While both CABS and Big Sur Chamber posted the notification re this meeting, I challenged the advisability given the current pandemic. I wanted to get a response to my inquiry before I published and this afternoon, I got it:
Hello Kate,
We appreciate your concern and agree that holding a meeting at this time would pose an unnecessary risk to the public. Upon speaking with Caltrans executive management, the project development team has decided to cancel the upcoming public scoping meeting for the Big Sur Bridge Rail Replacement Program. We will still be engaging in public outreach to get some public input from the locals, but will not be holding a meeting on March 18th. I will send you an updated public notice with a link to a website providing project information. Please let me know if you have any questions.
This is not my usual area of information to post, but given the panic that is going on with four of the Grand Princess passengers — all of whom have been tested and are negative for COVID-19 — that is going on in Monterey County as evidenced on social media. However, I think it prudent to reiterate that caution, not panic, is a much more effective response, and to assist readers in locating sources for accurate, timely information.
Today, WHO, World Health Organization, has declared this a pandemic due to it wide spread globally, and due to the lack of preparedness by some countries. Also today, Trump cut short a briefing by leading experts in order to have “an emergency meeting.” In my opinion, he cut it short because Dr. Fauci was speaking to fact, not fiction. Dr. Fauci was publicly contradicting talking points from WH and VP’s office. Dr. Fauci spoke to underlying the severity of the situation we’re in right now. This is the first appearance where we’re really getting somewhat of a full picture.
Today, the California Department of Public Health published this:
State has launched an online hub that consolidates all available guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 157 confirmed cases: this does not include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked in Oakland. For more information on the progress of the return of individuals from the Grand Princess cruise ship, see this update from ASPR and CalOES.
The California Department of Public Health has consolidated state guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 in a single location.
There will be all sorts of inaccurate and sometimes dangerous information floating around on social media — particularly the sociological petrie dish we call Facebook. Don’t fall for the group think panic that is being perpetuated there. Instead, look for original information from reliable sources, like John Hopkins, CA OES, etc. Exercise caution, not panic, and feel free to post links to reliable, accurate information in the comments section.
