City of Coronado
COVID-19 UPDATE
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Top News
County Enters Most Restrictive Tier

The County of San Diego has fallen back into the most restrictive tier on the state's blueprint for reducing COVID-19. The move from the Red to the Purple tier means that restaurants, retail stores, gyms and places of worship must move outdoors or reduce their indoor operations once again. The blueprint, which went into effect Aug. 31, has criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.

Businesses must comply with the new restrictions starting Saturday, Nov. 14. As Thanksgiving nears, San Diego County health officials warn residents to be vigilant about taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, including wearing a mask, washing your hands, staying home if you are sick and maintaining social distancing.

The County was aware of the risk earlier this week of moving to the Purple tier after the region had a case rate over the limit of 7 cases per 100,000 population for two consecutive weeks. The four-tiered, color-coded system allows counties to show consistent success in coronavirus transmission before allowing more businesses and activities to reopen or resume. The County had been in the Red Tier since the blueprint was issued.

Closures are based on data showing the spread of the virus among residents. The state system tracks three COVID-19 metrics: average daily case rates per 100,000 population, the percentage of positive tests, known as the positivity rate, and the health equity metric.

At a minimum, counties must remain in a tier for at least three weeks before moving forward. Data is reviewed weekly and tiers are updated on Tuesdays. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. If a county’s metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, it will be assigned a more restrictive tier.
Avenue of Heroes Virtual Ceremony Now Online

The City invites the public to watch the recent Avenue of Heroes Banner Dedication ceremony held virtually last weekend. The event honors those former or current Coronado residents serving or who have served their country.

The Avenue of Heroes Committee and the City made the difficult decision to postpone the May 2020 banner dedication ceremony due to restrictions on gatherings at the time. Since many COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, it was decided that the only way forward was for a virtual event to honor 16 military heroes. Each has a banner along the City’s Avenue of Heroes, on Third and Fourth streets from Orange Avenue to Alameda Boulevard.

The ceremony was held via Zoom on Nov. 7. The City is actively accepting nominations for future banner candidates. In a town known for its military presence, Coronado has plenty of candidates.
Election Results Reporting, City Reorganization Meeting Plans

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters office reminds voters that while the first election results came in on Nov. 3, up to 45 percent of the total votes cast were not included in election night results. The Registrar explains that many of the 1,950,000 ballots mailed out this election were not received in time to verify and process by November 3 at 8 p.m. Mail ballots must be scanned, sorted and signature checks completed before the ballots are removed and tabulated. Mail ballots can be accepted up to 17 days after Election Day, if postmarked on or before Nov. 3. It could take up to two weeks to count all mail ballots. Additionally, the Registrar must account for provisional ballots, touchscreen ballots, and damaged ballots. Write-in candidates also take time to review and tally. Updated results will be released by the Registrar daily through Nov. 13 and as needed until the final certified results are posted on Dec. 3. As the official results will not be in before the City’s regularly scheduled Dec. 1 meeting, the City will not hold its reorganization meeting with newly elected officials until the regularly scheduled Dec. 15 meeting.
City Planning Safe, Healthy Events for the Holidays

The City is working on planning events for the upcoming holidays, similar to what it held for Halloween.

Coronado’s traditional Snow Mountain and Holiday Parade have been cancelled this year, but the City is working to create safe, City-sponsored events.

Along with installing holiday banners, lighting the trees along Orange Avenue, and lighting the holiday tree and Menorah in Rotary Plaza, Recreation and Golf Services, Cultural Arts and the Library are planning a variety of festive programs.

Some of these programs include Letters to Santa, virtual book reading and Storytime, North Pole Hotline with Santa, social media contests and videos, community food drives, virtual mocktails and cooking events, and virtual canvas painting and ornament decorating. Stay tuned for details to come.
Virtual Climate Action Plan Workshop Nov. 5

The City has begun the process to develop a Climate Action Plan, which will provide a roadmap for the City to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and plan for an increasingly sustainable future. The City has already conducted a review of City documents and is implementing community outreach. This engagement process will look at reduction targets and measures. The City's Climate Action Plan will provide an aspirational menu of community and municipal greenhouse gas reduction measures to achieve targets.

The Community Development Department hosted a virtual, interactive public workshop on Nov. 5 to help in the creation of the Climate Action Plan. This meeting provided a roadmap to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as document and showcase current and ongoing sustainability efforts. The workshop was recorded and is posted for public viewing.
Coronado Island Film Festival Events

The Coronado Island Film Festival is hosting its fifth festival Nov. 11-15.

Due to the pandemic, the majority of the festival has gone virtual but organizers have not lost their commitment to celebrate the magic of film and to spotlight the gifted filmmakers who have poured out their creativity, passion and hearts for all to view and enjoy.

The City continues to sponsor the film festival through its Community Grant Program. The festival will host a safe and socially distanced in-person event on Thursday, Nov. 12, when the festival heads to the South Bay Drive-in for the official 2020 Opening Night feature from Searchlight Pictures “Nomadland.” Winner of the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival, it continues to draw critical acclaim. Opening Night at the South Bay Drive-in one-vehicle entry is $100 and includes a snack package. 

An all-access pass is $125. There are several other options. For more information or to purchase a pass, click on the link below.
Blood Drive in Coronado

The City of Coronado and the American Red Cross have scheduled an eighth blood drive at the Coronado Community Center on Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, log on to RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: CityBD. All blood donations are now tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Since April, City-sponsored blood drives have attracted 145 first time donors and a total number of 319 donors. Coronado blood donors have given 310 units and saved potentially 930 lives. Sign up now to give in November the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Coronado SAFE, CIFF Team Up

With the COVID-19 pandemic, technology use has exploded. Tech experts have sounded the alarm on the dangerous human impact of social media. Now it’s time to talk about it. On Nov. 15 at 11:30 a.m., Coronado SAFE and the Coronado Island Film Festival are bringing together multidisciplinary experts for a must-see panel discussion on "The Social Dilemma" film. They’ll bring their insight; you bring the questions.

No matter what stage of life you’re in, if you’re on social media, this event is for you. About "The Social Dilemma:" The technology that connects us also controls us. It polarizes us, distracts us, and monetizes us. Discover what’s hiding on the other side of your screen. We tweet, we like, and we share— but what are the consequences of our growing dependence on social media? This documentary-drama hybrid reveals how social media is reprogramming civilization with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations. Watch now on Netflix and register for The Coronado Film Festival Panel on Nov. 15.
COVID-19 Information

The City is working diligently to provide the latest news and information on the coronavirus pandemic. The City issues a newsletter on an as-needed basis with news, resources, features and information on how Coronado is working to help stop the spread of the virus. To subscribe to the COVID-19 Update, click on this link to see a copy of the newsletter than click subscribe and provide your email address. News may also be found on the City’s website: www.coronado.ca.us. You can follow the City on social media and check the City of Coronado COVID-19 page.
COVID-19 Health Resources and Links