Monterey County issues Shelter in Place order, confirms first coronavirus cases

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Monterey County is following San Benito, Santa Cruz and six Bay Area counties by issuing a shelter in place order.

Officials have also confirmed the first two cases of coronavirus in the county.

County health officials said the Shelter in Place will begin at midnight Wednesday and last until midnight on April 8.

"Temporarily making these drastic changes to our lives and routines may be frustrating, but it is critical to slowing the spread of this virus," said Monterey County's Public Health Doctor Ed Moreno. "We must weigh the loss of some freedoms we enjoy with the ability to separate healthy people who may not show symptoms from those at risk who may be inadvertently exposed."

The order will mean limiting activity, travel and business functions to essential needs, but essential businesses and services will remain open.

The order does not affect government services or the agricultural community.

Officials tell KION that law enforcement does not plan to arrest people who continue to gather in large groups in public, but wants them to remember the risks and protect themselves.

This is a developing story.