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COVID-19 updates: Several local events canceled – See the latest 

san luis obispo and paso robles covid-19 coronavirus update

–Because of the California State Health Department’s recently updated policy on gatherings due to concerns for the COVID-19 coronavirus, a number of upcoming events, schools, and meetings have been canceled in the county. Most recent updates are posted first, below:


12th Annual Paso Robles Dog Jog canceled

Due to the uncertainties surrounding the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the 12th Annual Paso Robles Dog Jog, scheduled for May 2, at Riverstar Vineyards, has been canceled for this year. The event is a benefit for the Paso Robles Sherwood Dog Park located on Scott Street in Paso Robles.


Estrella Warbirds Museum Warbirds Wings and Wheels event rescheduled

The Executive Board of the Estrella Warbirds Museum has rescheduled its 12th annual event, Warbirds, Wings, and Wheels from May 9 2020 to September 19, 2020, due to the coronavirus situation.


Meals that Connect – program changes, event cancelation

The Meals that Connect program will be making changes to the way they continue to provide valuable services to seniors in the community. Their dining sites, where about 40-percent of meals are served, will no longer serve community meals. Instead, seniors who normally come for a hot meal will be given a take-home meal in order to minimize potential community spread.

Volunteers who personally deliver meals for the homebound are now trained in how to safely hand off food while keeping a safe distance. Weighing client’s need for human contact and interaction against the risks associated with exposure, MTC is working under the direct guidance of the County Health Department.

Additionally, the non-profit, at a time of anticipated increase in demand, has canceled its primary fundraiser, Night of a Million Meals, which was scheduled for May 9, 2020. For more information click here. 


Update from County Planning and Building Department

Under the order that begins March 19, 2020 at 5 p.m., Planning and Building will only be providing essential public services that are necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community. In accordance with this order, non-essential staff will be working remotely and the Permit Center is closed to the public.

Essential services for the health and safety of our community include Building Inspections as outlined below, Code Enforcement issues that endanger health and safety of residents and Emergency Permits.

Building Inspections, Septic and Stormwater
Normal Building Inspections, Septic Inspections and Stormwater will continue to be performed daily. The ability to provide inspection services will be analyzed throughout the duration of the Shelter at Home Order.

Permit Issuance
Only Emergency Permits will be issued. Plan review on previously submitted projects will continue so that when the Shelter at Home Order is lifted projects will be ready for processing.

Emergency Permits
Emergency Permits are permits that are required to mitigate an immediate threat to health and safety. Examples of these types of permits – Electrical, plumbing or mechanical, structural damage, landslide, failed septic or sanitary sewer, or other catastrophic event.

Code Enforcement
Investigations needed to maintain the health and safety of our residents and community will continue

Update on Hearings
Effective immediately, all Department of Planning and Building hearings that are deemed non-essential, meaning anything that is not necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community, will be postponed until further notice. This includes items scheduled for Planning Department Hearings, Planning Commission, Subdivision Review Board, Cannabis Hearing Officer, Agricultural Preserve Review Committee, and Airport Land Use Commission. This also includes all Department of Planning and Building items scheduled for the Board of Supervisors.

Planning and Building staff will make every effort to reschedule these items as soon as it is safe to do so. Staff will be working remotely to comply with the order and will continue to process projects and prepare for upcoming hearings. Please note all responses to non-emergency inquiries may be slightly delayed. For further information on a specific project, please call (805) 781-5600, our general inquiry phone number, or email planning@co.slo.ca.us. For non-emergency inquiries, please leave a message at 805-781-5600 or visit sloplanning.org to fill out a Non-Emergency Inquiry form​.


Cuesta College Board of Trustees affirms State of Emergency

On Mar. 13, Dr. Stearns proclaimed a campus-wide State of Emergency effective as of Mar. 9. Until further notice:

• All courses are transitioning to online delivery, effective Mar. 19
• Community Programs courses are temporarily canceled, with the exception of online community education classes
• Cuesta College events and athletic competitions are canceled

The college campuses remain open to provide student access to equipment, technology, and resources necessary for successful completion of online classes. The Cougar Food Pantry is also available to students on both campuses during their regular hours.

