Full Notification

To our Danville Community,

As you are no doubt aware, the State of California is facing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, prompting the Governor to return much of the state to the more restrictive purple tier. 
 
Health officials have been taken aback by the suddenness of this surge and expect to see the number of new cases approach last summer’s peak by the Thanksgiving holiday.  Danville is seeing this increase as well.  To date, there have been a total of 458 confirmed cases in Danville, but the number of new cases has risen steeply over the course of the past week.   With the holiday season arriving at the same time as this latest surge, I wanted to reach out and call upon our community to once again work together to flatten the curve.
 
By now, many of us are understandably feeling tired and numb from COVID fatigue.  We hold out optimism that we may see the arrival of an effective vaccine within the next few months.  But until then, we need to continue to work together as a community to do what we can to safeguard one another. That means following health order restrictions by social distancing, wearing face coverings, washing your hands and avoiding large gatherings.
 
With the holiday season here, the desire to be with friends and family is a natural impulse. Contact tracing in our county is showing that family gatherings are among the most common ways of contracting and spreading the virus.   In addition to following all safety protocols, county health officials are urging all residents to undergo “testing before turkey” if they are planning small family gatherings.  For more information on how and where to obtain testing go to https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-tested.   We cannot encourage you strongly enough to please abide by these health order restrictions and take all necessary precautions for safety.
 
As much as the health of the community is at risk, we also recognize that the health order restrictions pose a significant danger to Danville’s economic vitality.  The success of our businesses is vital to the health of our community, and our businesses are struggling under these conditions.  As community residents it is up to us to do all we can to help provide them the support they need to stay afloat until this pandemic passes.

The Town Council and staff continue to do all we can to help maintain the economic health of our town, providing grants, allowing expanded outdoor dining, establishing curbside pick areas and mask zones, but for these businesses to make it through, it will require the community’s help as well.
 
How can you help? Do your holiday shopping locally.  For local retailers with an online presence you can do so remotely.  Patronize area restaurants, either by eating outside, doing takeout or using curbside pickup. Gift certificates and gift cards from local businesses are another great gift giving idea for the holidays.  Every dollar you spend locally goes to help business owners and their staff keep working each day. Pledge to Shop Locally this holiday season and show the strength of the Danville community when it comes to surviving these challenging economic times.
 
But once again, the single best way you can help our economy in Danville is by doing everything you can to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy.  We have seen throughout this pandemic that community health and economic health go hand-in-hand.

These are difficult times for everyone, regardless of your circumstance. We are fortunate to live, work and raise our families in such a wonderful place.  It is up to us, working together, to keep Danville the safe and special place we know it to be.
 
Best wishes to you and your families for this upcoming holiday season.
 
Take care and stay safe
 
Joe Calabrigo
Town Manager