Residents ordered to stay home

Wasco residents, like those throughout the state, are under orders to stay home and "shelter in place" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom told residents of California last Thursday that he was issuing a mandate that residents of California stay home, although the order does not include essential services.

Essential services include grocery stores, health care facilities, law enforcement, gas stations, car repair shops and financial institutions. The order allows people to go to the grocery store if they need to, but even then, residents are encouraged to practice the safe social distance to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Shafter Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann spoke for other law enforcement officials, saying the governor's directive is a simple recommendation for Californians to stay home if at all possible to curb the spread of the virus. It is a logical recommendation that should be given the highest consideration.

Zimmermann said that for the residents of Shafter, it should mean the same thing it means to any other Californian. "Unless otherwise stated, the governor's comments are meant to provide leadership and guidance for all Californians in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus."

He also stated that, at this point, Shafter's public services are congruent with those recommended in the region. To date, Zimmermann said that they have been working very closely with the leadership of the state, Kern County and the other Kern municipalities.

When asked if his police force would talk to residents who are not following the directive, Zimmermann said, "At this point, the role of Shafter's public servants will be the same – to provide every possible service that we can."