Santa Cruz County has announced the temporary closure of all public parks, trails, trailheads and beaches from 11:59 p.m. April 8 to April 15. This new order is a supplement to the county’s existing shelter-in-place order.
The county’s order specifies that the following facilities and recreation areas are to be closed to the public as of April 8, 2020 and extending through April 15, 2020:
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All public trails, paths, parkways, trailheads, and campgrounds.
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All public beaches, piers and beach pedestrian or bike paths that traverse the beach.
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All public parks and recreation areas, including but not limited to dog parks, skate parks, pump tracks, playgrounds, golf courses, disc golf courses, pickleball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts and other public sports and recreation areas, as well as any picnic or canopy areas within such places used for congregation.
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All parking lots and access points to any of the facilities or areas listed above.
UC Santa Cruz is posting signage at its locations to remind the public of this new county order.
Wearing face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19
New guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health recommends wearing cloth face coverings when leaving home for essential travel (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Cloth face coverings serve to keep each of us from sharing respiratory “droplets” with those around us. Given the community spread of COVID-19 throughout Santa Cruz county and the Bay Area, some people may have been infected but will not have symptoms for several days, while others may be carriers of the virus but never show symptoms. Current information indicates that these people can unintentionally infect others around them.
In accordance with the CDC and California Department of Public Health guidance, we strongly encourage the campus community to use face coverings when in public settings, conducting essential work on campus, or entering campus dining facilities or other environments in which it may be difficult to maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet from other people.
Reusable cloth face coverings can be made from readily available items such as scarves, bandanas, or neck gaiters, as well as fitted masks that can be made at home or obtained online.
Face covering resources:
UCSC employees and students are welcome to use their own cloth face coverings. In addition, the campus is coordinating with campus partners to procure reusable cloth face coverings for essential staff working on campus and students living in on-campus housing who are unable to provide their own. Please note, these will be non-medical grade face coverings. Priority will be given to essential staff working on campus in close quarters and in confined indoor spaces, including dining services, housing staff, and custodial services.
Managers and supervisors should review this information with all essential employees who are physically on site, including those who visit the work site periodically. For employees and tasks that require close contact with others (less than 6 feet), contact EH&S at ehs@ucsc.edu for a workplace assessment and potential risk minimization support, including protective equipment.
Remember to shelter in place unless leaving home for essential tasks. Use frequent handwashing, maintain at least a 6 foot distance between you and others when engaging in essential activities in public, and wear a face covering to protect each other. Working together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
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The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and faculty is of the utmost importance, and we will continue to dedicate unified efforts to protect our campus community. If you have any questions, please email the Office of Emergency Services at oes@ucsc.edu. |
