hands before touching your face covering.
Cloth face coverings should:
- Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face.
- Be secured with ties or ear loops.
- Include multiple layers of fabric.
- Allow for breathing without restriction.
- Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.
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Twin Lakes Food Bank Needs Your Help!
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More Folsom community members are facing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 emergency. Donate non-perishable food and help make a difference in this challenging time. To make a donation, visit the Twin Lakes Food Bank at 327 Montrose Drive during regular distributing hours or online at
www.twinlakesfoodbank.org
.
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Special Shopping Hours for Seniors
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Many grocery and essential stores in Folsom have special hours set aside for senior citizens and community members at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. Visit
www.folsom.ca.us/seniorresources
for a current list of stores and hours.
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Outdoor Recreation Guidelines
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Nature breaks – going outside for some fresh air and a change of scenery – can do wonders to improve our mood.
The current Sacramento County Public Health Order allows you to engage in outdoor activity, and at this time, Folsom’s 48 parks and 50 miles of recreational trails remain open.
Athletic fields, sports courts, playgrounds/play equipment, and park amenities are currently
closed
to the public at all City of Folsom parks and all
FCUSD
school campuses are also closed. FIDO Field dog park and the Folsom Skate and Bike parks are closed and should be considered off-limits.
Last week, the city started a Park Patrol program to help educate people in our parks about the park amenity closures and social distancing requirements. Patrol staff are circulating through every park several times each day, seven days a week, and are available to answer any questions you may have and to assist with compliance of the Sacramento County Public Health Orders and the City of Folsom closures.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, here’s how to get your outside time the right way:
- Pick a location that’s close by your home – walk your dog around your neighborhood, visit a nearby park, or bicycle along a section of one of our local recreational trails.
- Go solo or with members of your household; now is not the time to meet up with friends or groups of people (you can do that virtually).
- Maintain a social distance at all times of six feet or more from other people when you’re outdoors, whether you’re on foot or on bike.
- Follow instructions and notices on signs posted at parks and along trails.
- Keep dogs on a leash at all times, and don’t allow them to visit with any person who is not a member of your household.
- Avoid crowded areas – if a park or trail seems too crowded to allow for social distancing, choose a different location or visit at an off-peak time. City of Folsom park hours are 7 a.m. to one hour after sunset.
- Once you return home from an outdoor trip – whether it was to a park, trail, or elsewhere – please remember to immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
We’re in this together – everyone has the responsibility to help “flatten the curve” by remaining at home as much as possible.
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Folsom Cordova School District Update
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All 13 Sacramento County school districts, including Folsom Cordova, agreed on April 3 to keep their campuses closed through the end of the school year to jointly support the coronavirus mitigation effort. The decision was made in consultation with Sacramento County Public Health.
Campuses in Folsom will remain closed for the rest of the school year, but school is still in session: the school district’s plans for distance learning continue. Following Spring Break, teachers and students will get reacquainted with a distance learning platform and proceed with remote instruction.
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The Census is a Great Social Distancing Activity!
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Help shape the future of our community by being counted in the 2020 Census. Every ten years, the census counts everyone living in the country. Census figures determine how billions of dollars are allocated each year for critical services and programs that support our community like health clinics, schools, affordable housing, job training, and senior and veterans programs. Funding for emergency services and school lunch programs – essential services in times of crisis like these – also depend on an accurate census count. The census is easy to do and can be completed online, over the phone, or by mail. If you haven’t already completed the census, go to
my2020census.gov
and do it today.
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Virtual Learn to Draw Program for Kids!
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Starting this Thursday at 1 p.m., the Folsom Public Library will host a Learn to Draw tutorial for kids ages 5 to 12 on
Facebook Live
!
Watch and learn how to draw spring critters with a library staff member Thursdays in April at 1 p.m. The sessions will last about 10 minutes.
Follow the library’s
Facebook
,
Twitter
, and
Instagram
to get updates about our online programs, eBook recommendations, and more.
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City of Folsom Closes Playgrounds and Park Amenities in Continuing Effort to Decrease COVID-19 Spread
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Due to confirmed COVID-19 cases in Folsom, and reports of large and small gatherings of people in public places without social distancing, the City of Folsom is taking additional safety measures by limiting access to community locations where maintaining safe social distancing has shown to be difficult.
Adding to recent efforts to protect the health and safety of the Folsom community, Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen announced the following additional closures of public facilities until further notice.
- Athletic fields, including Lembi, Livermore, Econome, Kemp, Catlin, Davies, Ed Mitchell, Briggs, Rodeo, Handy Family, McFarland, Mann, Nisenan, Cohn, and Sheldon parks
- Basketball, bocce ball, pickleball, tennis, and volleyball courts
- Ball walls
- FIDO Field Dog Park
- Playgrounds and play equipment
- Library book return (no overdue fees will accrue during the temporary library closure)
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Make Screentime Learning Time with Miss Humblebee and TumbleBooks
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The library has two new online resources
that make screentime useful and engaging for kids. Miss Humblebee’s Academy is an interactive program that teaches 3- to 6-year-olds key concepts that will allow them to be math and literacy ready. TumbleBooks has interactive K through 6
th
grade picture books and discussion questions. Both are great activities to do alongside a child so that learning is improved through interaction with adults.
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Thank You ALL Essential Workers
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Here’s to the medical workers keeping us healthy. The first responders keeping us safe. The grocery store, food service, and agriculture workers keeping food on the table. The delivery service workers and truck drivers delivering purchases to our doorsteps. The civil servants picking up our trash, keeping our drinking water clean, driving buses, and maintaining our roads. The food bank and many other community nonprofits providing for the needy during these trying times.
Thank you to ALL of the essential workers on the frontlines keeping our community safe and strong. You are why Folsom is #
ResilientByNature
.
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Comprehensive and up-to-the-minute Sacramento County Public Health information about COVID-19 can be found at
Covid19.SacCounty.net.
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Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Canceled
April 7, 6:30 p.m.
City Council Meeting
April 14, 6:30 p.m.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, the City of Folsom is allowing for remote public input during City Council meetings. Members of the public are encouraged to participate by emailing comments to CityClerkDept@folsom.ca.us. Emailed comments must be received no later than thirty minutes before the meeting and will be read aloud at the meeting during the agenda item. Written comments submitted and read into the public record must adhere to the principles of the three-minute speaking time permitted for in-person public comment at City Council meetings. Members of the public may continue to participate in the meeting in person at Folsom City Hall, 50 Natoma Street, while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
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City Council Office Hours
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Mayor's Office Hours
April 9, 2-5 p.m.
In light of the county's stay at home order, Mayor Sarah Aquino encourages you to call or email her with your questions, comments, or concerns. She may be reached at 916-798-5380 or
saquino@folsom.ca.us
.
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Contact the City of Folsom's Communication Director
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Get Connected, Stay Informed
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