Biligual signs go up in Santa Barbara to urge social distancing

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - New signs have gone up in Santa Barbara in English and Spanish to encourage social distancing.

They were presented at a neighborhood safety meeting Monday.

They are now in multiple locations including Milpas St. at Cacique and at Calle Puerto Vallarta and Cabrillo Blvd. by the Cabrillo ballfield.

The sign reads, "Stay home as much as possible and maintain social distance."

The city says this message is important as a way to reinforce rules to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Recently the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors ordered a rapid increase of messages throughout the community in several languages and on area radio stations, after learning some of the population was not aware of the virus condition.

The recent coronavirus numbers are showing signs of flattening out in recent days.

The death toll in the county as of Tuesday afternoon is at five. The cases on the Central Coast are just over 1000. A hot spot has been identified an hour north of Santa Barbara at the Lompoc Federal Penitentiary where multiple cases have been reported.

Santa Barbara leaders are also moving some of the homeless into hotel rooms at a designated site with 68 rooms to protect the most vulnerable and those over 65 with health concerns from getting the coronavirus.

Recently at selected locations porta potties and hand washing stations were placed in the city. They are at Alameda Park, on State Street at Canon Perdido St., on Cacique below the Highway 101 crossing, and five other locations.

Under the orders from the Governor's office, homeless camps will not be broken up or cleaned out at this time by law enforcement teams.

Officer Adrian Gutierrez says he is assigned to do outreach to the homeless, school campuses, parks, the labor line and other gathering spaces to communicate the safety message, rules, spacing and services for those who are gathering.

For more information go to: City of Santa Barbara