Cuesta College continues to take action with guidance from the governor’s office, chancellor’s office, and state and local health agencies. Further instruction and assistance are forthcoming in response to the shelter-in-place order issued by San Luis Obispo County officials effective at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 19. For up-to-date information, visit cuesta.edu/covid-19.


County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries to Close Temporarily

Following the recommendation of the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department to maintain aggressive social distancing, the County of SLO Public Libraries will close all libraries today, March 18, until further notice. · During this closure all library programs, in-house services, and meetings are canceled.

· During this time, due dates for borrowed materials will be automatically extended, no late fees will be assessed, and patrons can return materials when libraries reopen. Don’t worry about returning materials until they reopen.
· The digital library will remain open and available 24/7 at slolibrary.org. There you can enjoy eBooks, audiobooks; streaming TV, movie and music services; learning classes and digital access to newspapers and magazines.


Atascadero Lakefest, Children’s Day in the Park moved to July 18

The Atascadero Lakefest and Children’s Day in the Park, previously slated for May 16, has been rescheduled for July 18.


All Kennedy Club fitness locations closed temporarily, classes canceled

All Kennedy Club Fitness locations on the Central Coast will be closing no later than Thursday, March 19. All classes have been canceled. Members will have their accounts credited for the days of the closure.


City hall, library, police lobby close immediately

In response to the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines provided by the President of the United States, Governor of the State of California and the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Public Health, Paso Robles City Offices will close immediately to the public. See story here.


Main Street Downtown Assn: Updates to event schedules, merchant services, relief, and recovery programs

–Downtown Paso Robles retail businesses, hotels, offices, restaurants, residents and cultural institutions are adjusting to Coronavirus-related disruptions. At Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association, they have taken precautions to limit exposure by implementing a remote work policy for our team, while continuing to deliver on our core mission to revitalize downtown Paso Robles through Restoration, Beautification and Preservation programs. As these programs directly impact the entire community, Main Street has important updates to share.

Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association Events
All spring Main Street membership mixers, and events have been postponed until further notice. This includes the following events: Hop to It, The Vintage Sidecar Rendezvous & Treasure Faire and the Paso Robles Olive Festival. As health and safety guidance dictates, we will update all residents, partners, volunteers, members, sponsors and vendors on new event dates, locations, logistics and sponsorship opportunities.

Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Merchant Services
Many of our downtown businesses have taken proactive steps to implement social distancing. We have been impressed and moved by the care our downtown businesses have for the community, sacrificing their livelihood to limit exposure and flatten the curve. All businesses and organizations wishing to update the community on changes of their services, hours of operation, delivery and take-out offerings and news; Main Street will distribute all business updates via email, website, and social media. All organizations and businesses, please send information to Main Street at info@pasoroblesdowntown.org, so they can update our community with the latest updates.

Resources from The City of Paso Robles
In response to the increasing spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) across the state, Paso Robles City Manager Tom Frutchey has declared a state of local emergency, effective 10 a.m. on March 17, 2020. The declaration allows for activation of the City’s Emergency Operations Center, which would qualify the city to receive federal reimbursement for COVID-19-related costs to the City and facilitate coordination with county, state, and federal emergency response teams. For up-to-date COVID-19 information, visit the City Resource Page for COVID-19.

Downtown Parking Update
As a result of COVID-19, food delivery services have increased. Delivery vehicles providing active pickup and delivery services will be exempt from the downtown parking restrictions through April 30. Delivery vehicles must be marked and/or display visible company logos. In addition, there are 21 short-term parking spaces available to members of the public and delivery vehicles throughout the Downtown. During this impacted time, Downtown employees should continue to comply with the permit parking regulations in order to maintain accessible, available and convenient parking for Downtown customers. Customers are encouraged to utilize the WayToPark mobile application to initiate their Free 2-Hour parking session. Pay stations will also be cleaned regularly. Effective through April 30, monies generated from the Downtown paid parking program can be donated to provide relief to Downtown workers and businesses impacted by COVID-19.


Smart and Final opening early for senior citizens

Smart and Final grocery stores announced a new policy: “Effective March 18, we are opening 30 minutes early, from 7:30-8 a.m., to accommodate shoppers aged 65 years or older and customers with disabilities.


