City of Coronado
COVID-19 UPDATE
Thursday, December 7, 2020
Top News
San Diego County Under Regional Stay Home Order

To help stem the COVID-19 spread, Gov. Gavin Newsom late last week announced a Regional Stay Home Order that instructs Californians to stay at home as much as possible and to stop mixing between households. The order, announced Dec. 3, will prohibit gatherings of any size, close operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and require 100% masking and physical distancing.
 
It allows access to critical services and allows outdoor activities to continue to preserve Californians’ physical and mental health. The Regional Stay Home Order will help prevent overwhelming regional ICU capacity. Under the order, the following sectors are allowed to remain open with safety precautions: 
  • Critical infrastructure (when remote option is not possible)
  • Schools
  • Non-urgent medical and dental care
  • Childcare and pre-K

The new order takes effect in regions where the availability of ICU beds falls below 15%, which is the case in the region that includes San Diego County. The local Stay Home Order became effective Dec. 6. The state announced the new, more restrictive order as California is experiencing a record surge of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that may overwhelm hospitals by Christmas.
 
What this means is the region must abide by a new set of rules for at least three weeks. After three weeks, one of two situations would occur:
  • The order will end in a region if its ICU capacity projected out four weeks is above or equal to 15%. Each county in the region will then be assigned to a tier based on the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and the rules of the Blueprint will apply again.
  • The order will remain in effect in a region if its ICU capacity projected out four weeks is less than 15%. The order will remain in effect until the region’s projected ICU capacity is equal or greater than 15%. This would be assessed approximately twice a week.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is expected to issue region-wide emergency alerts at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 8, asking residents to stay home except for essential activities.
What Coronado Facilities are Open, Closed

Here’s what the governor's Regional Stay Home Order means for the City of Coronado:

  • Coronado Public Library: Operations will continue at 20% capacity, similar to retail stores. Extra cleaning and safety precautions such as temperature checks remain in place. The Library is expected to reinstitute its Curbside Pick-up Service which will run during opening hours.
  • Playground and Parks: Per the new order, Public Services is cordoning off and closing all playgrounds. Parks, beaches, parking lots and bike paths will remain open.
  • Golf Course, Lap Swimming, Tennis Courts: The Coronado Golf Course will remain open. The Golf Course concessionaires will follow the most recent guidelines. The pro shop will be limited to 20% capacity. Feast and Fairway will have take-out only. Take-out will be available through the Snack Bar. The Aquatics Center pool will be available for lap swim following the same practices currently in place. The City’s tennis courts will remain open. Total tennis lesson participants at one time is now reduced to four. The Fitness Room at the Community Center will close.
  • Youth Sports and Youth Day Camps: Youth Sports cannot play games or host scrimmages but they can continue to meet in small groups and practice. Youth Day Camps will continue to meet in limited cohort groups.
Businesses, Routines Impacted by Regional Order

San Diego and other counties throughout California are under stricter stay-at-home orders after the Southern California region’s ICU bed capacity dipped to 12.5%.

The new stay-at-home restrictions will impact businesses and people but state and County health officials say the action is necessary because lives are at stake. The order to restrict non-essential activities and contact with those not providing essential services will help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Public health officials advise against any gatherings including backyard parties, dinners and events and inviting people into your home who are providing non-essential services that they typically offer only from their brick and mortar stores. Essential businesses such as supermarkets, grocery stores, laundromats and pharmacies will remain open.

The Southern California region is made up of five of the most populated counties in the state: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Also in the region are the counties of Imperial, Inyo, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Per San Diego County officials, among restrictions that go beyond the current Purple Tier that already apply to San Diego:
  • No gatherings of any size.
  • Restaurants open for takeout, delivery or drive-thru only. No on-site dining.
  • Indoor operations limited to 20%.
  • Hotels and lodging. Open only for critical infrastructure support.

The following businesses and activities will be closed from operating in any form, indoors or outdoors:
  • Indoor or outdoor playgrounds
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Personal care services, including nail salons
  • Museums, zoos and aquariums
  • Movie theaters
  • Wineries
  • Overnight stays at campgrounds
City to Offer COVID-19 Testing

The City of Coronado has teamed up with Kahala Biosciences to implement a COVID-19 testing site at the Coronado Community Center.

Testing will begin the first week of January, on Jan. 4 and Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Testing is envisioned to occur two days per week. The City will begin a media campaign to alert the community to the service.

