New Public Health Order Restrictions

On March 31, the County of Santa Clara issued a new Shelter in Place Order, now extending through May 3. The new Order is more restrictive than the previous one and includes changes to outdoor activities, as well as what is defined as an essential business.

It is absolutely necessary that everyone shelters at home. Below are some of the new restrictions and clarifications included in the Order:

Use of playgrounds, dog parks, public picnic areas, and similar recreational areas is prohibited.
Use of shared public recreational facilities such as golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, and pools is prohibited.
Sports requiring people to share a ball or other equipment must be limited to people in the same household.
Essential businesses must develop a social distancing protocol by April 3.
Most construction—residential and commercial—is now prohibited.
Funerals are limited to no more than 10 attendees.
Essential businesses are expanded to include service providers that enable residential transactions (notaries, title companies, realtors, etc.), funeral homes and cemeteries, moving companies, rental car companies, and rideshare services that specifically enable essential activities.
Essential businesses that continue to operate facilities must scale down operations to their essential component only.

You can learn about how the new Public Health Order impacts City services and find links to the new Order, helpful summaries, and frequently asked questions about how to comply with the Order on the City website at www.saratoga.ca.us/COVID19

Community Assistance and Volunteer Opportunities

While uncertain times can be trying, they often bring communities together. If you need help shopping for groceries, preparing meals, getting medications, or with other essential activities, there are many local and countywide organizations offering assistance. If you’re looking for an opportunity to give back to the community during this time, many of these groups need donations and volunteers to help with their efforts.

Santa Clara County residents can call or text 2-1-1 for assistance and information on COVID-19. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Questions can be answered in 150 languages. If you need help determining which resources are right for you, 2-1-1 is the best place to start.

Please remember that sheltering at home is proven to slow the spread of novel coronavirus. If everyone decreases the number of people they come into contact with, it decreases the number who might get sick from someone who is infected. We understand that staying home for this long can be a challenge, but we thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe. We have compiled a list of free activities you can do from home to help alleviate your cabin fever.

Through our collective efforts, we can bring #SaratogaTogether while staying apart. Be well!