It may soon be illegal to fish in some California counties as state officials work to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
According to The Sacramento Bee, the Golden State's Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to discuss Thursday the idea of giving emergency authority to Department of Fish and Wildlife director Charlton Bonham to temporarily ban fishing.
"Instead of all at once and a mammoth [statewide] closure, we're going to do something different," Bonham told the Bee, referencing the plan that would shut down fishing in rural counties.
"I myself want to go outdoors and recreate, but I've decided personally my duty is really to stay home, stay healthy, and help save lives," he said. "On one hand, the outdoors is a place of solace and reinvigoration, for some folks, it's very spiritual. We need those things in these desperate times. Conversely, if we're not responsible and thoughtful of how we're being outside, we can increase the risk in a moment of crisis."
According to The New York Times, California has seen more than 16,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 400 deaths related to the disease as of Tuesday morning. There are hotspots in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the area around San Francisco.
California is lending 500 ventilators to the federal stockpile, which will be used in states and U.S. territories that need them as the pandemic worsens.
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