News & Updates ∙ June 16, 2020
Hello City of Concord residents, businesses and friends,

As of June 16, the County has 2,026 known cases of COVID-19. To review a demographic and geographic breakdown of the cases, please see the County's COVID-19 dashboard.

Contra Costa Health Services updated their health order today to allow for the reopening of hair salons and barbers beginning tomorrow, June 17. You can find details and their projected timeline for reopening below.

Stay healthy and safe, everyone!
New Health Order Released Today
Contra Costa Health Services has amended its current health order to allow hair salons and barber shops to reopen for businesses beginning on June 17.

The new order also increases the number of swimmers who may share a pool to one person per 75 square feet, as allowed by the state.

The social distancing order also allows as many as 100 people to attend a funeral or other religious service at an indoor place of worship, in line with the state's health guidance.


In addition, the County released guidance on how to have safer social interactions with people outside of your household. Some tips include:

  • Hang out with as few people as possible. Try to only spend time with the same people.
  • Remember who you meet. If someone in your group feels sick later, the County can help them get tested.
  • Avoid sharing food, drinks or utensils. Each person should have their own, if possible.
  • Avoid sharing toys, bats, balls or objects passed back and forth. Bring disinfecting wipes to sanitize anything that might be shared.
  • Avoid singing, chanting, or shouting.
Face Coverings Required in Public Spaces
As the County continues to ease restrictions on certain activities, health officials are adamant that people continue to wear face coverings in public.

According to the health department's web page:

Members of the public must wear a face covering:

  • Before entering and while you are inside any facility besides your home (examples: grocery store, post office, restaurant carry out, healthcare facility, etc.) 
  • While outdoors when you are unable to maintain a six-foot distance from other people (who are not members of your household) at all times (examples: park, picnicking, farmers markets, gas station, in line for a food truck or to enter a store, drive-thru, curbside pickup, etc.) 
  • Waiting in line for and riding public transportation
  • When personal vehicle windows are lowered to interact with first responders, food service workers, or others who are not members of your household
City Ordinance Eases Restrictions on Businesses
On June 9, the Concord City Council adopted an urgency ordinance approving the Concord Forward Action Plan, allowing the City to temporarily suspend and waive certain municipal codes and fees to support local businesses that have been impacted by the months-long shelter-in-place order.
With Contra Costa Health Services lifting restrictions on outdoor dining (effective June 5) and indoor dining (expected July 1), local restaurants seeking to reopen quickly must also adhere to social distancing protocol.

In response, the new Action Plan streamlines temporary use permits to allow for expanded outdoor dining and retailing, including on public sidewalks or parking spaces, to create appropriate physical distancing space.

More information about the Action Plan and how the City of Concord is supporting local businesses is available through the Concord Forward website .
Signage Available for Businesses
The City of Concord and Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to create and distribute signage that encourages social distancing. Businesses can email the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce at admin@concordchamber.com to request delivery of the signage, or self-print for immediate use. Visit the Concord Forward: How the City of Concord is Supporting Local Business website for more information. 
County Opens New COVID Testing Site in Concord
On June 15, Contra Costa County introduced a new COVID-19 testing location in Concord at 1034 Oak Grove Road.

  • A doctor referral is not necessary.
  • An appointment is required, but there is currently no hold time on the call line at (844) 421-0804. Appointments are generally available the same or next day. Assistance is available in a variety of languages.
  • Callers will be asked for a social security number but declining to provide one will not keep anyone from being tested.
  • There is no cost for testing. However, insurance will be billed when someone has coverage. This is a requirement related to federal reimbursement.

You can find complete information about COVID testing on the County's website.
Good News to Share

Downtown Program Manager Lisa Potvin is back with another episode of "Concord Connected."

Check out the positive things that are happening in Concord. (Hint: Outdoor dining is back!)
Preparing to Make a Splash
We are eager to make a splash at the Concord Community Pool, but we need a bit more time to get our ducks in a row. Our Aquatics staff are working quickly to review the County health department's requirements for opening swimming pools to ensure we comply with the law.

We are also awaiting the arrival of necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and we need time to train our staff on new rescue protocols and facility procedures. Our goal is to have swimmers back in the water as soon as possible, and we thank you for your patience. The safety of our patrons and staff is our top priority!

For updates, please visit our website  or call 925-671-3480.
Join Concord Mayor Tim McGallian on Saturday, June 20 at 9 a.m. (note new time!) for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting. The Mayor, along with City staff and guests, will provide the most up-to-date information related to the federal, state, county and city responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as updates on local resources available to residents.

During this meeting, the Mayor will address the latest health order and county timeline for reopening, the City's new additions to the Concord Forward initiative, and he'll highlight new developments with the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act .

How You Can Join

Meeting ID: 929 6467 2272 ; No password required

Call in from a phone (no video):  (669) 900-6833

Or, watch the meeting live on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/CityofConcordCA
Virtual Parade Planned for 4th of July
For the first time ever, Concord's 4th of July Parade is going virtual! The best part is, you can be a part of the experience by building and submitting a video of your very own 4th of July float!

Virtual floats can be submitted by local organizations and individual families/households. Entry is FREE! All you have to do is build your float - it can be a car or truck float or even a wagon - then create a video of it "parading" down your street. The video submissions will be compiled into one seamless virtual parade and aired on Concord TV.

Presented by  Marathon Petroleum Corporation  and  Pacific Service Credit Union , this year's 4th of July festivities will be shown on Concord TV (Comcast Channel 28, Wave Channel 29, and U-Verse Channel 99) and streamed live on the City of Concord's Facebook page.

We look forward to seeing your patriotic spirit this 4th of July. Even while we're apart, Concord really is stronger together! Find more details and enter your float video online at ConcordJuly4th.com.
Video Series Keeps Latinx Community Informed
Listos California ’s InformaGente video series is helping members of the Latinx community stay informed about issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In honor of Immigrant Heritage Month, this episode, made in partnership with LULAC and National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts , features activist Eréndira Ibarra, star of the 2018 film Sense8 and upcoming Matrix 4, and Gina Da Silva, Senior Policy Advisor for Immigration in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Ms. Da Silva and Ms. Ibarra discuss important ways families can continue to remain emotionally connected despite social distancing guidelines. The two also review important information from the COVID-19 Immigrant Guide.


Pick Up Books To Go
The Contra Costa County Library recently introduced Front Door Service, which launched on June 15 at 23 library locations, including the Concord Library , located at 2900 Salvio Street near City Hall!

The service allows patrons to pick-up books, DVDs and audiobooks placed on hold through the Library’s website at  ccclib.org .

Patrons with holds on the shelf from early March will have the opportunity to make appointments first. This will help clear the thousands of holds currently on library shelves and make room for new holds. Those patrons will be contacted with instructions explaining how to make an appointment to pick up their materials. The library encourages appointments (not required). Those coming to the library without appointments may experience a wait.

New holds can be placed beginning on June 18, and appointments will be open to any patron who wishes to pick up available holds. Visit t he Library website to read more about it.
Stay Informed
Stay up-to-date on news and information related to the local and state response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Information for businesses, frequently asked questions about City services, as well as City resources are available through our website.
City of Concord | www.cityofconcord.org