Boys & Girls Clubs close all club-site operations

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mid Central Coast will be closing all club sites and operations until further notice.


California State Parks closes all campgrounds in state park system

California State Parks announced today the temporary closure of all campgrounds in the state park system to support state and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). As of today, non-campground outdoor areas of parks, including trails and beaches, remain open. Visitors are reminded to practice social distancing and maintain at least six feet between other visitors and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Restrooms also remain open, and visitors are advised to take soap for handwashing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers when water is not available.


ULTA Beauty store closed until at least March 31

Ulta Beauty stores across the U.S. as of 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 until at least Tuesday, March 31. If you’re shopping remotely, you can continue to use the Ulta Beauty app or at ulta.com. They’re now offering free shipping for any purchase of $15 or more, and will continue to offer their 60-day return policy. Note, buy online pick up in-store will also not be available during this time. To care for employees during this unprecedented time, they will continue to pay store and salon associates, as well as provide benefits for those who are currently enrolled.


AIDS/LifeCycle 2020 is canceled

AIDS/LifeCycle has announced today that the highly-anticipated seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles has been canceled this year in order to protect vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. AIDS/LifeCycle cyclists were scheduled to depart from Cow Palace on Sunday, May 31, and arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 6, with hundreds of volunteer “roadies” supporting them during their weeklong journey.


Spectrum says it is committed to maintaining network reliability

Spectrum Cable says it recognizes that network and communications services are vital to the community in not only keeping the public informed but allowing the social distancing required to slow down the spread of the virus through the population. It will be committed to maintaining network reliability, will keep it’s store locations open, clean and sanitized, will be practicing social distancing among its staff members, and will be encouraging the public to use digital and self-service options. For more information, click here. 


Estrella Warbirds Museum temporarily suspends operations

Out of concerns about the coronavirus, the Estrella Warbirds Museum will be closed beginning today, Monday, March 16, 2020 until Sunday, March 29, 2020. The evolving state of the coronavirus will be continuously evaluated to determine when the museum can be safely reopened. “Protecting the wellbeing of our visitors, staff and community is most important to me and our organization,” said Rob Kinnear, Museum President. Anyone with questions can go to the museum website at www.ewarbirds.org.


Eroica Bicycle Race postponed

The Eroica Bicycle Race, scheduled to take place April 3rd – 5th in Cambria, has been postponed until a later date.


Carnegie library closed through April 1

Due to a recent outbreak of COVID-19 in SLO County, effective immediately, the Carnegie Library in Downtown Paso Robles will be closed through April 1 as a precaution to safeguard the health of volunteers.


Local Rotary clubs cancel meetings

The Paso Robles Sunrise Rotary Club will suspend meetings until further notice, says Rotary Club President Sally Coons. The Paso Robles Rotary Club is canceling meetings for the next two weeks and donating the funds usually spent on lunches to local organizations that provide food for those in need, says Rotary Club President Nicolette Harley-Barth.


Templeton Area Advisory Group meeting canceled

The March 19 TAAG meeting is canceled. A special meeting will be rescheduled when it is safe to hold public gatherings.


SLOCOG closes offices

San Luis Obispo Council of Governments has closed its offices to the public until further notice, except by appointment only, call (805) 781-4219. Board members and advisory committee members have been provided teleconference information for meetings. SLOCOG will continue to offer space for members of the public to provide comment during meetings. SLOCOG encourages the public to watch Board meetings via SLO-SPAN. SLOCOG encourages employees to work from home. SLOCOG suspends all business-related travel through the end of March. (805) 781-4219.


Hearst Castle suspending tours

Hearst Castle in San Simeon will suspend all tours and events starting Monday due to the coronavirus, according to a news release. Full refunds will be given to anyone who wishes to cancel their tour this weekend, according to the release. Tour reservations made for future dates will be automatically canceled, and customers will be given full refunds. The Hearst Castle visitor center, including food services and gift shop, will remain open all week.


Paso Robles police limiting non-essential in-person contact

Effective immediately, the Paso Robles Police Department will implement measures to limit non-essential in-person contact. Officers will continue to gather evidence from serious crime scenes and make arrests as needed. Click here for more information. 


