SACRAMENTO, CA — Amid the growing coronavirus crisis in California and beyond, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday placed California National Guard troops on alert. The announcement came the same day residents in nearly all nine San Francisco Bay Area counties were told to shelter in place for the foreseeable future.
“As Californians make sacrifices and stay home, we are immensely grateful for medical providers, first responders and National Guard personnel who are assisting those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19,” Gov. Newsom said.
The announcement was made in the governor’s capacity as commander-in-chief of the California National Guard, and follows through on Newsom’s commitment to mobilize state personnel and assets to protect local communities and fight the spread of COVID-19, according to a statement from his office.
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Newsom directed the California National Guard to be prepared to perform humanitarian missions across the state, including food distribution and ensuring resiliency of supply lines, and to be ready to support public safety as required — all of which, according to the governor’s office, are duties consistent with those routinely performed by the California National Guard during natural disasters and other emergencies within the state.
As of Tuesday evening, there were 6,362 coronavirus cases in the United States and 108 deaths, including 12 deaths and 682 cases in California, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Newsom also hinted Tuesday at the possibility that public schools across the state, many of which are already closed until early April to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, may stay shuttered for the rest of the school year.
“Let me be candid … don’t anticipate schools are going to open up in a week, please don’t anticipate in a few weeks,” Newsom said, acknowledging that “6-plus million kids in our system and their families need to make some plans.”
“I would plan and assume that it is unlikely that many of these schools, few if any, will open before the summer break,” the governor said.
Emergency legislation signed Tuesday by the governor provides up to $1 billion for increasing hospital capacity, cleaning and sanitizing schools, and protecting Californians most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The funds were approved within one day and across party lines, Newsom said.