Eighth Community Health Advisory: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Eight weeks in and still providing weekly reports...
This week we continued to return to some of our regularly scheduled activities in different ways. We had our first board meeting through zoom and had a larger attendance than usual which included participants from all over the state. The legislature also continued to slightly return to their meeting schedules and in fact the senate had so many people logging in to watch the budget hearing that the whole website crashed for a short while. We've also had great interest in our public meetings with crowds much larger than usual. Maybe this ease in access is helping us to increase participation with our community advocates.

This week, even more than last week, we've received several inquiries about when this whole thing will be over. When can I return to my day program or school or job? I still don't have a definitive answer but I thought I'd take a deeper dive into this issue to see if the government's guidance is any clearer.

Governor Newsom says we'll have a better idea of where we are by the end of the month. He's looking for "a flattening, and then decline, of coronavirus hospitalization rates, as well as a reduction in the number of people in intensive care unit beds." Another factor will be our capacity in the state to have a workforce of health care workers who can trace the COVID-19 virus and sustain adequate processes for temporarily isolating people with confirmed cases. The governor has identified six things for us to look at for our process towards reopening:
  1. Testing to find and isolate people with the virus,
  2. Have strong protections in place for seniors, people with disabilities, and others at high risk,
  3. Have enough protective gear for future surges in hospitals,
  4. Ongoing work with researchers focused on therapies and treatments,
  5. Have strict rules and compliance with physical distancing at private businesses and schools, and
  6. Have laws in place to quickly allow the state to revert back to strict stay at home orders if the spread returns.

The governor says, "there is no light switch here, it's more like a dimmer," and he added "I know you want the timeline, but we can't get ahead of ourselves and dream of regretting. Let's not make the mistake of pulling the plug too early, as much as we want to." In an article published by CNN 10 days ago Los Angeles County Public Health officials said if they were to reopen today they would see a 95% increase in cases.

The national plan for "Opening Up America Again" from the White House describes a criteria, and 3 phases to reopen the economy. President Trump says we need a downward trend of symptoms and positive cases over a 14-day period to begin the process. The administration says we need to be able to treat all patients without crisis care and have a robust testing program. The president acknowledges that State and local officials may need to have specific criteria for their unique circumstances and finally the administration says Governors should work on a regional basis.

It is encouraging to talk about the criteria and hte plan for "reopening" our communities. But everyone of the public officials caution the return too soon. Much of the reopen process may begin in May or early June but the beginning will be limited to small gatherings and strict protections. Just for a little perspective on large crowds, the average attendance for California sports teams are (while seasonal there is overlap):

Professional Football
Rams 71,000
49ers 70,000
Chargers 30,000
= 171,000 people a game day/week in CA

Professional Basketball
Clippers 19,000
Lakers 19,000
Warriors 18000
Kings 16,800
= 256,000 average attendance a week in CA

Professional Baseball
Dodgers 49,000
Angels 37,000
Giants 33,000
Padres 30,000
A's 19,000
= over a million people in attendance a week in CA

A study from the Georgia Institute of Tech as published in National Geographic shows models with a 95% chance of someone being in attendance in any group with the size of 15,000 people. Imagine the numbers with the crowds highlighted above. This is not to scare you it's just a reminder that while we discuss the "reopening" of our communities the public health officials are our guides, they are guiding the policymakers and we are relying on them for guidance through this important moment in our history. While we all desire to return to normal, we all have a stronger desire to ensure the safety of all of our neighbors.

Sincerely

Tony Anderson
Executive Director
Valley Mountain Regional Center.
This crowd problem with sports is exacerbated when you consider California has been in half of the world series over the last 10 years, all 5 NBA championships, and the last two super bowls - these require additional events sold way beyond the average numbers, not to mention college sports and large concerts.  
Self-Advocacy Council 6


Lisa Utsey- Self Advocacy Council 6 chairperson invites you to join the SAC6 Friday CHATS!

With so much happening because of the virus SAC6 wants to hear how you are doing and share information so we can all get through this together!

Join us on a SAC6 ZOOM CHAT!!
Let’s Check In with each other!
WHEN : Fridays  starting April 24, 2020
TIME : 11:00am-12:00pm
WHERE : ZOOM- computer, tablet, cell phone
 
Here is the DATES & TOPICS for the SAC6 CHATS
  • Friday, April 24, 2020– Stimulus checks. What is this money, does it impact our benefits, ideas for spending
  • Friday, May 1, 2020- Health and wellness, how do you spend your day? Activities, ideas for what to do during the day, tips on health and wellness
  • Friday, May 8, 2020- Update on all things Corona. When does it look like we are going back to program? What will that look like? Can we all ride the bus? Do we need masks?

Join Zoom Meeting on your computer, tablet or phone
 
Meeting ID: 917 7394 4767

Password: 310725 You must enter the Password or you can call in:
TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL IN:
  • 888 475 4499 US Toll-free or
  • 877 853 5257 US Toll-free
Case Management

Basic needs may be interrupted due to issues surrounding COVID-19 and you may find yourself and your family needing some assistance. If you are experiencing this in your life, we would like to pass along some community resources that may help.
Local food banks in our catchment area that are open and ready to serve you include:

Starting April 28, you can visit these links to shop online at Amazon and Walmart using your CalFresh EBT card. You can order food that you would normally buy with your EBT card in person and select “home delivery.”   For information about CalFresh and how to apply click here .

