Coronavirus Update - April 3, 2020
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Numbers in Contra Costa County - 307 total cases, 5 deaths
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Informative and Easily Accessible Dashboard Now Available
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County Health Services COVID-19 Call Center: 844-729-8410
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Learn the Symptoms - What To Do if You Are Sick
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COVID-19 Health Order Extended to May 3rd
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Bay Area Health Officers have ordered an extension of the shelter-in-place restrictions until May 3rd.
This means that the stay-at-home, business closures, and other social distancing measures we're all practicing must be continued until May 3rd. This date may be extended.
We're doing a great job following the order. We know it’s hard to dramatically change how we work, live and stay in touch with friends and family. It can be confusing to figure out exactly how to do it and what’s ok or not. But social distancing is an important public health tool.
Along with regular and frequent hand washing, it is the best thing we can all do to slow the spread of COVID-19, and ultimately save lives in our community.
The jurisdictions issuing this extension include the counties of Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Marin, and San Francisco, and the City of Berkeley. (Berkeley has its own health department.)
Visit
here
to see new order.
Visit
here
to see executive summary of new order.
Visit
here
for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) on the new order.
The extended order tightens some restrictions and clarifies others:
- Social distancing requirements are mandatory. Unless strict compliance is explicitly waived, everyone must comply with the social distancing requirements at all times.
- Before April 3, essential businesses that continue to operate must complete, post, and implement a social distancing protocol for each facility that remains open.
- Essential businesses must maximize the number of employees who work from home, excepting only those employees who cannot perform their job duties from home.
- Essential businesses that continue to operate facilities in the County must scale down operations to their essential component only.
- Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home are no longer essential businesses under the Order, and must cease operations (except minimum basic operations) at facilities in the County.
- Use of playgrounds, dog parks, public picnic areas and similar recreational areas is prohibited. These areas must be closed to the public.
- Use of shared public recreational facilities such as golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, pools, and rock walls is prohibited. These facilities must be closed for recreational use.
- Sports requiring people to share a ball or other equipment must be limited to people in the same household.
- Much construction, residential and commercial, is prohibited. Exceptions are made for healthcare facility construction directly related to the COVID-19 response; affordable housing; public works projects when designated as essential; shelters and temporary housing; projects necessary to provide critical services to certain vulnerable individuals; construction necessary to secure an existing construction site; limited essential residential or business repairs; projects immediately necessary to the maintenance, operation, or repair of essential infrastructure.
- Funerals limited to no more than 10 people attending.
- Essential businesses expanded to include service providers that enable residential transactions (notaries, title companies, Realtors, etc.); funeral homes and cemeteries; moving companies, rental car companies and ride-share services that specifically enable essential activities.
- Health Officer, government, or entity that manages a park, beach or open space may adopt restrictions to reduce crowding.
- Essential businesses must follow industry-specific guidance issued by the County Health Officer.
- Childcare facilities may only provide care to children or dependents of individuals working for essential businesses, providing essential governmental functions, or performing minimum basic operations for non-essential businesses.
- Individuals may move residences only if it is not possible to wait until the Order expires.
- Landscapers and similar service professionals may only provide services necessary to maintain the sanitation, habitability, or operation of residences or businesses, or for safety reasons.
County Health Services COVID-19 Call Center: 844-729-8410
We encourage families, friends and neighbors to look out for one another during this challenging time. However, if you need assistance and are not able to access the resources you need, please call “211.”
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Craneway Pavilion in Richmond Will Serve as
Federal Medical Station for Covid-19 Patients
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As part of local emergency preparations, Contra Costa County Health officials are working with Federal and state partners to convert the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond into a 250-bed medical station for COVID-19 patients.
Beds and medical supplies are being brought in by the National Guard this week to begin transforming the Craneway Pavilion, a large event center on the Richmond waterfront, into a temporary medical facility. The goal is to have the facility ready to receive patients by the third week of April, when health experts predict the Bay Area will see COVID-19 cases begin to peak.
