••• “On Thursday evening, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide ‘stay at home’ order. Newsom’s executive order also marks the first mandatory restrictions placed on the lives of all 40 million residents in the state’s fight against the novel coronavirus. The order also prohibits gatherings in enclosed spaces of more than 10 people. […] The bottom line is that all Californians should be staying home, except for essential needs. When they do go outside for essential reasons, social distancing should be practiced at all times. Essential services such as gas stations, pharmacies, non-dine-in food establishments (grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, takeout and delivery restaurants), banks and laundromats will remain open across the state. Law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services will remain open, along with essential state and local government functions. You do not need to hoard or stockpile more food or supplies; stores will continue to be replenished.People can still leave their homes to care for a relative or a friend or seek healthcare services.” This quote is from the L.A. Times’s Essential Californian email newsletter, which is pretty handy; the article about Newsom’s order is here.
••• “Santa Barbara County will issue a public health order which will prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people. The order also requires residents 75 or older or anyone over 70 with underlying health conditions to shelter in their homes. The health officer order will be put in place Friday at 5 p.m.” —KEYT
••• “Five more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County. […] The five additional cases now brings the total number of positive cases in the county to eight.” Other reports put the total at nine. Also: one is a Santa Barbara City College student. —KEYT and KEYT
••• “Lee Enterprises recently sold the Santa Maria Times, Lompoc Record, and Santa Ynez Valley News to a group of [Canadian] executives who have purchased a number of publications throughout the state and country in recent years. […] Melanie Walsh and Roland McBride are listed as the company’s president and vice president, respectively, on state business filings. Walsh and McBride are also listed on documents for other companies that were formed prior to purchasing smaller newspapers around the state in recent years.” Those include the Bakersfield Californian, the Antelope Valley Press, the Lodi News-Sentinel. —Santa Maria Sun
••• “Cachuma Lake and Jalama Beach County Park campgrounds will be temporarily closed until April 6 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.” —KEYT
••• “The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is closing all playgrounds in Santa Barbara parks until further notice. This includes Skater’s Point skatepark and all outdoor exercise equipment in City parks. All parks will remain open to the public during their usual hours from sunrise to half-an-hour past sunset.” —KEYT
••• “With many of its regular volunteers falling into the age group recommended to self-isolate at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the demand for food expected to increase, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is looking for reinforcements and donations.” —Noozhawk
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