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Updated status of California campground closures over COVID-19 concerns

This was updated at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020

(December 3, 2020) — Californians will see sharp new limits on public gatherings and shopping under a new statewide order issued today by Gov. Gavin Newsom, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise at dramatic rates. RV parks and other campgrounds in five regional hospital network areas (not counties) will be prohibited from accommodating overnight guests. The five regions are the Bay Area, the greater Sacramento area, the San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California (from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border).

California again had its highest number of new coronavirus cases and Covid-19 hospitalizations for one day on Saturday, reporting more than 25,000 confirmed new infections. More than 10,200 people are hospitalized.

For at least 21 days, the rules will limit many activities in areas facing critical care shortages that could last through the holidays.

If a region reaches the 85% capacity level, the order would go into effect 48 hours after the determination and will stay in effect for three weeks. After this three week period, healthcare metrics are re-evaluated weekly, primarily based on projections and counties can returned to the colored matrix if acceptable.

The current order states that overnight stays in campgrounds are not permitted. The California Department of Public Health (DCPH) has determined that RV parks are part of the critical infrastructure and can remain open to residents, long-term rentals of 14 days or more, full time RVer’s seeking shelter and anyone traveling for essential services or business.

The following are acceptable forms of travel:
• Essential workers or those traveling to/from essential work such as first responders and  healthcare workers.
• People who need to self-isolate or quarantine.
• People who cannot stay in their own home because someone needs to self-isolate/quarantine there.
• People who are in the area to care for a vulnerable person including the elderly, minors, dependents and persons with disabilities.
RV parks and campgrounds can also be utilized for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures. RV parks and campgrounds accepting homeless populations are also allowed.

RELATED
California State Parks closes some campgrounds
.

Affected communities will be required to close personal service businesses including hair and nail salons, playgrounds, amusement parks, bars and movie theaters. Restaurants will be required to return to take-out service only. Hotels may not rent rooms to tourists, although essential travelers can be accommodated.

Here are the five regions affected:

Northern California: Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity

Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma

Greater Sacramento: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba

• San Joaquin Valley: Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne

Southern California: Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

State officials plan for the new shutdown rules to be in place for at least the next three weeks. After that, any reopening of closed services and activities will be based on four-week projections of a region’s ICU capacity — suggesting the broad new restrictions in some communities could easily last through the end of the year.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

If you have any information about this, we would appreciate it. Email chuck (at) rvtravel.com

You can also check here for more information.

##RVT977b

Chuck Woodbury
Chuck Woodburyhttps://rvtravel.com
I'm the founder and publisher of RVtravel.com. I've been a writer and publisher for most of my adult life, and spent a total of at least a half-dozen years of that time traveling the USA and Canada in a motorhome.

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Joe Farinha
2 years ago

Unfortunately, my reservation for next weekend at Pinnacles NP had to be changed or canceled due to the CA mandated shelter in place ordersfor the next 3 weeks. I can’t camp and enjouy the outdoors on a self contained RV, but interesting enough, Casinos with bars, and card tables are open!!! Chumash in Santa Barbara county is open!!!!… Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park is open!!!! The kicker is that Jackson Renteria Casino which has an RV park , and is accepting reservatios is also open!?!?!! What this pandemic has proven is that we are being led by a bunch of xxxxxx!!!! (Yep, bleeped by Diane. No name-calling, please.)

Homeless CA Resident
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe Farinha

Just tell them you are homeless and you can stay as long as you want……maybe for free too then!!

Donna Gibson
2 years ago

I live in Riverside County, CA our Sheriff Chad Bianco already said he’s not following Gov. xxxxxxx xxxxxxx (Gavin Newsom) COVID-19 mandates. Most restaurants have the option to eat inside or outside customers choice. Hair salons, barbershops are open with appointments. Most other business are open as long as a mask is worn and everyone follows the 6″ social distance rule. (Bleeped by Diane. No name-calling, please.)

Bella
2 years ago

Oh my….thank God for an America where everyone has a right to their own opinion. Im so happy to be returning to a civil, & polite government administration. We can & will get through this, either fighting & complaining or not…. I just want to give a big hearty shout out & THANK YOU to Diane for her diligent work at bleeping out the nasty! 😀 You rock!👍

Admin
RV Staff
2 years ago
Reply to  Bella

Ha! Thank you, Bella. I’m just waiting for the folks that I bleep to come after me with their remarks. (Of course, I know how to deal with their comments. 😉 ) I never imagined in my 74 years that I’d grow up to be paid to bleep folks’ rude/nasty comments! 😆 Take care, and stay healthy! 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com

Doug
2 years ago

As a resident of California (but not for much longer) , I am baffled by both the science and politics behind this virus here in California. With a population of over 39 million and a death rate of 19,458 due to this virus and many underlying factors, we are looking at a 0.0005 (one half of 1%) attrition on the population. The negatives of shutdowns far outweigh these numbers.
Nationwide, heart failure (650,000 annual deaths in 2018, CDC) and 599,000 deaths due to cancer in 2018 should have driven everyone into a mass hysteria state of fear and paranoia. But, we’ve come to accept these and other leading causes of death as ‘normal’ and acceptable.
Come on, man.

