2020-03-12 RIVCO Gatherings of at Least 250ORDER QF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF RrVERSIDE
CANCELLING ALL EVENTS WITH EXPECTED ATTENDANCE ABOVE 250INDIVIDUALS
DATE OF ORDER: MARCH 12, 2020
Please read this Order carefully. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a crime punishable by
fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety Code § 120295; County Ordinances 533 and
556.)
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 101040,
101085, AND 120175, TITLE 17 CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS SECTION 2501, AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTY CODE SECTION 533.6, THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF
RIVERSIDE ("HEALTH OFFICER") ORDERS:
1. All events within the jurisdiction of the Public health Officer of the County of Riverside with an
expected attendance of at least 250 individuals taking place between March 12, 2020 and April 30,
2020 inclusive are hereby ordered cancelled, regardless of venue.
2. This Order does not apply to courts of law, primary and secondary school classes, congregate living
settings, public transportation, airport travel, or necessary shopping at stores or malls.
3. This Order is issued as a result of the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 disease, also known as
"novel coronavirus," which has infected at least 128,000 individuals worldwide in 116 countries
and is implicated in over 4,700 worldwide deaths, including eight cases in Riverside County
residents.
4. This Order is issued based on evidence of inereasing transmission of COVID-19 both within the
County of Riverside and worldwide, scientific evidence regarding the most effective approach to
slow transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically, as well as best
practices as currently known and available to protect the public from the risk of spread of or
exposure to COVID-19.
5. This Order recognizes that many of the events in the County, both large and small, attract attendees
from many regions and countries, including several disproportionately afflicted by the worldwide
COVID-19 pandemic.
6. This Order is intended to reduce the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19, thereby slowing the
spread of COVID-19 in communities worldwide. As the population at an event increases, the
difficulty and magnitude of tracing individuals who may have been exposed to a case prevent at
that event rises exponentially, increasing the likelihood that such events will impair efforts at
mitigating the spread of the illness.
This Order is issued in accordance with, and incorporates by reference, the: March 4, 2020
Proclamation of a State Emergency issued by Governor Gavin Newsom; the March 8, 2020
Declaration of Local Health Emergency based on an imminent and proximate threat to public health
from the introduction of novel COVID-19 in Riverside County; the March 10, 2020 Resolution of
the Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside proclaiming the existence of a Local
Emergency in the County of Riverside regarding COVID-19; the March 10, 2020 Resolution of the
Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside ratifying and extending the Declaration of Local
Health Emergency due to COVID-19; and the guidance issued on March 11, 2020 by the California
Department of Public Health regarding large gatherings of 250 people or more,
8. This Order comes after the release of substantial guidance from the County Public Health Officer,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health officials through the United
States and around the world recommending the cancellation of mass gatherings involving more
than one thousand (1,000) or more persons in a single space at the same time.
9. This Order is made in accordance with all applicable State and Federal laws, including but not
limited to: Health and Safety Code sections 101030, et seq.; Health and Safety Code sections
120100, et seq.; and Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations section 2501.
10. To the extent necessary, pursuant to Government Code sections 26602 and 41601 and Health and
Safety Code section 101029, the Health Officer requests that the Sheriff and all Chiefs of Police in
the County ensure compliance with and enforcement of this Order.
11. Copies of this Order shall promptly be: (1) made available at the County of Riverside Health
Administration office located at 4065 County Circle Drive, Riverside, CA 92503; (2) posted on the
County of Riverside Public Health Department's website (rivcoph.org); and (3) provided to any
member of the public requesting a copy of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED:
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Public Health Officer
County of Riverside
Approved as to form and legality:
Gregory P. Priamos
County Counsel
County of Riverside
Dated: March 12, 2020
Dated: March 12, 2020