SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg had strong words for protesters who came to California's capital city to protest the state's coronavirus stay-at-home orders.
"What happened today is really unacceptable to me, it's irresponsible," Steinberg told ABC10. "It is not acceptable when you flagrantly violate the public health."
California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Josh Ehlers said 32 people were arrested and cited for violated a public health order, and one person was booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
"We are staunch supporters of people's first amendment rights but we want them to do things safely," Ehlers said.
In an interrview with ABC10 shortly after the protest began to filter off, Steinberg preached patience, saying things will begin to get back to normal soon.
Steinberg said that retail, manufacturing and childcare could reopen in two to three weeks.
"It's time to get back, but we have to do so in a way that is safe," Steinberg said. "The worry is that your business is going to close down again and for a longer period of time to where you really won't be able to recover if we don't do this right."
PHOTOS: Dozens arrested after hundreds storm California's Capitol to protest stay-at-home orders
Ehlers said the mass gathering was unsanctioned, and with the crowd getting too massive they were forced to move protesters to the sidewalk.
Last week, after a similar protest against stay-at-home orders that saw hundreds of people not following public safety guidelines, CHP announced that it would no longer issue permits for rallies on Capitol grounds while the public health order is still in place.
WATCH: View of protests from above.
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WATCH MORE: Operation May Day protests California Stay at Home Order
Coronavirus Background
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine; however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
WHY HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SO CONCERNED
Some people have compared the low overall death toll to the flu's high annual death toll in the United States as a reason not to be concerned about COVID-19, however, doctors and health officials are concerned for three main reasons:
- Some people have built up immunity to the flu, but few have immunity to COVID-19 version of coronavirus.
- Both the flu and COVID-19 are spread by droplets, but COVID-19 might be spread in the air. Scientists are researching exactly how COVID-19 spreads.
- The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public where social distancing measures would be difficult to maintain, like at a grocery store or pharmacy.
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