On March 12, 2020 California Governor Newsom and state public health officials announced that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines.
“Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease,” said Governor Newsom in announcing the state’s new policy. “Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now. The people in our lives who are most at risk – seniors and those with underlying health conditions — are depending on all of us to make the right choice.”
Exercising an abundance of caution, the Rt. Rev. David Rice, the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, has instructed ECCO to close for a period of two weeks beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. Groups that were scheduled to be at ECCO between March 16-30, 2020 have been notified of the closure. The Diocese of San Joaquin will continue to monitor developments and keep leaders of groups with upcoming events and employees informed of any changes. ECCO is working with leaders of groups affected by this closure to re-book events at a later date.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said: “So look out for your neighbors, look out for each other. Look out for yourselves. Listen to those who have knowledge that can help to guide us medically and help to guide us socially. Do everything that we can to do this together, to respond to each other’s needs and to respond to our own needs.”
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