TEMECULA – The city of Temecula formalized a Proclamation of Local Emergency Tuesday, March 17 based on the rapidly evolving challenges to slow the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Yesterday evening, by Order of the Riverside University Health System-Public Health (RUHS-Public Health), who is the official public health authority for our region, public gatherings have now been restricted from 250 individuals to no more than 10 within the same space until April 30, 2020,” Temecula Mayor James “Stew” Stewart said.
While no COVID-19 cases are reported within the city of Temecula, Mayor Stewart acknowledges the necessity of swift measures to ensure the public health and safety of our community and adds, “I urge Temecula to unite with patience and perspective that these restrictions are temporary, and are being implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of our families and neighbors while also minimizing the impacts to first responders, hospitals, and medical providers.”
Last week, the city closed all of its community facilities and canceled or postponed events and activities at the direction of RUHS-Public Health to encourage social distancing, and prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases within our region that could overwhelm local hospitals. A full list of City closures is published online www.TemeculaCA.gov/coronavirus.
“The city of Temecula is underway with creative efforts to support the community during this historic and challenging time. For example, we are ensuring that the temporary closure of the Mary Philips Senior Center does not disenfranchise our elderly and vulnerable population from the low-cost lunches they looked forward to each day so the city, in partnership with Office on Aging and the City’s meal vendor Sodexo, will be offering a week’s worth of meals for curbside pickup each Friday at the Senior Center,” Mayor Stewart said.
The city’s local economy is not immune from this global health emergency and the difficult impacts businesses, hotels, wineries, restaurants, and their workforce are facing social restrictions.
The city’s Economic Development Division is refocusing its efforts to seek innovative ways that can support local businesses throughout this pandemic and in collaboration with the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visit Temecula Valley.
Mayor Stewart advises everyone to follow the directives of the Centers for Disease Control, “Wash hands frequently, clean and disinfect surfaces often, sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue, and practice social distancing but also find ways to check in on your neighbor, buy takeout food from restaurants, purchase items from local stores online, and let Temecula be the example of calm and kindness to each other and to our local businesses because we are all in it together, and this too shall pass,” he said.
The city’s Emergency Proclamation, signed today by City Manager Aaron Adams, will enable the city to streamline logistical resources and recovery measures needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be considered for adoption by the Temecula City Council at its next meeting on Tuesday, March 24 which is televised on channel 3. Please monitor the City of Temecula webpage and social media for new information and important links regarding COVID-19.
Submitted by the city of Temecula
