Coronavirus Update - April 17, 2020
What's New This Week?
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Numbers in Contra Costa County
648 total cases, 19 deaths
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The County Dashboard is regularly updated with new information. This week, the number of ICU Beds occupied and the number of Ventilators being utilized has been added.
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County Health Services COVID-19 Call Center: 844-729-8410
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Contra Costa Health Officer Issues New "Cover Your Face" Order Effective Wednesday, April 22
A new health order in Contra Costa County requires anyone working at or visiting an essential business, such as a grocery store or gas station, to wear face coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The order, effective Wednesday, April 22, also requires public transit and government workers to wear masks when they come close to others, or where the public is likely to be present.
Members of the public must mask when they:
- work at an essential business
- are inside an essential business, such as a grocery store
- visit a healthcare provider or facility
- wait in line for or ride public transportation
Businesses must take reasonable measures, such as posting signs, to remind visitors about masking, and not serve customers who do not observe the order. Workers do not need to mask if they are alone in a personal office but must put them on when others enter.
“We now know that a significant number of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms, or become infectious before they start showing symptoms,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County’s health officer. “That is why we all need to start wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where it’s sometimes hard to maintain physical distancing, such as standing in line at the store.”
The new order does not extend to people driving in personal vehicles alone or with members of their households. Contra Costa residents are encouraged to continue to observe safe physical distancing when they go out to exercise or for recreation.
When outside, everyone must carry masks or face coverings and use them whenever they come near six feet of others outside their own households.
People engaged in more strenuous exercise, such as running or bicycling, should stay further apart from others while breathing heavily and take steps to avoid breathing on others, such as moving to the other side of the road to avoid pedestrians and wearing a mask if possible.
The new order does not replace the county’s stay-at-home health order or the need to maintain physical distancing, wash hands frequently and cover coughs and sneezes – all fundamental to reducing the spread of COVID-19.
“Stay in place, maintain your space, cover your face,” Dr. Farnitano said. “One key way the COVID-19 virus spreads is through respiratory droplets that people expel when they breathe or sneeze. By masking and observing physical distancing, we can help protect everyone in the community.”
The order does not require children 12 and younger to wear masks. Children 2 years old or younger must not wear them because of the risk of suffocation.
Face coverings can be anything made of cloth, fabric or other permeable material that covers the nose and mouth and the lower part of the face. Medical-grade masks are not required – a T-shirt or bandana works fine, Dr. Farnitano said.
Masks with one-way valves for easy breathing do not qualify as face coverings under the order because they can release respiratory droplets into the surrounding air.
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HEALTH OFFICER ORDERS
Today’s Health Officer order requiring face coverings when in public is the 8
th
Contra Costa Health Order Issued since the COVID-19 Crisis began. Other Health Orders include:
Social Distancing at Homeless Shelters - April 14
The Health Officer of the County of Contra Costa has determined that there is an increased risk of COVID-19 among persons living in large homeless shelters, and that the shelters must be depopulated temporarily to help slow COVID-19’s spread and prevent the healthcare system in the County from being overwhelmed. Read the full order
here.
More information about services to the homeless during this crisis can be read
here
.
Contra Costa Health Order Requires Increased Measures for Health Facility Visitors - April 13
Residential care and other licensed healthcare facilities in Contra Costa County must screen all staff and visitors for signs of illness and adhere to a strict masking policy, according to a new health officer order that begins
Tuesday, April 14. Anyone who is not a patient or resident at an applicable facility must submit to temperature and symptom screening, and facilities must exclude anyone who has had symptoms of respiratory illness or fever in the past seven days, or a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
The order is intended to protect medically vulnerable patients and reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the facilities that care for them, Contra Costa Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano said. Read the full order
here.
Contra Costa Issues Mass Quarantine and Mass Isolation Orders – April 3
These two orders require that not only do people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 need to quarantine themselves, but all household members, intimate partners, and caregivers who had not been wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and had close contact with someone who has the virus must also isolate themselves and not leave their home or residence except for medical care or an emergency for 14 days. The details of these two order are found
here
for the Isolation Order and
here
for the Quarantine Order.
Contra Costa Health Order Extends the Original Stay at Home Order – March 31
The original Stay at Home order was extended and slightly modified to further protect the residents of Contra Costa from further infection and spread of the virus.
Contra Costa Requires All Labs to Report all COVID-19 Related Results – March 23
This March 24 order directing all laboratories in the County to provide all results (positive, negative or inconclusive) to the County Health Department. The full order can be reviewed
here.
Contra Costa County Shelter in Place Order is First Issued on March 16
. Contra Costa joined other Bay Area Counties to issue one of the first Shelter in Place orders in the Country. A complete copy of this order can be found
here
.
Update on County Offices and Services
The County is working hard to continue to provide much needed services to our community.
To see the list for office updates and any service changes for County Departments go to
Update-on-County-Offices-and-Services
for the latest information, please check with the specific department or program.
Fund to Bring Emergency Relief to Bay Area Residents Impacted by COVID-19
Beyond its devastating health implications, COVID-19 is undermining basic living conditions for tens of thousands of people living in the Bay Area, especially those that are most vulnerable. The Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation (CCRHF) has established a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, and has been selected as a lead partner organization in the newly formed COVID-19 Regional Response Fund supported by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund is also supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as well as individual donors.
The CCRHF Rapid Response Fund is moving quickly to help those individuals in desperate need. Locally, the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation will play an important role in identifying highest risk populations and funding non-profit organizations to provide needed assistance. To read the full press release go to
COVID19 Fund.