Mike Sherman
2 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Agreed. The government has a reputation for making bad decisions and it is not known for using common sense and sound, informed judgement. This virus thing over the past 9+ months is proof enough.

tim palmer
2 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Except you don’t get heart disease or cancer from somebody breathing on you and die 3 weeks later.

James
2 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Actually not entirely accurate.

Heart Disease –> 650k annual deaths is the TOTAL NATIONWIDE heart DISEASE related deaths. There are multiple types of cardiovascular diseases and causes of death.

Cancer –> 599k annual deaths is the TOTAL NATIONWIDE cancer related deaths. There are also multiple types of caner and causes of death.

Covid / Lung Disease –> 20k is only CA. Nationwide we are approaching 300k. Given that we still have 1 / 12 of the year left, the record number of deaths now, and sometimes cause of death was inaccurately marked non-Covid (as earlier in the year), I would say this figure is much higher. Now if you lump Covid in a higher grouping as per heart / cancer, CDC states total lung disease deaths (w/ Covid) is around 600k as well.

Also I don’t get heart disease or cancer from treating patients nor do I need to worry about 14hr shifts and my family’s safety. With Covid, the ability to transfer in addition to the high numbers is the major negative.

Last edited 2 years ago by James
Jane
2 years ago

We were packing up this morning to go to Ricon where we had reservations at the county park for 3 nights. Checked email before connecting and got a notice that reservation canceled due to state orders to close for at least 3 weeks.
Your article is correct and timely as yes they are closing by county and some are even putting the restriction in place even if numbers of covid cases havent spike as a preventitive measure.
This effects camping less than 14 days, or new arrivals at private rv parks at their descretion. State/county parks are closed. If currently at private park you probably can extend provided they have space.

June Giuntini
2 years ago

Please correct your article as it is not accurate. Campgrounds will not have to close until the region they are assigned reaches 15% available ICU capacity. You can find the order and the ICU bed % on the California Covid website

Thom
2 years ago

We’re in AZ now, the farthest we plan to go into CA is Blythe. Then up the Colorado River, mostly on the AZ side. No big urge to be in CA. Take that Sir Gavin…

Jeff
2 years ago

citizensforfreespeech.org Our governor in Wisconsin extended his mask mandate and none of our elected officials fought him on it. I get a magazine called Wisconsin energy cooperative. On page 13 they have a picture of the governor and wife not wearing masks.
yes I know this stuff is real but don’t know what to believe anymore.

Dennis F
2 years ago

no one want to go there anyway.

John
2 years ago
Reply to  Dennis F

Sure hope you are right! We’ve been in CA for 30+, love it, but don’t like to see it get any more crowded!

saddlesore
2 years ago

We are retired and “.Fulltime” in our Motorcoach.(Was Oregonians, Now Call South Dakota Home..due to the Oregon Governor’s never ending quest for More taxes/More restrictions.
I see the same thing happening in the other Left Coast states..
We have chosen to spend our meager funds in the foreseeable future in the Conservative Mid-west states… sorry California……NOT

pgr
2 years ago
Reply to  saddlesore

Strange how all those “taxes” that we pay go to protect us and make our life better, highways, schools, fire protection, etc but yet people are constantly crying their high taxes and laws.
The wealthy never seem to pay as much as we peons do either, is that because they own the lawmakers?

Doug
2 years ago
Reply to  saddlesore

You have a great governor in South Dakota! Unfortunately, our California governor is an xxxxx. (Bleeped by Diane. No name-calling, please.)

William Kelly
2 years ago

Would the RV and camp industry please educate the Governor that staying in a campground is probably the most effective way to self-isolate. And show me the statistics where there is an RV’er anywhere in the country in an ICU from covid. Just more pressure on the Trump administration to give a federal bailout to California.

Tommy Molnar
2 years ago
Reply to  William Kelly

Totally agree, William. RV parks (for the most part) are the best places to “self quarantine”. I’m not convinced that does any good, but nevertheless, RV parks far surpass the requirements for that.

