Sutter Creek, CA – With increasing cases statewide of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Amador County Health Officer Dr. Rita Kerr is issuing a Stay at Home Order for all residents of Amador County. This order serves to enhance measures already being taken to slow the spread and preserve critical health care capacity. The intent of this Order is to supplement and clarify the statewide order to stay at home issued by the Governor on March 19, 2020, and to ensure the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible.
The order announced by Dr. Kerr will begin immediately and last for at least two weeks, until 11:59 PM on April 3, 2020.

“Temporarily making these drastic changes to our lives and routines may be frustrating, but it is critical to slowing the spread of the virus,” says Dr. Rita Kerr, Amador County Health Officer, “We must weigh the loss of some freedoms we enjoy with the ability to separate healthy people who may not show symptoms from those at risk who may be inadvertently exposed.”

This order is similar to ones issued earlier this week by other counties limiting activity, travel and business function to the most essential needs. Essential businesses and operations should remain open. This order does not affect essential government services – services to protect the health, safety and welfare of communities. It also makes provision for our agricultural community and fieldworkers who keep food in our markets and on our table, and provide other products for personal consumption.

The term “stay at home” is a more rigorous form of social distancing. The goal is to limit groups congregating together to stop the further spread of the virus; it is not a complete social shutdown. It means to stay in your home and not leave unless necessary for one of the designated exceptions. For most people, this means you and those you live with should remain at home. You can leave your home for specified reasons to make sure you have the necessities of life such as getting food and medical supplies. You are also allowed to go outside to take care of pets, go on a walk, and just be outdoors, so long as you do not congregate in a group and maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other people.

Amador County residents should continue to practice the other precautionary measures such as handwashing and using hand sanitizer and if you are sick you should self-isolate, including, to the extent you can, from others you live with.

If you have specific questions about what activities are covered under the Order, please see the Stay at Home Frequently Asked Questions on the Amador County Public Health webpage: https://www.amadorgov.org/services/covid-19 .
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