Visible steps to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus by cities in the greater San Bernardino and Inland Valley area have ramped up this week.

Though no one has tested positive for COVID-19 in San Bernardino County as of Friday, March 13, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for all events with more than 250 attendees to be canceled has led to a slew of postponements and changes to city calendars.

Cities have also been finding ways to limit face-to-face interactions, stepping up the sanitization of facilities and implementing social distancing procedures.

A hard-to-miss poster to stop of spread of the novel coronavirus is at the entrance of A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Julia Hanna, A.K. Smiley Public Library clerk, will use bleach wipe as a precaution to fight the coronavirus spread in Redlands on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Chairs are folded and several have been removed from the A.K. Smiley Public Library along with computers as a precaution to fight the coronavirus spread in Redlands on Friday, March 13, 2020. Archivist Nathan Gonzales sits in the library’s empty assembly room. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands is taking precautions due to the novel coronavirus spread which includes social distancing signs on every table Friday, March 13, 2020. There was a non-mask wearing person at every desk. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Surfaces are regularly wiped at A.K. Smiley Public Library as a precaution to fight the coronavirus spread in Redlands on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



Public places such as A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands is taking precautions due to the novel coronavirus spread which includes removing about a third of the library’s computers and chairs, wiping down counters/hard surfaces with bleach wipes along with social distancing signs on every table Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Chairs are folded and several have been removed from the A.K. Smiley Public Library along with computers as a precaution to fight the coronavirus spread in Redlands on Friday, March 13, 2020. Archivist Nathan Gonzales sits in the library’s empty assembly room. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Non-masked A.K. Smiley Public Library patrons appear to follow the social distancing rule written on each table as a precaution to the novel coronavirus spread in Redlands on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

“The worst thing about the coronavirus is having to cancel the birthday celebration of the brothers,” A.K. Smiley Public Library Archivist Nathan Gonzales says Friday, March 13, 2020. A statue of the Smiley twins, Albert and Alfred is decorated in green honoring their 192nd St. Patrick’s Day birthday this year. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands is taking precautions due to the novel coronavirus spread which includes removing about a third of the library’s computers and chairs along with social distancing signs on every table Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



“The city of San Bernardino is taking this very seriously,” said Teri Ledoux, San Bernardino’s city manager and director of emergency services. “The safety of our city employees and of the public is of utmost importance.”

Redlands Mayor Paul Foster urged the public not to overreact.

“Everybody just needs to take a deep breath and support one another and be mindful of their neighbors and their friends, especially if they are elderly, and be there to support them,” Foster said. “The city is doing everything it can to be prepared. We have plans in place.”

Foster, a retired health care administrator, said the health care system is prepared, though he called the COVID-19 spread “extraordinary.”

The closings and postponements in communities are not due to some immediate danger, but are aimed to slow the virus’ spread, he said.

“If we don’t slow the spread down, it’s not that more people are going to be dying, what’s going to happen is it’s going to overwhelm the healthcare system, there will be so many people coming in at one time,” he said.

Here’s what some cities are doing:

HIGHLAND

Highland has postponed its Mach 28 Citrus Harvest Festival and other events.

FONTANA

Fontana on Saturday, March 14, declared a local health emergency and closed its community centers through March 27. All recreational programs, activities, classes and sports field rentals have been canceled. Meanwhile, the city is limiting the number of passengers being transported in senior vanpools to no more than 10 at a time.

ONTARIO

Ontario closed the Lewis Family Branch Library through April 6 and is suspending passport services beginning Monday, March 16. Events such as the Teen Book Fest, Tot Olympics and a book signing with Anna Kovara have been postponed or canceled. The State of the City has been postponed to June 23.

POMONA

Pomona is postponing or canceling non-essential events, including its State of the City event, and implementing social distancing practices at city council meetings.

REDLANDS

On March 16 Redlands announced it is closing the A.K. Smiley Public Library, and cancelling all reservations at city facilities, both moves through the end of April. The animal shelter will only see visitors by appointment, and residents are encouraged to report crimes, when appropriate, through the city’s website, cityofredlands.org/report-crime.

The city is also encouraging the closure of all bars, that restaurants reduce their capacity by half and encourage curbside pick-up and home delivery, and discouraging gatherings of 50 or more people.

Redlands is discontinuing its Thursday Market Nights and Saturday Farmers Markets through the end of March. The Downtown Art Walk has also been postponed. The library’s website, akspl.org, has information on how to access books and magazines online. To facilitate public distancing half the chairs will be removed from the Redlands City Council chambers to space out audience, staff and council members. Residents are encouraged to watch the meetings on the city’s website at cityofredlands.org/live-meetings, or on Redlands TV, Channel 3 for Spectrum cable customers or Channel 35 for Frontier cable customers.

RIALTO

Rialto is sanitizing facilities, focusing on areas where people gather; and providing hand sanitizing stations in city customer service areas. Staff are also looking for opportunities to minimize face-to-face interactions with the public.

SAN BERNARDINO

San Bernardino postponed its State of the City address to an unspecified date.

Other changes announced Monday, March 16 that run through April 2 include cancellation of all park reservations, classes, special events, youth sports; and closures of libraries, senior and community centers, and city after school programs.

Food distribution and senior meals will continue, but will be for pick up only.

Where operations are continuing, the city is taking steps to provide for social distancing and hygiene protocols such as limiting face-to-face contact, providing additional spacing between chairs in waiting areas and scheduling appointments in an effort to reduce the number of people in waiting areas. Ledoux said an emergency proclamation will be on the agenda for City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 18. If approved, she said, it will allow her “to make important decisions and take action in this ever-changing environment.”

YUCAIPA

Yucaipa is postponing large events through May, including a CERT Basic Training Course, an Emergency Preparedness Expo, a rodeo, its Eggstravaganza, the State of the City and the Music and Arts Festival. The city’s Performing Arts Center will continue its indoor season, but less than 250 tickets will be available per show. As things progress, the next step would be to cancel activities with more than 100 people, then the city will look at closing the Scherer Community Center, which offers programs for seniors, who are more vulnerable to the disease.

For a full list of cancelled events go to the city’s website, yucaipa.org.

Residents are encouraged to reach out to their local city hall for more details.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Staff writer Javier Rojas contributed to this report.