Mary
2 years ago
Reply to  William Kelly

I would agree if all campers would stay in their own site and not mingle. However, my husband and I went camping a few weeks ago and witnessed about 10-12 big motorhomes show up (some with out of state plates) and they all hugged and kissed and had a great 3 days of socializing together and meal sharing just like nothing was wrong. These types of events may close us all down.

Keith aka Santa
2 years ago
Reply to  William Kelly

So very true!!!

Jeret
2 years ago

What sources are you getting your information from for the article?

Jake A
2 years ago

Is San Elijo open?
Thanks

Kenneth Fuller
2 years ago

Sorry, it’s time for small businesses and citizens to rebell against the government and remain open. What do they care about us? There paycheck never stops coming for them.

NOWugetit?
2 years ago
Reply to  Kenneth Fuller

They care that we KEEP PAYING them to make more laws for us. LAW, of course, does not apply to them. The fear-mongering, discouraging interaction, and hushing (masking) seems an obvious game, in which they laugh in our faces.

Keith aka Santa
2 years ago
Reply to  NOWugetit?

Actually there have been no laws made concerning the xxxxxxx virus only mandates which are “suggestions” that you do something. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do. Mandates can’t be enforced only laws can be.
Show me the law and in what code book it is that governs these mandates they throw around?

Keith aka Santa
2 years ago
Reply to  Kenneth Fuller

I agree completely Kenneth!
Enough is enough!

DragonflyHill
2 years ago
Keith aka Santa
2 years ago
Reply to  DragonflyHill

Well and good but do you also realize that states of emergency have expiration dates and can’t be ran for periods of time ad nauseam?

Patricia B
2 years ago

Your headline is very misleading & not accurate. Looks like fake news.

DragonflyHill
2 years ago
Reply to  Patricia B

Right?

Diane Remior
2 years ago

This is not totally correct. We are hosting at a NP in CA. Our CG is still open as of Friday night

Patricia B
2 years ago

Wrong. No campgrounds shut down yet. If any “region” goes below 15% of available ICU beds then maybe. Looks like the xxxxxx running California need a calculator & to brush up on math. 🤷‍♀️ (Bleeped by Diane. No name-calling on RVtravel.com. Take it elsewhere, please.)

Cathi S
2 years ago

Leaving the name calling and politics aside – this is what is for now. We are in an RV park now, plan to stay in two additional commercial parks before the end of December. I have called both and there are no issues with our plans. We did have a rally cancel before yesterday’s announcements because when the county went to ‘purple’ the rally group could no longer use the facilities tables and chairs. I want my husband and I to enjoy many more years of RV living. If that means no or reduced socializing for the next few months – so be it.

Matt Johnson
2 years ago

This guy is an a## hat tyrant. Where is the scientific evidence that shows somebody staying in a camper in a park is either contagious or spreading. This is an airborne virus, it’s everywhere. All he is trying to do is force people to be dependent on the government. Think about it, if masks worked why can’t we go out. If social distancing works why do we have to wear masks. If you want to wear a mask go ahead. But don’t force someone to wear a mask (that doesn’t work). And open up the economy you xxxx xxx. [Bleeped by Diane at RVtravel.com. You know better, Matt.]

Anna Wadsworth
2 years ago
Reply to  Matt Johnson

It’s sad that we have been cheated on then have to be polite about it. I’m with Matt.

Admin
RV Staff
2 years ago
Reply to  Anna Wadsworth

Hi, Anna. If you’re referring to my “bleeping” Matt’s name-calling, it is because this is not the venue for that. You can be as impolite as you want elsewhere, just not on RVtravel.com, please. —Diane at RVtravel.com

pgr
2 years ago
Reply to  Matt Johnson

Mainly because people refuse to follow the rules, wear masks & social distance themselves. We are in this mess just cause of the very things you are crying about! Time to wake up to reality and stop drinking the kool Aid

Keith aka Santa
2 years ago
Reply to  pgr

Continue to be controlled and you will lose all of your rights as a citizen of the US.
Food for thought…

tim palmer
2 years ago
Reply to  Matt Johnson

Masks do work. What doesn’t work is the people who refuse to wear them.

Keith aka Santa
2 years ago
Reply to  tim palmer

Actually if yours does than why do I need one? I’m not sick and I am staying more than 6 feet away from you?
Most quarantines, quarantine the sick not the healthy. Why are the healthy being quarantined? If you are at risk stay home, let the rest of us live our lives.
Live for today we aren’t promised tomorrow and time lost can’t be regained…

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