County Health Services COVID-19 Call Center: 844-729-8410
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Board of Supervisors Proposes Eviction Moratorium
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At the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 14th, the Supervisors
discussed the statewide Judicial Council rule and Governor’s Executive Order that effectively suspends all evictions in California, statewide protections against excessive rent increases, and additional provisions that other local jurisdictions have implemented by adopting urgency ordinances.
The Supervisors' directed the County Counsel to draft an ordinance that would provide additional protections to tenants who have a COVID-19 basis for not being able to pay their rent during this challenging time. Evidence of an inability to pay because of a COVID-19 related issue is required.
The provisions of the proposed ordinance include allowing a grace period of up to 120 days following this crisis to pay the rent owed and a prohibition on late fees or increases in rent during the Emergency Order. Evictions would only be allowed during this Emergency Period in the case of health and safety or if an immediate family member needs to move into a rental unit.
The Board recognizes that this may have a significant impact on landlords, and hopes that tenants and landlords will work together to find a reasonable schedule to pay all rent owed. This proposed ordinance does not in any way constitute a forgiveness of any rent due. They will vote on the ordinance in a special meeting on April 21st at 1:00 p.m.
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Supervisor Andersen Participates in San Ramon Mayor's Weekly Virtual COVID-19 Information Meetings
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Weekly on Fridays during the Shelter at Home Order, San Ramon Mayor Bill Clarkson is hosting a virtual edition of his Breakfast with the Mayor meeting. Supervisor Andersen as well as other local officials and representatives of the healthcare industry have been guest speakers.
San Ramon is broadcasting the Friday breakfasts that take place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. via live streaming, or you can watch any or all of the previous meetings.
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Sheriff Updates Board of Supervisors
on the
Jail Population and COVID-19
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At the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 14, Sheriff David Livingston updated the Supervisors on the current status of inmates, and the COVID-19 preventative measures in the County's detention centers.
All employees and inmates are screened for fever before entering the facility and are being asked about their medical history.
All new arrestees are quarantined in a separate module for 14 days. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been issued to all staff, and masks to all inmates.
Twenty-two staff have been tested with one deputy testing positive, who has since recovered. Twenty-two symptomatic inmates were tested with no positive results.
All visits have been suspended except for attorneys on an urgency basis. Reduced cost phone calls are available to inmates to keep in touch with family members. Special phone calls are allowed to chaplains.
The current jail capacity of 2000 inmates is at 36% of capacity, housing 722 inmates. The Sheriff has released 466 offenders from custody on an alternative custody system, including
home monitoring, ankle monitoring and other alternatives to physical custody. Offenders in custody has declined over the past 30 days from 1117 to 722 inmates, a drop of 35%.
With low facility counts, inmates are being placed in single cells with 89% of inmates in separate cells to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
A statewide Judicial Council bail order set a statewide standard resulting in release of a number of offenders who normally would have been retained on bail. The order is designed to exclude serious and violent felonies but still does require zero bails for offenses such as vehicular manslaughter, unlawful sex with a minor, numerous weapon charges, and arson. Sheriff Livingston is working with other area Sheriffs on engaging with the State and Chief Justice’s office to modify this order.
Those who are still in our County jail include:
- 164 defendants facing murder charges
- 98 facing child molestation charges
- 22 charged with rape, 18 charged with kidnapping
- 108 charged with robbery
- 101 charged with burglary
- 186 charged with assault with a deadly weapon
To read all of the current updates from the Sheriff, visit
cocosheriff.
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East Bay Business Recovery Survey
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Dear Members and Friends:
East Bay EDA is dedicated to serving as a resource to support economic relief and recovery as our region continues to grapple with COVID-19. As business owners and leaders in the East Bay, we ask for your help in gathering crucial information to help our region effectively plan recovery efforts and advocate for resources that you need.
We are partnering with local cities, chambers of commerce, and the workforce development boards of
Alameda
and
Contra Costa
counties to conduct a survey of current and projected business priorities. To take the survey, go to
survey business recovery
For a list of COVID-19 resources, check out our comprehensive resource guide by visiting
east bay covid19
. For any questions about this survey or other information, please contact us at
info@eastbayeda.org
.
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Volunteers Needed To Help With Blood Donations
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Blood donation is essential to ensuring the health of our communities. The need for blood is constant, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need.
Every day patients rely on lifesaving blood transfusions including those who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer.
Right now, people are following public health guidance to keep their families safe, and that includes contributing to a readily available supply of blood for hospitals.
This is the time to take care of one another. If you are healthy and feeling well, please make an appointment to donate in the weeks ahead by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting
RedCrossBlood.org
or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive in alignment with new CDC public guidance, and the new County Health Officer Order.
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COVID-19 Funds Available for Non-Profits Working With Vulnerable Populations
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The Contra Costa Regional Health Fund has funds available for non-profits working with vulnerable populations in the county. Details are available at
ccrhfcovid-19.
Apply for a special COVID-19 funding opportunity to help those most in need of support if you a non-profit working with vulnerable populations in Contra Costa, or are working to help families and individuals impacted by COVID-19. Apply for special emergency funding by visiting
application.
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For questions about childcare and childcare referrals, please go to
cocokids.
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California Statewide COVID-19 Actions
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To keep the public informed of all COVID-19 developments, the state has created a webpage,
www.covid19.ca.gov
, to provide up-to-date information and resources that contains links to all relevant state departments and local government websites.
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Please Continue to Follow These Simple Recommendations
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