MANTECA, Calif. — The city of Manteca recommended On Monday that all residents shelter in place in an effort to fight the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
"If you can stay home, stay home, we do not want you out in the public right now if you don't need to go out," Lantz Rey, an Administrative Battalion Chief for the Manteca Fire Department said.
Manteca's emergency management officials are giving folks across the city a stern recommendation to shelter in place, just one day after several bay area counties put out a similar shelter in place order.
"That means you can go to the grocery store, you can go to your doctor's appointment, childcare, you're allowed to travel in the city, there is no legal order, the city of Manteca will not be arresting you for going outside of your home," Rey said.
They've transformed the city hall council chambers into their new Emergency Operations Center, where they made this decision in hopes of slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
"We feel that it's an important step, a good step and a safe step," he said.
Despite the new recommendations, it seemed like a regular day in Manteca on Tuesday.
"I'm not even panicking, I am not panicking, I'm still going out," Richard Laster, a Manteca homeowner said.
Streets were full of traffic, people were still out and about and many people still had to go work.
"It really couldn't have come at a worse time because the job is, we have a tight deadline and we're supposed to be done really soon, and it's a big money job so they need to get it done and I need to get my paycheck," Joel Dragoo, a welder for the Great Wolf Lodge construction project said.
While the city can't force anyone to stay home right now, city officials are asking businesses that are still open, to reconsider.
"If your employer is open and expecting you to go to work, go to work, however, to those employers out there, we would recommend that you take this very seriously, especially if you have employees that are 65 and older," Rey said
In addition, with the exception of "essential services," city hall will be closed beginning on Tuesday, March 17. Essential services include:
- Manteca Police Department
- Manteca Fire Department
- Garbage pick up: Will continue operations. Please continue to take out trash, recycle and yard waste on regularly scheduled pick up days. For questions, call (209) 649-7371.
- Water: Will continue to operate but the office will be closed. Utility will not be shut off if residents are unable to pay for issues related to coronavirus. Later fees for March that would have been due in April are now waived. For emergencies or utility stops, call (209) 639-4900.
- Sewer: Will continue to operate. Fore emergency issues, call (209) 456-8470.
- Street crews: Will be on-call during closure. For emergency street closures call (209) 235-8836.
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