El Cerrito Declares State Of Emergency: Coronavirus

EL CERRITO, CA — The City of El Cerrito proclaimed a local emergency Friday in response to new coronavirus, COVID-19. An Emergency City Council was held at 4 p.m.

El Cerrito is cancelling all non-essential public meetings, events, programs, and classes through the end of March. This includes programs at the Community Center, the Swim Center, the Midtown Activity Center.

The proclamation gives the city the legal authority and flexibility to mobilize resources to protect the community. It also allows the city to request mutual aid from regional, state, and other governmental entities. You may read a copy of the proclamation on the city's website.

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City Manager Karen Pinkos said during the meeting that the health and safety of the community is behind this declaration, “The success of our actions may be invisible. People often wonder if are we overreacting in our response because in the end nothing may happen; but in this case, 'nothing' happening is exactly what we are trying to achieve.”

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• 25 Cases Of Coronavirus In Contra Costa County
• Coronavirus: Mt. Diablo Unified Cancels School
• School Canceled In Pinole, Hercules For 3 Weeks