On Dec. 3, Governor of California Gavin Newsom issued a stay-at-home order to be put in place for the vast Southern California Region. 

“To slow the surge of COVID-19 and save lives, California is introducing a regional stay-at-home order,” Newsom said via a Twitter post. “Regions, where ICU capacity fall below 15%, will be placed into this stay-at-home order for three weeks.”  

Recreational facilities, salons, on-site dining at restaurants and bars will all be forced to close. Retail stores will be able to remain open with just 20% capacity. Live sports will go on with no in-person audience, and places of worship will be restricted to outside services.  

As for Grossmont College, classes that were held on campus, besides Nursing and Allied Health programs will be held remotely.  

Essentials including food, supplies and technology, will continue to be given out via drive-thru held in the campus parking lots. Returning school materials such as textbooks and lab kits will also be done through drive-thrus. Grossmont will also continue to provide free Wi-Fi in hotspots, but students must remain in their vehicles.  

The Child Development Center will remain open on both Grossmont and Cuyamaca campuses. The campuses themselves will continue to be closed to the public.  

“The health and safety of our students and employees always remain our top priority. 

We can all contribute to reducing the number of COVID-19 cases by following the county directive and practicing physical distancing and wearing a face-covering in public,” district administrators said in an email to students. “We continue to follow guidance from state and local public health authorities closely, and we will keep you informed of any developments.” 

The lockdown will be in effect until Dec. 27 at 11:59 p.m. Check your emails for updates from Grossmont.