Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez implemented a shelter in place order for the city.
The mayor made the announcement on Facebook shortly before elected officials from the two local cities and county were set to meet at 3 p.m.
The following was the mayor’s message:
“I have asked the City Manager to issue a shelter in place order for the City of Hollister, which will be effective immediately. Non essential businesses will be asked to close. Super markets, pharmacies, hospitals and other important businesses will remain OPEN. We will be working with our partners in surrounding communities to provide more information as soon as it becomes available. Please do not panic, we are doing this to drastically slow the spread of COVID-19. Thank you and I will continue to keep you updated.”
Velazquez said the move was the city is on the “same page” as surrounding counties that have issued similar orders.
“We need to make sure we’re ahead of this and we’re working together to stop this,” he told San Benito Live.
Velazquez said everyone in the community must work together, “or all of us are going to be facing this or exposed to this.”
“We have to understand the consequences of no action on this,” the mayor said.
Velazquez said some people have been noting how San Benito County doesn’t have many cases yet. The county has one confirmed, active case of coronavirus.
“Let’s keep it that way,” Velazquez said. “I don’t need to see numbers increased to justify it.”
