Natomas Leaders Respond to Virus Concerns

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg held a live press conference shortly after 12 p.m. Thursday, March detailing the city’s response to new guidance from state health officials to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and how officials plan to support those impacted financially during this time. Read More

Schools Closed, Events Canceled in Effort to Slow Spread of COVID-19

BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Updated 5 p.m. p.m. March 13, 2020

Natomas-area leaders are taking to heart Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to implement cautionary measures to slow the spread of novel coronavirus in California.

“Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now,” Gov. Newsom said in a press conference Wednesday.

North Natomas Little League Leaders took the lead sending a message out to its families first thing this morning, March 12 that it would be following the recommendations issued by California health officials and postpone events with large gatherings of 250 people or more. As a result, the league will delay its picture day and hit-a-thon originally set for Saturday, March 14 as well as its opening day festivities planned for the Friday, March 20.

Just before noon today, the Natomas Unified School District messaged its families that while the district has no known cases of COVID-19, at least one student at Natomas High School came to school while exhibiting potential symptoms of the virus.

“Today, I am announcing the closure of our schools tomorrow Friday, March 13th, and Monday, March 16th,” read the message from district Superintendent Chris Evans.

All Natomas Unified campuses will be deep cleaned during this extended weekend, according to a social media post by school board president Lisa Kaplan.

Both Natomas Charter and Westlake Charter schools will also be closed tomorrow and Monday.

All three of Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep’s campuses will now be closed tomorrow after school officials became aware that a student at their elementary school exhibited some symptoms and was being tested for the virus.

“While we do not have a confirmed positive at our school and will not know the test results for a few days, we are going to take preventative measures to ensure the health of all of our students and will be closing all of our schools tomorrow, March 13,” read the message sent to parents at 6:30 p.m.

Natomas Pacific Pathways prep had planned to hold classes tomorrow, already a scheduled half day, and observe its spring break as planned March 16-27.

In South Natomas, Stanford Settlement executive director Julie Rhoten announced the closure of its senior center to those attending lunch today.

“While we have temporarily closed the Senior Center building, our nutrition, transportation, and socialization services will continue in an alternate manner that will not place our participants at risk of infection,” Rhoten said.

A representative from Vice Mayor Jeff Harris’ office confirmed just after 12 p.m. press conference at City Hall that the Natomas Youth Baseball and Natomas Girls Softball opening day parade planned for Saturday, March 14 has been canceled. Harris, who represents Gardenland, Northgate and most South Natomas, was sponsoring the event with Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna.

At about 1 p.m. today the Los Rios Community College District, which includes the American River College satellite campus in Natomas, announced it is suspending all face-to-face classes and face-to-face student interactions effective tomorrow, March 13.

Here’s a roundup of Natomas-area closures and event cancellations:

Natomas Unified School District – All field trips, professional development, and extracurricular activities scheduled for this afternoon, Thursday, March 12 through Monday, March 16 are canceled or will be rescheduled, except after school programs, which will operate this afternoon, March 12 only. All before and after school programs at school sites will be closed on Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16. Open houses planned for next week will be rescheduled or potentially canceled. The district will communicate to families Sunday evening its plans for Tuesday. Natomas High School will be deep cleaned. The district will provide free meals to all children 18 and under during campus closures.
Westlake Charter School – School will continue today along with scheduled Parent Teacher Conferences. BASE will also remain open today, March 12. The school will communicate again 6 p.m. Sunday during its regularly scheduled call. The school will be closed Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16. The closure applies to all school-related programs, including BASE. Parent Teacher Conferences and the Middle School Fishbowl are also cancelled but may be rescheduled.
Natomas Charter School – All programs will be closed Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16. All extracurricular activities scheduled for this afternoon, Thursday, March 12 through Monday, March 16 are canceled or will be rescheduled with the exception of the BASE program, which will operate this afternoon, March 12 only. The BASE program will be closed Friday March 13 and Monday, March 16.
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep – The K-12 school will begin its two-week Spring Break on Friday, March 13. During the break, all three NP3 schools will continue deep cleaning all campuses. MAP will also be closed tomorrow, but is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 16.
American River College – Beginning Wednesday, March 18, all Los Rios facilities will be closed, and the district will begin 100% remote operations including moving all classes and student services online until further notice. Starting Wednesday, March 18 all campus facilities will be closed to all students, faculty, staff, and community members; however instructional, student services, and operational responsibilities will continue online or remotely. For the days beginning Friday, March 13, and through Tuesday, March 17, faculty and staff may offer some online or remote instruction and services at the discretion of individual faculty and staff. Students should reach out to their professor(s) regarding the status of each specific class(es).
North Natomas Little League – All league activities activities have been suspended through April 6. The league had planned proceed with practices and its opening day ceremony, but pivoted based on the recommendation from Little League International.
Natomas Youth Baseball – All league operations are being suspended until April 6 including practices, games, trainings, gatherings, etc. Fields will also be closed during this time. Despite canceling its opening day parade, the league had planned to continue practices and games but revised this decision at the recommendation of PONY Baseball and Softball.
Natomas Girls Softball – All softball related activities are being temporarily suspended until no earlier than April 1 at the recommendation of USA Softball of Sacramento. This includes the Youth Recreational Leagues, the Youth Select Program, the Youth Travel Team program, the Adult Recreational League Program and the Adult Tournament Program.
Stanford Settlement – Lunch service to seniors will continue although not at the senior center. After school children’s and teen center programs will continue on a day-by-day basis.
South Natomas and North Natomas library branches – Both libraries will remain open, but all programs, class visits and outreach are cancelled until March 31.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – All public gatherings of Church members temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice, including stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings; all public worship services, including sacrament meetings; and branch, ward and stake activities.
Natomas Youth Soccer League – Effective today suspending all REC/COMP practices and games scheduled through March 31.
Natomas Fútbol Academy – All soccer activities are suspended due to US Soccer, US Club soccer, NorCal and CalNorth recommendation to shut down until the end of March at a minimum.
Natomas Community Association – The community group’s regularly scheduled meeting on March 18 has been cancelled.
Natomas Chamber of Commerce – The annual State of Natomas Luncheon scheduled for April 13 has been postponed. Monthly Mixers and Lunch & Learns have been canceled until further notice.

The Centers for Disease Control and California Department of Public Health released new guidance in recent days related to gatherings and events.

The guidelines recommend limiting gathering of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as seniors and the medically fragile, to no more than 10 people.They also suggest postponing any event that would bring together a large group of people.

Sacramento County Public Health said it would not be issuing any Health Officer Orders mandating these items, but encouraged all Sacramento County organizations and groups to abide by them.
At press time, no closures had been announced by the Twin Rivers School Unified School District.

You may also be interested in:

City of Sacramento Resources for Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Natomas Charter School COVID-19 information

Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep COVID-19 update

Natomas Unified School District COVID-19 update

Twin Rivers Unified School District COVID-19 information

Westlake Charter School COVID-19 update

Los Rios Community College District Coronavirus Information and Frequently Asked Questions