North County schools closed, classes canceled for weeks

The boards of trustees for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, Atascadero School District, and Templeton School District held emergency board meetings Friday afternoon and decided to close campuses and cancel all activities. Click here for the full story. 


City of Paso Robles changes several programs

The city is implementing changes to city programs that involve group gatherings, as follows:

  • City council, planning commission, and advisory committee meetings will continue to be held, with social distancing practiced to the greatest extent possible. City Council and Planning Commission meetings will be live-streamed and available to play later on YouTube. In addition, a call-in number will be available for Council and Planning Commission meetings through April (and possibly longer). Residents can call (888) 867-1694 and will be able to provide public comment via phone. Other commission and advisory committee meetings, which generally have lighter attendance, will continue to be held normally for the time being with social distancing measures in place.
  • Library Services and Hours – The Paso Robles City Library remains open. Access to materials for check out, computers, and wi-fi will be available but other services will be limited: All library-sponsored programs will be suspended March 16- 31. Library staff are looking for ways to offer virtual programming that may include book discussions and storytimes. More information will be provided on the library website and Facebook page.
  • The Friends of the Library Gift Shop will be closed and the acceptance of book donations will been suspended from March 16-31.
  • The Library Study Center located at 3600 Oak Street will be closed March 16th-April 13th in conjunction with the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s closure.
  • YMCA childcare programs are suspended March 16-April 13 in conjunction with the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s closure.
  • All recreation facilities, fields, courts, classes, reservations, and programs will be closed effective March 16-31. Parks locations will remain open as outdoor-only facilities during regular hours of operation. Restrooms will also remain open (with the exception of restrooms serving sports-fields).
  • The Senior Center will be closed March 16-31, with the exception that the Meals That Connect lunch program will occur on March 16. Staring Tuesday, March 17, the program will transition to a meal pick-up program. All other senior programs will be canceled until April 1. Staff will be working in the offices and available to respond to questions.

SLO County Jail suspends in-person inmate visits

In-person inmate visitation will be temporarily suspended until further notice. However, video visitation will still be available for inmates and their families. Click here to see more information from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. 


Cuesta College classes suspended, will move online

Cuesta College will move to online course delivery beginning Mar. 19. Classes are suspended, and will not meet, Monday, Mar. 16 through Wednesday, Mar. 18. Training for students and faculty on online tools and other technologies will begin at noon on Monday, March 16. Training schedules and locations are still to be determined. Cuesta College campuses will remain open. For more information click here. 

Cal Poly will hold virtual classes until at least April 17

Spring 2020 classes will be held online for at least the first two weeks of the quarter, according to the Mustang News. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong is also encouraging professors to hold online finals. For more information, click here. 


Paso Robles Children’s Museum closing

In response to the latest guidelines and information from the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, management has decided to close the Paso Robles Children’s Museum in tandem with our local schools and the SLO Children’s Museum. This closure will begin on March 16. They will be monitoring the situation closely to determine when the museum will reopen. All memberships will be extended for the time they remain closed.


Paso Basin Cooperative Committee meeting canceled

The Regular Meeting of the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at 4 p.m. at the City of Paso Robles Council Chambers, 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA has been canceled. For more information click here.


Sensorio Paso Robles closed until April 16

Bruce Munro Field of Light at Sensorio will be closed until April 16. Tickets may be transferred to a future date, or a refund may be requested. Email info@sensoriopaso.com with any questions.


SLO International Film Festival canceled

The 2020 SLO Film Festival scheduled for March 17-22, will be canceled. The festival staff will be in touch with ticket and pass holders with more information. Find out more here.


March events at San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center canceled

In accordance with Governor Newsom’s directive today, recommendations from public health authorities, in consultation with Cal Poly regarding slowing the spread of the COVID-19/coronavirus, and in conjunction with Cal Poly’s decision to limit campus operations, the Performing Arts Center is canceling or postponing all upcoming performances and events through March 31. Click here for more information. 


2020 Central Coast Craft Beer Festival postponed to June 20

The 2020 Central Coast Craft Beer Festival has been postponed to Saturday, June 20 from its original date of Saturday, March 28. Click here for more information. 


