Cathedral City Issues New Emergency Order

Cathedral City Issues New Emergency Order to Help Prevent COVID-19 from Spreading

CATHEDRAL CITY — The City Council directed the City’s Emergency Services Director to issue a new Emergency Order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  Effective immediately, the Emergency Order mandates the following within the city limits for the health and safety of our residents and visitors:

• Masks must be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status in public places, such as retail and grocery stores, restaurant, bars and gyms. Exceptions include while eating and drinking as well as children under the age of 2 years and those who have a medical condition that prevents wearing a facial covering certified by a doctor’s order. It would also include those at home and those seeking services at a salon and/or facial services. Palm Springs was the first city in Coachella Valley to require this.
• City Buildings will be closed to the public with services available online, telephone, and in-person by appointment only.
  Face coverings are mandated for large outdoor events and gatherings where you cannot safely social-distance between others outside of your household.
• Masks must be worn by employees and guests in all city-controlled buildings.

In addition, effective no later than September 1, 2021, the council voted to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours must be shown for patrons entering a restaurant and/or bar with the exception of children under age 12 or those with a medical condition.

Once City Management meets and confers with its collective bargaining units about the effects, the city will require employees to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test weekly.

Riverside County, which includes Cathedral City, has seen coronavirus cases surge in the past month.  The county’s case rate is now 25.7 people per 100,000 and a positivity rate of 11.6%.  Although these numbers are well below the peak from the holidays, the trajectory of the coronavirus spreading is going in the wrong direction.  The steps taken by the city council are to help mitigate further spreading of the coronavirus.

Each of us plays a role in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.  According to the CDC and leading health experts, your best defense to avoid getting severely ill from COVID-19 and the Delta variant is to get the FDA approved vaccines authorized for emergency use.  To schedule a vaccination appointment, contact your medical provider or local pharmacy.  To schedule an appointment through the Riverside County Department of Health, click here or to learn about the safety of the vaccines, click here or go to your medical provider.  There are no more long lines, wait times, or the need to drive any far distance.

By getting vaccinated, you can significantly reduce your chances of being hospitalized.  By getting vaccinated, you can keep your family and community safe.  By getting vaccinated, you can help keep our businesses open and the economy growing in California.  By wearing a mask indoors, you help slow the COVID-19 spread.

To get an electronic copy of your vaccination card, simply click here.