There is no cost for the City except to provide canopies to host the sites outdoors and for advertising the testing availability. Those receiving tests will provide their insurance information to Kahala Biosciences who will coordinate reimbursement directly. If a tested individual’s insurance does not cover the cost, the insured would work directly with the company to recoup payment. If individuals do not have insurance, they may be tested at no cost through a federal program administered through the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration. If individuals wish to pay directly, COVID-19 tests will cost $120. Kahala Biosciences will also offer antibody testing for a fee of $65.

Testing for COVID-19 is recognized by public health officials as an important cornerstone to beat the pandemic. However, general public testing is not available in Coronado, and testing for Coronado residents is inconvenient. There are no private labs offering COVID-19 testing within the City. Coronado Sharp Hospital offers COVID-19 testing to individuals receiving care at the facility.

A need exists to provide the Coronado community with a convenient COVID-19 testing location accessible within the City for individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and those who are not. Local governments across the country are stepping in to fill gaps in testing availability by offering the service directly to residents.

Discussions with school district leadership indicated that a convenient testing location within the City would benefit staff, students, and their families. The City researched available options to provide COVID-19 community testing. Staff identified Kahala Biosciences out of Irvine, California, to offer testing services in the City due to their experience, current local partnerships, and responsiveness.

A COVID-19 testing center would be open for four hours, two days a week with the ability to increase or reduce the event times based on demand. The public would make advanced appointments through a dedicated testing event link for the City maintained by Kahala Biosciences. Individuals create an account, enter their contact, and insurance information and select a testing time from available appointments.

This program will allow anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to be tested; anyone who has been in “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19 to be tested; anyone who needs a negative test to return to work to be tested; anyone who may have been exposed through a large gathering to be tested; or anyone who meets any criteria for testing to be tested. 

For information, contact the City Manager's Office at cm@coronado.ca.us.
Be Safe for the Holidays

With the holidays nearly upon us, state and regional health officials warn residents to be vigilant about taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Public health officials urge residents to keep holiday celebrations small, short and safe. Gatherings with members of your own household represent a lower risk of getting and passing COVID-19. 

If you are going to gather, be careful. The existing health order calls for no more than three households gathering at once for no longer than two hours, preferably outdoors.
Coronado Provides Safe Holiday Fun

To help get residents in the spirit, the City is planning safe, festive and fun holiday activities for the whole family. Coronado’s traditional Snow Mountain, Holiday Parade and Breakfast with Santa are canceled but check out these events that can be enjoyed safely:

How to Contact Santa in 2020
1.     Letters to Santa – Children receive a written response from Santa. Put your letter into the “North Pole Express Mailbox” at the Community Center through Dec. 16. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
2.     North Pole Hotline - Santa will make a personal phone call to all the boys and girls in the home. Register online at www.coronado.ca.us/recreation or call (619) 522-7342 to select a time from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14-18.

Home in Coronado for the Holidays
The City is hosting a free drive-thru holiday event for the whole family on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families can “cruise” down Candy Cane Lane (City Hall, 1825 Strand Way), make a stop at the Gingerbread House, take a holiday photo at Santa’s Village and visit the North Pole. Participants will receive holiday cookies and cocoa, fun activities to enjoy at home, a professional holiday photo, goodie bags and surprise treats. Registration is required. Call (619) 522-7342 to register.

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
Bring the holidays to life inside and around your home with these Holiday Photo Contests: Deck the Tree, Deck the Doors or Festive Holiday Décor. Decorate, give your creation a name, snap a photo, tag us at #92118holidays2020 on Facebook or Instagram or email recdept@coronado.ca.us. One photo per contest per person. Call (619) 522-7342 for details.

The City also is planning a virtual holiday-themed painting class with a local artist, "Cocoa and Canvas." Cost is $5 and includes a kit to create a holiday masterpiece, and cocoa. Also planned are virtual storytimes with the Coronado Public Library; a holiday-themed sandcastle building contest; virtual mocktails and cooking videos; and a Community Food Drive. Check Coronado TV for more events such as cookie decorating, holiday cooking and floral arranging.
Blood Drive in Coronado

The City of Coronado and the American Red Cross have scheduled a ninth blood drive at the Coronado Community Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, log on to RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: CityBD. All blood donations are now tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Sign up now to give.
COVID-19 Information

The City is working diligently to provide the latest news and information on the coronavirus pandemic. The City issues a newsletter on an as-needed basis with news, resources, features and information on how Coronado is working to help stop the spread of the virus. To subscribe to the COVID-19 Update, click on this link to see a copy of the newsletter than click subscribe and provide your email address. News may also be found on the City’s website: www.coronado.ca.us. You can follow the City on social media and check the City of Coronado COVID-19 page.
COVID-19 Health Resources and Links