A rough week with Covid-19

A rough week with Covid-19

TONI DeROSA

The Wasco Tribune

Just as many Wasco residents were beginning to feel comfortable about heading out for a meal at their favorite restaurant, Covid-19 reminded them it’s not so safe to do so. As the virus explodes in parts of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the closing to indoor dining of restaurants and other indoor businesses in 19 counties, including Kern County, and recently a Wasco resident lost both her father and mother to the virus.

Resident Cathy McDaniel’s father, Billy Joe Cox, died on June 27 of complications due to Covid-19. Just three days later, McDaniel lost her mother, Gloria Cox, to the virus. Both had been hospitalized in Bakersfield. Attempts to reach McDaniel were unsuccessful.

On July 2 Newsom ordered that restaurants, bars, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, museums, and card rooms close for the next three weeks. Newsom explained that he is not shutting down the restaurants or businesses, but is closing dine-in to reduce the opportunity for people to get together in groups.

Café 101 immediately stopped dine-in service, as did Hoyetts. Panda Express continues pick-up service only.

Catrinas Mexican Grill and Cantina has been closed for a week due to the death of owner Cesar Daniel Marquez Chavez on June 28.

Several stores such as Cacheras Gema on 7th Street require everyone who enters the store to wear a mask. Fiesta Supermarket employees all wear masks, but the store was not enforcing customers to wear a mask.

Luis Fernandez from True Value said that since the surge in positive test results, both stores are mandating the wearing of masks for all customers.

{BOX] City Hall offices remain closed to the public; however, the city is still providing full services. For more information regarding the city’s current operations, visit cityofwasco.org

{BOX] The city recently launched a new, more user-friendly website with a new web address cityofwasco.org. You can even sign up to receive alerts and notifications from the city.

Below are links to information regarding the pandemic EBT program as well as the Kern Recovers PPE Support program.

--cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/EBT/Pandemic/P-EBT-Outreach-Flyer-Phase-3-English.pdf.

--cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/EBT/Pandemic/P-EBT-Outreach-Flyer-Phase-3-Spanish.pdf.

--kerncounty.com/government/kern-recovers-ppe-support-program

Keri Cobb would like to hear from anyone if they are interested in participating in a future Community Breakfast Zoom meeting. You can let her know by emailing her at the city website.

School districts are still up in the air with their plans for the 2020-21 school year. Additional information may be forthcoming the closer to the opening of school it gets, which will be Aug. 10 for WUESD and Aug. 12 for WUHSD.