SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Monday ordered all residents to stay home unless engaging in “essential services.”
The shelter-in-place order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday and lasts through April 7, is an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.
“The intent of this order is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible,” the order reads.
Violation of the order is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment or both, according to the order.
Monterey County is expected to consider a similar measure later today.
In issuing the order, Santa Cruz County joins Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and the City of Berkeley.
The orders are the strongest measure taken yet by local public officials since the virus began its worldwide spread.
Santa Cruz County is holding a press conference today at 5:30 p.m.
This story will be updated.
