The start of a new school year isn’t the only end-of-summer ritual that’s been complicated by the pandemic. Thehave sent thousands fleeing from their homes, but many evacuees are not being sent to shelters due to the risk of the coronavirus, Newsom said Monday.
Of 2,211 sheltered evacuees, 1,480 are staying in hotels, where they can stay separate from others, he said. For those being housed in more traditional shelters, the state has implemented, including health screenings and assessments prior to entry, making masks and social distancing practices mandatory and installing air purifiers to reduce the risk of the virus’ spread.
Newsom said he visited four shelters over the weekend and, after being subjected to the protocols himself, feels they are very safe. “We continue to battle historic wildfires, but we’re also battling this historic pandemic, COVID-19, that has not gone away,” he said. “That makes some of our wildfire effortsis reporting a concerning spike in COVID-19 cases among students.