Sixteen businesses so far have that have been forced to close down or reduce hours during the stay-at-home order designed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic benefit have temporarily reduced or suspended their City of Manteca solid waste service saving them $2,650.69 collectively in a month.

The Manteca City Council direct the establishment of a policy to waive fees by commercial accounts temporarily suspended service due to being forced to close and allowed a switch to reduced frequency of collections while also waiving fees needed to resume service or restore collection frequency.

The stay-at-home order has not only completely shut down plenty non-essential businesses but others have reduced volume after being forced to switch to a take-out only business model.

The fees are being waived as long as social distancing orders require a business to remain closed.

Businesses need to contact the Solid Waste Division to request the adjustment in service.

County Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park has shared modeling that shows one day hospitalizations will peak in San Joaquin County at 299 on May 30.  

If that is the case, social distancing that requires non-essential businesses to close could be in place until the end of June. That would mean some businesses could be closed as long as 3½ months if not longer by order of the government.

Without social distancing the peak was projected to hit on April 30 with 768 new COVID-19 cases requiring hospital admissions in a single day.

The projected number of daily intensive care unit admissions would peak at 90 on May 30 instead of 230 on April 30.

Public health officials say that models show social distancing is working.

To contact  Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com