Click on this link forthe here for the For EBT Online frequently asked questions .

You can visit GetCalFresh.org to apply or call 1-877-847-3663 to be connected to your local county social service office.

Our Service Coordinators also have resource information they can share with you, so please feel free to give them a call. Additionally, here is a link that others have found helpful and may help you find the assistance you need. For help with paying rent, bills, obtaining internet, and other aid, visit   FindHelp.org   Just enter your zip code on the website and resource information about various services in your area will be made available to you. If you need assistance in following up, please contact your SC. 

Cindy Mix
Director of Consumer Services
Community Outreach

“The Outreach Team of Gaby Lopez, Cultural Specialist, Enos Edmerson, Employment Specialist and Olivia Held, Education Specialist have now become our “Supply Distribution Team”. We have received valuable PPE from our generous CLASP Committee, DDS, private purchase, local health departments and a few others. We are doing what we can with these limited supplies to stock our families, care homes, and programs that are still servicing consumers to help keep them and our consumers safe.”
 
“For questions about this, please contact your Service Coordinators if it is consumer related, or your Community Services Liaison if you are a vendor. They will be the single best source of this information on what we have at the time and what we are distributing.”

Doug Bonnet
Special Assistant to the Director
Resource Development

We continue to hold Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Training via zoom for providers. This will continue on a routine basis in an effort to reach compliance by March 17, 2022. 

We conducted our first online “Introduction to HCBS,” training via Zoom on 4/21/2020. There were 15 participants for this training. I plan on having more training scheduled for the next 3 months. In addition to that we are setting up Community forums for HCBS specific topics. We also are working on arranging for Q&A sessions bi-weekly. I will expand the training beyond the settings rules because the settings rules are only one area of the federal statute. I believe the “Person Centered Planning Process, Person Centered Plan, and Person Centered Plan Review,” are all important elements that will be incorporated in the training.

T umboura Hill
Senior Community Services Liaison
Home and Community Based Services
Resource Development
Special Education

Special Education services- IDEA regulations have not been relaxed. Local Education Agencies obligation to access, hold IEP meetings and make an offer of FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) has not changed during the shelter in place. Service may be held through distance learning while we are there is a shelter in place. Olivia Held, VMRC’s Education Specialist has been working with Early Start ABA providers on navigating distance learning while we are in shelter in place. Parent coaching has been emphasized and is the foundation of Early Start services.  


Tara Sisemore-Hester
Assistant Director 
Clinical Services 
Clinical Director Updates
(a message to all staff)

The intent of this email to remind everyone working in the office to please continue practicing social distancing, frequent hand washing and disinfecting of high touch surfaces. I am not aware of who are the staff that are still in the office so I may have missed a few, and I apologize for that. Please forward this email to them. It is important that when you are in the office, and you need to talk with someone, to please continue to stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the other person. Disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched such as computer keyboards, mouse, door knobs, light switch, and others. Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. If that is not possible, use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, mouth. I would like to emphasize that wearing a cloth mask or surgical mask will not prevent you from getting the disease. It is still social distancing and frequent hand washing. Wearing of cloth mask or surgical mask is going to help prevent others from getting the virus from you, if ever you have the virus. We will not know if you are a carrier or not unless you are tested. There is a testing site now for San Joaquin and Stanislaus county residents. Please feel free to fill out the registration for that and you will know if you are eligible to be tested or not. That is voluntary. Because the virus is considered to have spread throughout the community, that is why CDC and California Department of Public Health is recommending that if you want to protect yourself and others, to wear cloth mask. But that does not supersede nor substitute the order for social distancing and frequent hand washing. The easiest way to remember if you should stay 6 feet away from another person is to think if that person lives with you in your home. If someone does not live with you in your home, you definitely want to stay 6 feet away from that person. You can talk, but keep 6 feet distance from each other.

Those that are in the office, and your office spot is close to another person less than 6 feet away, please feel free to use the other open computers to be able to practice social distancing. You may use my office because I do not plan to be in Stockton until we open our office again. If you are hesitant, you may email other people that you want to use their spot because they are working from home. I’m sure they will be okay with that.

I also want to clarify that gloves is not useful to help you prevent getting the disease. Once you touch a surface with your gloved hands, and you accidentally touch your face, eyes, nose, mouth, you will also get the virus. Gloves are supposed to be changed frequently because it can get contaminated. And after use, people are still advised to wash their hands after they remove the gloves.

I hope the explanation helped clarify the safety precautions I’m really hoping you are practicing. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I hope and pray that you stay safe and healthy.

Claire B. Lazaro, MSN, RN, NP, PHN, CCRN, FNP-C
Clinical Director
Local County Public Health Resources
  1. Amador County (8 known cases April 24, 2020 - one new cases this week)
  2. Calaveras County (13 known cases April 24, 2020 two new cases)
  3. San Joaquin County (487 known cases - 22 deaths April 24, 2020 - 24% increase in cases this week reduce rate of increase)
  4. Stanislaus County (258 known cases and 5 deaths April 24, 2020 - 28% increase in cases this week reduced rate of increase)
  5. Tuolumne County  (2 known case April 24, 2020 - no new cases)
  6. VMRC - 2 confirmed consumer cases April 24, 2020 - no new cases)
  7. California (39,637 cases and 1534 deaths - 29% increase in new cases this week - no change in rate)
  8. National (872,122 and 50,106 deaths April 17, 2020 - 23% increase in new cases this week reduced rate of increase)