COVID-19, the Coronavirus Pandemic, is upon us.   The City of Santa Clara, County of Santa Clara, and State of California have directed all of us to shelter in place. One of the best places to check for updates is the official webpage for the Governor's Office.

   www.gov.ca.gov/newsroom/

Now, for the immediate future, we can hunker down, avoid social contact, and check on our neighbors to see if anyone needs anything. Going outside for exercise is fine, as long as you maintain a proper social distance, usually defined as six feet, away from anyone not an immediate household member. And of course, avoid contact with anyone who is already suffering from any of the clearest symptoms of COVID-19: dry cough, fever, or difficulty breathing.

The Public Health Department of the County of Santa Clara has been one of the clearest voices rising above the cacophony of misinformation circulating on social media.

   www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/home.aspx

The County has added a webpage offering resources for business and workers:

   www.sccgov.org/sites/opa/opa/covid19/Pages/Resources-for-Businesses-and-Workers.aspx

The City has canceled some events in the next coming months, and most City offices are closed, including the three libraries. Check the [Calendar] button (above, on the left) for some of these cancelations, or the City website:

   www.santaclaraca.gov/i-want-to/stay-informed/current-topics/coronavirus-updates

A City of Santa Clara Reference Line is now available for residents who may have questions about City services and programs during the COVID-19 emergency response as well as those concerning general library reference and circulation.

• The City Reference Line is available 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday - Friday, by calling 408-615-2900.
• The public can also send questions via email anytime to librarians@santaclaraca.gov or visit the Santa Clara City Library website, SCLibrary.org.
• For coronavirus-specific questions, the public is encouraged to visit the County Public Health Department website, www.sccphd.org/coronavirus, or contact the County’s Public Call Center by calling 2-1-1 or texting the word “coronavirus” to 211211 and following the prompts provided.

Google has launched a Coronavirus Portal with trusted sources:

   www.google.com/covid19/

If you have kids at home, Google has put up a page with Educational Resources:

   www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/helping-educators-and-students-stay-connected/

You Can Volunteer!

The Coronavirus Prevention Network is seeking volunteers for clinical trials of potential CoVid-19 vaccines around the country. Information is on their website, plus a link to the sign-up form:

   www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org/.