Coronavirus Update - March 16

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

As coronavirus continues to spread, Bay Area public health officials have established new measures to protect our communities.

Bay Area Shelter in Place

• Everyone in the Bay Area is ordered to self-isolate at their place of residence;
• Essential services such as health care, emergency services, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and banks will remain open;
• All transportation on bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, public transit, etc. is prohibited unless an individual is traveling to complete an essential function or to work in an essential job;
• All non-essential businesses are ordered to close;
• All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a private household are prohibited;
• It is okay to go outside for walks as long as individuals are not in a group.

Below is the latest on the outbreak in the United States:

• 4,661 confirmed cases;
• 89 deaths
• 575 confirmed cases in California;
• 69 individuals have died in the U.S.;
• 11 people have died in California.

The pandemic has affected our local community as well. In Contra Costa County:

• 29 people are confirmed infected with the virus;
• The Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency;
• The majority of schools in Contra Costa have closed for two weeks or longer;
• The County Superior Court will close temporarily;
• As stated above, health authorities recommend gatherings over 100 people or those where a 6 foot separation between each participant cannt be assured be suspended.

To help protect yourself and community the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people take the following steps:

• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick;
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately throw away the tissue;
• Avoid touching your eyes, face, nose, and mouth;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces;
• Stay home when you are sick except to get medical care;
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

In an effort to help address the spread of coronavirus, several tour locations in Washington, DC are currently closed to the public. Please see below for updated information on restrictions and closures.

United States Capitol Building - Public tours suspended from March 12th-April 1st.
White House - Tours temporarily suspended.
Library of Congress - Closed to the public from March 12th through March 31st. Tours are also cancelled during that time.
Kennedy Center - Closed to the public from March 12th through March 31st.
State Department - Tours suspended until April 6th.
FBI Experience - Closed indefinitely beginning March 13th.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing - All tours suspended indefinitely