CLARK COUNTY FOOD NEWS
May 4, 2021
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Dear Food Safety Partners,
This message is intended to provide an update on the current COVID-19 situation as it pertains to retail food establishment operations and provide you with references and resources as efforts to contain the spread of disease continue. Thank you for your efforts to safely provide food resources to the community throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. We aim to help support those efforts, please contact us with questions you may have about continued food safety practices or the implementation of any COVID related safety measures.
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Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Funding to help restaurants is now available through the American Rescue Plan's Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)! This program can provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
Funds may be used for specific expenses including:
- Business payroll costs (including sick leave)
- Payments on any business mortgage obligation
- Business rent payments (note: this does not include prepayment of rent)
- Business debt service (both principal and interest; note: this does not include any prepayment of principal or interest)
- Business utility payments
- Business maintenance expenses
- Construction of outdoor seating
- Business supplies (including protective equipment and cleaning materials)
- Business food and beverage expenses (including raw materials)
- Covered supplier costs
- Business operating expenses
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Virtual Assessments Have Started
The Clark County Food Safety program is now temporarily conducting scheduled unscored assessments instead of unscheduled scored inspections. The Assessments will continue to focus on priority compliance items such as proper handwashing, adequate final cook temperatures, and proper cooling techniques. The Assessment involves two steps -- a pre-assessment conversation on topics such as facility illness policies and employee training while the actual assessment focuses more on food safety in practice such as the presence of adequately stocked hand washing facilities and the demonstration of foods held at proper temperatures. The hope is for both steps to be conducted virtually to help encourage on-going social distancing. More details will be shared with you when the food safety specialist contacts you for scheduling. Look for an e-mail soon!
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Current COVID-19 Phase Requirements and Guidance
Clark County is currently in Phase 3. Every three weeks, counties will be evaluated to determine whether they meet criteria to remain in their current Phase. If a county fails both metrics, it moves down one phase. Evaluations occur on Mondays with any possible changes taking effect that Friday. Additional information about the Healthy Washington plan, including the metrics for remaining in Phase 3 and business restrictions, are available on the governor's website.
Employee Screening
COVID-19 Consultation
If you'd like a review of the COVID-19 safety measures you've put in place or ideas for how to implement or improve upon a particular COVID-19 safety measure, we can do that. Click the button below to submit a request. We can visit in person, have a phone conversation, or connect virtually.
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COVID Vaccinations
As virus activity increases in Clark County, Public Health is urging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Clark County Public Health is offering opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at two upcoming weekend events and is adding evening hours at the Tower Mall vaccination site. Those 16 years and older can get vaccinated.
TOWER MALL SITE
The site offers appointments, which are added weekly, and provides vaccinations to those without appointments. Priority will be given to those with appointments. The Tower Mall site is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, and 8:30 am to 7:30 pm Tuesdays. The site closes noon to 1 pm each day and 5-5:30 pm on Tuesdays. Tower Mall, 5403 E. Mill Plain Blvd., offers drive-thru and walk-up vaccination options, and is accessible by C-TRAN bus route 37. Everyone vaccinated at the Tower Mall site is automatically scheduled for a second dose at the site three weeks later. Consent forms are needed for each appointment and are available on the Public Health website.
WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL EVENT
This event is 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, May 8 at Woodland High School, 1500 Dike Access Road. Schedule an appointment for the Woodland event online or by calling Public Health at 888.225.4625. Language assistance is available. Second doses will be provided for everyone who receives a first dose at Woodland High School on Saturday, June 5.
FRUIT VALLEY EVENT
This event is held at the Fruit Valley Community Learning Center, 3410 NW Fruit Valley Road, on Saturday, May 15. Appointments are available 9 am to 5 pm and can be scheduled online or by calling Public Health at 888.225.4625. The vaccine offered at this event is available for people 18 years or older.
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Click above for the most current information from Clark County Public Health. |
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Do you have a COVID-19 question relating to your food establishment operation? Press the "Submit Question" button on the right.
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Is your business open?
Please let us know if you are offering take-out, delivery, or plan to re-open during Phase II by pressing "We're Open!" button on the right.
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If you are interested in being more involved with Food Safety, join the Technical Advisory Committee. Contact Kathryn Bump for more information.
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To report an illness or file a complaint about food handling processes, click here.
For more information about the services we provide, please click the button to reach our Food Safety homepage.
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Clark County Public Health
1601 E Fourth Plain, Building 17
Vancouver, WA 98661
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