Issues critical new guidelines to help prevent spread
The Board of Supervisors today declared a state of emergency in Contra Costa County due to COVID-19.
In doing so, we join more than a dozen other California counties who have taken the same step.
What does this mean?
A county emergency proclamation is a prudent step that allows our
Health Department to mobilize county resources, accelerate emergency planning, streamline staffing, access future reimbursement by the state and federal governments, and raise awareness about how we can help reduce the spread of the virus.
In addition, the Health Department released new guidelines for dealing with the virus. Many of these are called "social distancing" which is proven to reduce the spread of contagious viral disease.
These guidelines are not mandatory, but health officials
strongly urge they are followed.
They include:
High risk people (those over age 50 or with pre-existing chronic illness) should avoid mass gatherings such as parades, sporting events, religious services, celebrations and concerts where people are within arm's length of each other and there are 50 or more people.
Organizers should cancel or postpone large gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, celebrations, conventions, religious services and community events where 50 or more people are within arm's length of each other.
More hand sanitizers in classrooms and workplaces
Public, commercial transit should increase sanitizing
These new recommendations are on top of existing
Health Department guidelines for the general public and at-risk people.
Remember, the majority of people who get COVID-19 do not get seriously ill. The virus is hardest on older adults and people with serious underlying medical conditions such as heart, lung, and kidney disease.
Prevention measures help protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable. We're all learning the best prevention steps: washing hands often, for 20 seconds; covering coughs and sneezes; staying home when sick.
Check the CDC website for more details.
Our County's emergency proclamation will help us harness resources to mobilize prevention efforts and care for our residents who test positive.
The virus is impacting the capacity of health care facilities and causing shortages in some essential health care supplies. We are working with state and federal agencies to access sufficient supplies to ensure we can deal with the virus effectively.
While these are challenging times, I'm heartened by the prevention efforts I see in our communities. This is a time when working together benefits us all.
