CORONAVIRUS » Officials BUSINESSES CLOSE » COUNTY TOLD … · Crossword B9 Editorial A8...
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z WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM WINNER OF THE 2018 PULITZER PRIZE SANTA ROSA High 55, Low 38 THE WEATHER, C8 Advice B9 Business B10 Comics B8 Crossword B9 Editorial A8 Horoscopes B5 Lotto A2 Nation-World B1 Obituaries B3 Sonoma Feast D1 Sports C1 State news A6 HEAVY IMPACT ON RESTAURANTS: Hundreds of Sonoma County jobs at risk as businesses feel pain of virus-prevention restrictions / A3 ©2020 The Press Democrat A note to our readers in unpredictable times Dear Readers: A s you know, Sonoma County has now been included in the shelter- in-place order. Fortunately, media companies like The Press Democrat and our family of publications have permis- sion to continue operations in order to give you access to the important news and information you rely on every day. We have published without interrup- tion since 1857, just seven years after California joined the United States. Our journalists have worked through earthquakes, floods, power outages and historic wildfires. Now we all face a pan- demic virus, but our journalists contin- ue to work tirelessly, even from home, to keep you informed. You will notice some changes to The Press Democrat. Obviously, the sports and entertainment sections will shrink at the same time our local news pages will expand. Most important, we will continue to print and deliver the news- paper along with continuous updates to pressdemocrat.com. We have instituted many new precau- tions and procedures at our printing and distribution facility, including thorough cleaning of all equipment and work areas. We are also taking the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of your newspaper delivery person includ- ing the use of gloves for the folding and bagging of newspapers. We certainly appreciate their dedication every day. We are now living in unpredictable times. Please be prepared to access The Press Democrat digitally if it becomes necessary. If you have not done so, acti- vate your digital subscription at pressde- mocrat.com/activate. At the same time we recommend you download the two PD apps, one for the daily e-edition and one for breaking news. You can also sign up for regular breaking news emails. Just as we did during the firestorms, we are committed to keeping you in- formed. Thank you for your ongoing support. You can reach our customer service team at 707-575-7500. Please stay healthy and safe. Steve Falk CEO and Publisher PHOTOS BY BETH SCHLANKER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Gina Ward looks down the empty shelves as she searches for toilet paper at Molsberry Market in Larkfield-Wikiup on Tuesday. Ward says she has facial tissue that she can use in the meantime. Most stores are out of the essential product as a result of overbuying related to the coronavirus scare. Panic-buying strains stores Luann Capps of east Santa Rosa pushed her shopping cart past several shelves at Oliver’s Market in Montecito Shopping Cen- ter where toilet paper and cleaning supplies typically can be found. The shelves were bare Tuesday — the result of a week of shoppers panic-buying amid the coronavirus pandemic. “I probably should’ve worn a mask,” said Capps, 90. “I’m old and I do have health problems, but I’m doing the best I can do, and that’s what I’ll do.” Many people’s inclination to “immediate- ly freak out” and hoard food and paper prod- ucts is concerning, said Capps, as she looked down the narrow, partially empty aisle. She usually comes to this local market twice a week and doesn’t intend on changing her routine. She won’t join the ongoing rush to stock up on consumer staples that could surge even more because Sonoma County officials upended daily life and activities by order- ing most residents starting Wednesday to primarily stay at home except for running By WILL SCHMITT AND YOUSEF BAIG THE PRESS DEMOCRAT TURN TO FOOD » PAGE A7 Ray Botelho wears a respirator and gloves as he loads his groceries onto the checkout counter at Oliver’s Market in the Montecito Center in Santa Rosa on Tuesday. ‘ONSLAUGHT’ » Grocers say supply chain strong but stretched by rush, hoarding of staple items How life will change for next 3 weeks Sonoma County public health officials sounded a new alarm Tuesday over the expanding coronavirus outbreak and is- sued a singular message to res- idents: Unless absolutely neces- sary, stay at home. That’s the central point of the shelter-in-place order issued Tuesday by Sonoma County Interim Public Health Officer Sundari Mase. The mandate is designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus by restricting person-to-person interactions except where necessary to By MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT TURN TO ORDER » PAGE A2 EXPLAINING THE ORDER MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE INSIDE Some stores open: What’s closed and what isn’t during the shelter- in-place order / A2 Schools out: Governor says most institutions will stay closed till summer / A6 Checks, maybe: President plans on sending $1,000 in aid to every American / B1 Travel worries: Industry may lose 4.6M jobs by time virus is defeated / B10 Get well soon: A’s ask stricken fan to throw out first pitch once season starts / C1 COUNTY TOLD TO STAY HOME CORONAVIRUS » Officials give mandatory directive poised to last for 3 weeks DOCUMENTED CASES » Push to halt community spread as infection total reaches 6 BUSINESSES CLOSE » Some operations get exemption as others lay off workers Isolation aimed at heading off crisis Sonoma County’s public health officer has ordered res- idents to stay home for three weeks — apart from crucial errands — and limited all but essential business and govern- ment operations, a mandatory and unprecedented directive that went into effect Wednes- day and is aimed squarely at the growing threat of the coronavi- rus to the community. Daybreak begins an uneasy era for Sonoma County, as pub- lic life is largely set aside to lim- it the virus’ spread and avoid health crises like those that have unfolded across the globe, such as in China, Italy and Iran. Beyond trips to the grocery store, the doctor, the bank or other core errands, people should stay home. Essential work may continue to maintain the basic systems of modern life, from running water and trash collection to electrical and Internet systems. Restaurants By JULIE JOHNSON AND TYLER SILVY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT TURN TO HOME » PAGE A6
Transcript of CORONAVIRUS » Officials BUSINESSES CLOSE » COUNTY TOLD … · Crossword B9 Editorial A8...