This is one more step to be better prepared for the anticipated COVID-19 surge, and we are very grateful for the cooperation of so many private and public entities that are making their venues available to serve the health needs of our community in this unprecedented crisis.
The federal medical station would serve as an alternate care site for COVID-19 patients who don't need ICU-level care. It would be used only in the event local hospitals lack capacity to handle a surge of COVID-19 cases. While equipment and supplies are provided by the Federal Government, the County would coordinate medical staffing of the site.
Dedicated County physicians, nurses and other professional staff will provide vital medical care in this historic building to help prevent our local hospitals from becoming overburdened by an expected surge in patients.
The County is also establishing other alternate care sites, including using hotels for homeless residents.
The site will be secured and not open to visitors.
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New Guidelines for Face Covering
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California Public Health issued new guidance that applies here in Contra Costa: cloth face coverings, when combined with physical distance and hand-washing, may help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visit
cdph.ca.gov
to learn more.
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County Accepting Donations of Critical Medical Supplies
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A donation center will be open from Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2 and Monday, April 6 through Tuesday, April 7 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at San Ramon City Hall, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road.
In response to the current public health crisis, Contra Costa Regional Healt
h
Foundation has launched a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. This fund will support our region’s medical community, workforce development, food distribution and access, emergency financial assistance, and more. Visit
ccrhfcovid-19.org/
for more information or to donate.
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COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund
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In response to the current public health crisis, Contra Costa Regional Healt
h
Foundation has launched a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. This fund, initiated by generous donations from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, will support our region’s medical community, workforce development, food distribution and access, emergency financial assistance, and more.
Your donation will directly support trusted and vetted local nonprofit partners and focus on meeting community needs, including:
Food & Financial Support:
helping those impacted by this crisis with funds for such things as food and groceries, rent, and transportation.
Emergency Housing & Shelter:
covering leasing costs for alternative care sites and expanding operations in homeless shelters.
Public Health Interventions:
supporting needed public health activities, such as increasing the availability of community testing and tracking, mobile testing, protective equipment for medical staff, and enhanced sanitizing practices.
Workforce Support:
responding to the many needs related to the safety and support of workers providing essential services.
Other Emerging Needs:
none of us can predict how the community’s needs around COVID-19 will shift and evolve in the days and weeks to come and new opportunities for sup
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Resources for Businesses and Employees
Affected by Economic Impacts of COVID-19
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The Contra Costa County website has information that includes Economic Resources. Many resources are being developed to help business owners and workers with the economic impacts of the current COVID-19 situation. This list is a work in progress, check back frequently for updates. Read the current list and learn more
here.
If you have questions related to "essential service" please go to
Health Order .
If your specific question is not addressed, contact the Call Center 1-844-729-8410 between the hours of 8 AM to 5PM, in English or Spanish.
This website also includes public health updates and answers to the most frequently asked questions, to learn more go to
Economic Resources.
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Resources For Housing Providers
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The California Apartment Association (CAA) has been working overtime to provide resources to rental housing providers and renters and help them navigate through the COVID-19. They have launched an extensive resource guide to help housing providers mitigate the negative regulatory and economic impacts from COVID-19.
With so many existing and new regulations in place to provide housing stability to renters, CAA will continue to educate rental housing owners and guide them on how to best accommodate their residents during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Please go to their
FAQ's
for answers and assistance.
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SOS Emergency Relief Fund
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C
ommunity members facing financial hardship resulting from COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance through the
Season of Sharing
(SOS) Emergency Relief Fund.
The Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) has just published an updated
Emergency Relief Fund
flier outlining who may be eligible, criteria and types of assistance available.
EHSD’s Volunteer & Emergency Services, in partnership with San Francisco Chronicle’s SOS Program, is accepting applications from Contra Costa families.
Please call the SOS Hotline (925) 521-5065 for more information or to apply.
If you are able and would like to support your neighbors during this pandemic, you are encouraged to Donate to the Season of Sharing (SOS) Emergency Relief Fund.
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