Honor Flight April trip postponed

An upcoming “Tour of Honor” trip slated to take 22 local veterans to Washington DC in April has been postponed at the urging of the national Honor Flight organization. According to Bear McGill, president of Honor Flight of the California Central Coast, local group leaders were already considering postponing the trip when Honor Flight National advised all hubs to suspend trips through April 2020. “We moved quickly to let our April attendees know the trip is being delayed,” said McGill. “It was disappointing, but the right thing to do. Most of our vets are of advanced age and their health is our top concern.” McGill said the group hopes to quickly reschedule the trip, “once we have confidence we can move ahead.” He notes Honor Flight has three additional trips (currently unaffected) scheduled for 2020, along with the anticipated April reschedule. “We’re staying focused – and flexible,” said McGill. To inquire about upcoming trips, send an email to info@honorflightccc.org. Additional information is available online at www.honorflightccc.org.


SLO County Hospice Bingo Bonanza postponed

The SLO County Hospice fundraiser Bingo Bonanza has been rescheduled for July 18 due to policies enacted to help lessen the rate of spread of the COVID-19 virus. Bingo Bonanza will now take place on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at SLO Vets Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are transferrable. For more information click here. 


Fremont Theatre concerts and events postponed

The Fremont Theatre released the following announcement in regards to its closure: In light of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement, and by recommendations of local and state public health authorities, in regards to the mitigation of COVID-19, the Fremont Theater has made the difficult decision to postpone all upcoming events beginning Saturday, March 14 through the end of the month. We will announce the new dates as they become available. All tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates. For further questions and concerns, email info@FremontSLO.com.


Downtown SLO Farmers Market closing

As a precaution, Downtown SLO has suspended its Thursday night Farmers’ Market through March. The organization says it will resume operations on April 2. For more information click here. 


State-wide impacts:

San Francisco schools closed

Officials announced Thursday that all San Francisco City Schools would close for three weeks to try to slow down the progress of the new coronavirus, according to a report by NBC Bay Area. San Francisco Unified School District joins districts in Seattle and Elk Grove, California, in shutting down classrooms. Click here for the full story. 


PG&E implements moratorium on disconnections for non-payment

Today, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has voluntarily implemented a moratorium on service disconnections for non-payment, effective immediately. This suspension will apply to both residential and commercial customers and will remain in effect until further notice. To further support customers who may be impacted by the pandemic, PG&E will offer its most flexible pay plans to customers who indicate either an impact or hardship as a result of COVID-19. PG&E will continue to monitor current events and identify opportunities to support our customers and communities. In addition to the moratorium on service shut-offs, PG&E’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is focused on efforts to protect the health and safety of its customers, employees, contractors and the communities it serves. Actions the company has taken include providing guidance for employees who have direct customer contact to take social distancing precautionary measures, such as avoiding handshakes and wearing disposable nitrile gloves while in customers’ homes. Customers who visit local offices to pay bills and are sick or experiencing symptoms are being asked to use other payment options such as online or by phone at 1-877-704-8470. For more information click here. 


So Cal Gas announces suspension of service disconnections

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced a suspension of service disconnections to any customers who are having a hard time paying their bill. This policy will remain in effect until further notice. Customers are encouraged to call 1-877-238-0092 to speak with a representative about their bill. SoCalGas customer service is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.


T-Mobile increasing capacity for customers; expand roaming for Sprint customers

In addition to measures announced Friday — removing smartphone data caps for all customers, adding more hotspot data, expanding data access for EmpowerED schools, free calling to severely impacted countries, free shipping and more — T-Mobile says it plans to expand capacity for customers with compatible devices for 60 days by deploying 600 MHz spectrum from multiple companies, in the markets where it can be quickly deployed. The FCC has led the way for an industry-wide response with the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, and these partnerships help address critical broadband needs during this pandemic. Pending FCC approval, T-Mobile expects to rapidly place this additional spectrum into service within days.

T-Mobile has also expanded roaming access for Sprint customers to use the T-Mobile network. With expanded roaming access, tens of thousands of locations nationwide, schools and families connected to Sprint’s network will have expanded coverage and capacity – including in rural areas – over the next 60 days.


Disneyland closed

Disney will close its California parks to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19. Click here to read a statement from the governor.


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About the author: News Staff

The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.