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM
W I N N E R O F T H E 2 0 1 8 P U L I T Z E R P R I Z E
SANTA ROSAHigh 55, Low 38THE WEATHER, C8
Advice B9Business B10Comics B8
Crossword B9Editorial A8Horoscopes B5
Lotto A2Nation-World B1Obituaries B3
Sonoma Feast D1Sports C1State news A6
HEAVY IMPACT ON RESTAURANTS: Hundreds of Sonoma County jobs at risk as businesses feel pain of virus-prevention restrictions / A3
©2020 The Press Democrat
A note to our readers in unpredictable timesDear Readers:
As you know, Sonoma County has now been included in the shelter-in-place order. Fortunately, media
companies like The Press Democrat and our family of publications have permis-sion to continue operations in order to give you access to the important news and information you rely on every day.
We have published without interrup-tion since 1857, just seven years after California joined the United States. Our journalists have worked through earthquakes, floods, power outages and
historic wildfires. Now we all face a pan-demic virus, but our journalists contin-ue to work tirelessly, even from home, to keep you informed.
You will notice some changes to The Press Democrat. Obviously, the sports and entertainment sections will shrink at the same time our local news pages will expand. Most important, we will continue to print and deliver the news-paper along with continuous updates to pressdemocrat.com.
We have instituted many new precau-tions and procedures at our printing and
distribution facility, including thorough cleaning of all equipment and work areas. We are also taking the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of your newspaper delivery person includ-ing the use of gloves for the folding and bagging of newspapers. We certainly appreciate their dedication every day.
We are now living in unpredictable times. Please be prepared to access The Press Democrat digitally if it becomes necessary. If you have not done so, acti-vate your digital subscription at pressde-mocrat.com/activate. At the same time
we recommend you download the two PD apps, one for the daily e-edition and one for breaking news. You can also sign up for regular breaking news emails.
Just as we did during the firestorms, we are committed to keeping you in-formed.
Thank you for your ongoing support. You can reach our customer service team at 707-575-7500. Please stay healthy and safe.
Steve FalkCEO and Publisher
PHOTOS BY BETH SCHLANKER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Gina Ward looks down the empty shelves as she searches for toilet paper at Molsberry Market in Larkfield-Wikiup on Tuesday. Ward says she has facial tissue that she can use in the meantime. Most stores are out of the essential product as a result of overbuying related to the coronavirus scare.
Panic-buying strains stores
Luann Capps of east Santa Rosa pushed her shopping cart past several shelves at Oliver’s Market in Montecito Shopping Cen-ter where toilet paper and cleaning supplies typically can be found.
The shelves were bare Tuesday — the result of a week of shoppers panic-buying amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I probably should’ve worn a mask,” said Capps, 90. “I’m old and I do have health problems, but I’m doing the best I can do, and that’s what I’ll do.”
Many people’s inclination to “immediate-ly freak out” and hoard food and paper prod-ucts is concerning, said Capps, as she looked down the narrow, partially empty aisle. She usually comes to this local market twice a week and doesn’t intend on changing her routine.
She won’t join the ongoing rush to stock up on consumer staples that could surge even more because Sonoma County officials upended daily life and activities by order-ing most residents starting Wednesday to primarily stay at home except for running
By WILL SCHMITT AND YOUSEF BAIGTHE PRESS DEMOCRAT
TURN TO FOOD » PAGE A7
Ray Botelho wears a respirator and gloves as he loads his groceries onto the checkout counter at Oliver’s Market in the Montecito Center in Santa Rosa on Tuesday.
‘ONSLAUGHT’ » Grocers say supply chain strong but stretched by rush, hoarding of staple items
How life will change for next 3 weeks
Sonoma County public health officials sounded a new alarm Tuesday over the expanding coronavirus outbreak and is-sued a singular message to res-idents: Unless absolutely neces-sary, stay at home.
That’s the central point of the shelter-in-place order issued Tuesday by Sonoma County Interim Public Health Officer Sundari Mase.
The mandate is designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus by restricting person-to-person interactions except where necessary to
By MARY CALLAHANTHE PRESS DEMOCRAT
TURN TO ORDER » PAGE A2
EXPLAINING THE ORDER
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE INSIDE
Some stores open: What’s closed and what isn’t during the shelter-in-place order / A2
Schools out: Governor says most institutions will stay closed till summer / A6
Checks, maybe: President plans on sending $1,000 in aid to every American / B1
Travel worries: Industry may lose 4.6M jobs by time virus is defeated / B10
Get well soon: A’s ask stricken fan to throw out first pitch once season starts / C1
COUNTY TOLD TO STAY HOME
CORONAVIRUS » Officials give mandatory directive poised to last for 3 weeks
DOCUMENTED CASES » Push to halt community spread as infection total reaches 6
BUSINESSES CLOSE » Some operations get exemption as others lay off workers
Isolation aimed at heading off crisis
Sonoma County’s public health officer has ordered res-idents to stay home for three weeks — apart from crucial errands — and limited all but essential business and govern-ment operations, a mandatory and unprecedented directive that went into effect Wednes-day and is aimed squarely at the growing threat of the coronavi-rus to the community.
Daybreak begins an uneasy era for Sonoma County, as pub-lic life is largely set aside to lim-it the virus’ spread and avoid health crises like those that have unfolded across the globe, such as in China, Italy and Iran.
Beyond trips to the grocery store, the doctor, the bank or other core errands, people should stay home. Essential work may continue to maintain the basic systems of modern life, from running water and trash collection to electrical and Internet systems. Restaurants
By JULIE JOHNSON AND TYLER SILVY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
TURN TO HOME » PAGE A6
