The Mendocino County Health Department has removed the “strong recommendation” that people mask indoors in favor allowing individuals to decide what’s appropriate, including in schools and on public transportation, following guidance from the California Department of Public Health to do so. In a letter to the community this (Monday) morning, County Health Officer Dr. Andrew Coren says most California counties, including Mendocino, are now in the low CDC Community Risk Level for Covid-19. Universal indoor masking will however continue in healthcare settings including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient clinics. Non-clinical gathering places like correctional facilities, and emergency fire shelters can also be on an individual basis as long as we stay in the low risk category and there are no outbreaks.
A new city recreation center is on the agenda for the Clearlake Planning Commission when they meet tomorrow. It’s part of an overall public hearing as the commission considers a resolution involving the Burns Valley Development at 14885 Burns Valley Road. Lake County News reports the development includes a new recreation center, new Public Works Department facility, sports fields, police department storage facilities, vehicle and equipment storage and public facilities. The commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Clearlake City Hall. You can attend via Zoom or watch on the City of Clearlake’s YouTube channel.
The U.S. Forest Service has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into whether some PG&E equipment might have been involved in starting the Mosquito Fire. The fire that started September 6 in the Sierra Nevada foothills has burned more than 76,000 acres in Placer and El Dorado counties. Last week a group of residents filed a lawsuit alleging PG&E was responsible for the fire due to what they call “poorly maintained utility infrastructure”. Officials say the Forest Service has confiscated a PG&E transmission pole and other equipment from the area where the fire started. PG&E had already notified state regulators about a power-line failure around the time the fire was reported. The Mosquito Fire has destroyed 78 structures and as of this afternoon was at 85% containment.
