City of Life issued the following on Dec. 13
Shutdown … but not out
El Dorado County was put under the state’s strictest shutdown order beginning Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m. due to the greater Sacramento region, of which the county is a part, reaching the point where the number of ICU units fell below 15% available capacity.
New restrictions require all restaurants to close outdoor dining; take-out is allowed. All barbershops, hair salons and nail salons have shut down. Retail outlets are required to limit customers to 20% capacity and residents have been asked to remain at home except to go to essential jobs or to do basic chores. Public gatherings are prohibited.
Restrictions remain in effect for a minimum of three weeks.
“Over the last several weeks in our county there has been a rise in positive COVID-19 cases, hospital and ICU case admissions and the need to activate the hospitals’ surge plans to accommodate these patients,” states a press release from county officials. “Our hospitals have begun using overflow areas and utilizing additional respiratory, ICU and emergency room staff, including those from the National Guard, to meet the needs of our communities.”
The most recent data available list more than 1,500 active COVID-19 cases in the county with 25 patients in the hospital and 14 of those in the ICU. Eight people have died in the county from the virus.
Region-wide, ICU capacity was listed at 12.7% as of press time.
The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions are also locked down at this time and the Bay Area is edging closer to meeting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s threshold.
El Dorado County Health Officer Nancy Williams reported the county will receive 975 doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer in a shipment expected this week. High-risk healthcare workers are slated to receive the vaccine first and then high-risk patients in skilled nursing facilities.
People will need two doses of the vaccine for it to be effective. Those in the general population are expected to get access to the vaccine in late spring or summer 2021.
Other companies are also releasing vaccines but those are expected to come after Pfizer’s. Williams said vaccines from different companies can’t be mixed; people shouldn’t take their first dose from one company and a second dose from another.
Local businesses are adjusting as best they can to the change during what would normally be a very busy season. Many local restaurants are offering curbside pickup and takeout while retail establishments are limiting visitors and offering curbside services. Residents are encouraged to call or visit the website of their favorite restaurants/businesses to find out how they can support them during this challenging time.
“It is more critical than ever before to spend our dollars with those in our chamber and in our community from home-base, to small to medium and large businesses,” notes El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Debbie Manning in a message to members. “Together we are making a difference and I am confident that we will continue to support each other and it will become as automatic as putting on our seatbelts.”
Original source can be found here
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