Shelter in place citations unlikely

Law enforcement to focus on education, compliance

Sheriff’s deputies and other local law enforcement don’t plan to actively monitor and enforce the Monterey County shelter in place order issued on Tuesday, and will focus on education and compliance instead of citations.

Issued by Monterey County Public Health Officer Dr. Ed Moreno in the wake of the county’s first two confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the mandatory order requires county residents to stay home except to “provide or receive essential services or engage in certain essential activities,” such as shopping for food

and other necessary supplies, or even engage in isolated outdoor activity, or to work for “essential businesses and governmental agencies.”

All businesses and governmental agencies are required to halt all “non-essential operations” in the county, and restaurants and other food service operations are limited to takeout and delivery service. All “non-essential” gatherings of any number of people are prohibited, as is all “non-essential” travel. Social distancing, defined as maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others, is required during all activities.

The order took effect just after midnight on Wednesday and will last until just before midnight on April 7, unless it’s modified or extended.

According to Sheriff’s spokesman Chief Deputy John Thornburg, Sheriff Steve Bernal met with local police chiefs on Tuesday to discuss the approach to enforcing the order issued under the authority of state law. Violations of the order are categorized as misdemeanors and carry with them penalties of up to 90 days in jail and fines of up to $50,000.

“The biggest part of this is on the front end with education; we want people to understand what is expected of them and comply,” Thornburg said. “This is not martial law. People can go places but it’s important to comply with social distancing and avoid large crowds.

“But if someone openly violates the order and we know about it — a bar is open late at night — we will respond. We’ll try to educate the owner and allow compliance. If it continues then we can issue a citation, but we’re not going out to find violations.”

Thornburg said the county jail will remain open and accept new inmates, noting that it has been screening for potential new coronavirus cases since Feb. 1. Three inmates have been tested thus far, he said, and two have tested negative with a third test pending.

County Health Department spokeswoman Karen Smith said health officials are “hoping for voluntary cooperation” more than anything during the threeweek term, which she said was intended to be long enough to “do some good” while avoiding longer-term impacts, though she also noted the order could be revised in the future.

“We don’t want it to be draconian,” Smith said, “but there are (enforcement) options available. We really don’t want to enforce the order, we want people to cooperate. We know people are concerned about their livelihoods, we know this puts a crimp in people’s plans, but we believe this is necessary.”

While Smith said anyone who is sick is encouraged to seek medical help, including doctor’s visits, the department on Tuesday issued an advisory asking patients not to visit the department’s health clinics until they call ahead first to seek guidance on what they should do and leave all family members home. Sick people are also being advised not to visit local hospitals’ emergency departments until they have checked in with their doctor

or other primary care provider first.

Also Tuesday, county Treasurer-Tax Collector Mary Zeeb clarified that she doesn’t have the authority to extend the April 10 property tax payment deadline or waive late payment penalties without a state order despite the challenges associated with the coronavirus and the shelter in place order. Zeeb did indicate that if the Treasure-Tax Collector office is closed on that date, property tax payments would be accepted without penalty on the next business day the office is open to the public. She recommended taxpayers submit payments by remote means such as electronic payments or by mail via check or money order. And she pointed out that the county, cities, school districts and special districts rely on the property tax revenue for their continuing operations, and must be able to “provide critical services” in a crisis.

And on Wednesday, the county Department of Social Services issued a notice committing to “ensuring the continuity of essential services” during the coronavirus pandemic and shelter in place order, including child welfare, adult protective and in-home support services, community benefits eligibility functions, and human resources and administrative services. As part of the notice, the department provided a list of phone numbers, open hours and other information regarding those services, including electronic benefit cards, temporary financial

assistance to economically disadvantaged families, welfare-to-work, child care and family stabilization, senior information and referral services, foster care and adoption, and military and veterans affairs, among others.