COVID-Health Update

COVID-19 Update

The County is working with California State Public Health (CDPH) officials to manage a serious COVID-19 outbreak at the Watsonville Post-Acute Center (WPA) skilled nursing facility. Forty-six WPA residents and 15 staff have tested positive. The County regrets to announce that five additional residents have either died from COVID-19 or passed away with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause, bringing the total to nine from the WPA. Our condolences go out to these individuals’ families and friends. Since the outbreak began, CDPH officials have conducted multiple site visits to provide assessments and recommendations to WPA management. County health officials are working with the facility on a daily basis to review protocols on isolation, quarantine, testing, and screening, as well as resource requests for staff and supplies critical to resolving the outbreak. The California National Guard is also providing staffing support to the facility. “Watsonville Post-Acute informed the County as soon as the first resident tested positive,” stated Dr. David Ghilarducci, Deputy Health Officer for Santa Cruz County. “Our staff is focused on the outbreak and we will continue to work closely with WPA.” At the onset of the pandemic, County staff from the Communicable Disease Unit (CDU) and Emergency Preparedness Unit worked with each of the seven skilled nursing facilities in the county to develop a plan that included a comprehensive checklist tool, site maps, and scenario planning in the event of an outbreak. Strategies on testing staff and residents, maximizing PPE, and containment of infection were also included in the plan. The plan is in action as WPA works to mitigate the impact of the virus. Although the rate of new cases in Santa Cruz County continues to decline, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities remain at elevated risk for COVID-19 due to the congregate living setting and the vulnerability of the population.

Health Leadership Town Hall

Join me this Wednesday to hear from Dr. Gail Newel and Health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall. We will talk about the latest information in our effort to contain the COVID-19 virus. They will share their perspectives on what the trends of infection tell us, how the new racial equity requirements from the State affect us, and what we can expect as we move into winter and the flu season.

Wednesday, October 14

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/91648160539

Or Dial: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 9128

Webinar ID: 916 4816 0539

In addition to zoom, this meeting can be viewed on Supervisor John Leopold's Facebook page. No account is necessary to view on Facebook.

More Rent Assistance Funding Available

The County and community partners are pleased to announce a second round of CARES Rental Assistance Program funding. The County has allocated a portion of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to provide housing stabilization assistance to residents of unincorporated Santa Cruz County who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and whose housing is at risk because they are in arrears for rent and/or utility payments. The Santa Cruz County CARES Rental Assistance Program is limited to residents of the unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County whose annual income does not exceed 80 percent of area median income (for a single-person household, income must be at or below $74,350). Unpaid or partially paid rent and utility payments going back to April 1, 2020, are eligible, up to a maximum of $10,000 per household. Income losses must be due to COVID-19-related factors. The deadline to apply for the second round of funding is October 14, 2020. To apply click here. The CARES Rental Assistance Program is being implemented by the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County Inc. (CAB) and Families in Transition (FIT). Applications can be submitted electronically or physically. Applications are available in English or Spanish.

Live Oak Parking Program Changes

We have been working to re-envision the Live Oak Parking Program (LOPP) for the last year to improve service, enforcement, and coverage. After consultation with the Coastal Commission about our existing permit we will be hosting some community meetings about the possible expansion of the parking program throughout Pleasure Point and into the Opal Cliffs/Court Drive area. To see the current streets included in the LOPP click here. In addition, we would look at potential enforcement and service delivery changes to have the program work better for residents and visitors. Community meetings were planned but the COVID-19 crisis and then the fires have taken staff away from being able to host these meetings. To read more about what will be covered, check out my letter directing the Public Works staff to host these meetings in November by clicking here. Public Works will mail a postcard to all residents in the LOPP and potentially expanded areas and I will share this information through my digital channels and newsletter.

Check out past Town Halls

Central Fire District Consolidation 9-30-20

UCSC Chancellor on expanded testing 9-23-20

Lowering Water Rates 9-16-20

Innovative Local Sea Level Rise Policies 9-2-20

Email John and his staff!