To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Counsel, Health Services, Emergency Management
Staff Name and Phone Number: Adam Brand 707-565-2421
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Ratification of declaration of local health emergency and ratification of proclamation of local emergency due to potential introduction of COVID-19 in the County of Sonoma/Sonoma County Operational Area.
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution ratifying the declaration of local health emergency in the County of Sonoma, and ratifying the proclamation of a local emergency in the Sonoma County Operational Area due to the potential introduction of COVID-19 in the County of Sonoma/Sonoma County Operational Area.
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Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board of Supervisors to adopt a resolution ratifying the declaration of a local health emergency by the Health Officer, and ratifying the proclamation of a local emergency by the Director of Emergency Services that began March 2, 2020, due to the potential introduction of COVID-19 into the County of Sonoma/Sonoma County Operational Area. California Health and Safety Code section 101080 provides authority for the Health Officer to issue a declaration of local health emergency, and Sonoma County Code Chapter 10, article 1(b) provides authority for the Director of Emergency Services to issue a proclamation of local emergency if the Board of Supervisors is not in session. Both the declaration by the Health Officer and the proclamation by the Director of Emergency Services must be ratified by the Board of Supervisors within seven (7) days. On March 2, 2020, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Health Officer declared the existence of a local health emergency, and the Director of Emergency Services proclaimed the existence of a local emergency.
Discussion:
A novel coronavirus, COVID-19, causes infectious disease and was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath; outcomes have ranged from mild to severe illness, and in some cases death. Chinese health officials have reported tens of thousands of cases of COVID-19 in China, with the virus reportedly spreading from person-to-person. COVID-19 illnesses, most of them associated with travel from Wuhan, are also being reported in a growing number of international locations, including the United States.
The number of reported cases of COVID-19 has escalated dramatically over a short period of time, and on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.” WHO officials report that sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus is occurring. Transmission from asymptomatic individuals has been documented. Suspected community transmission of the virus is occurring in the United States. Although the majority of individuals infected with COVID-19 recover from the disease without special treatment, there is significant potential for serious infection and death.
On January 31, 2020, United States Health and Human Service Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that the virus presents a serious public health threat.
On February 2, 2020, the federal government initiated the suspension of the entry of foreign nationals who were in China within the past 14 days. United States citizens, residents, and their immediate family members who were in the Hubei Province and other parts of mainland China are screened upon their entry into the United States. Those without symptoms traveling from areas of China (other than Hubei Province) are allowed to continue to their final destination, but are requested to self-quarantine in coordination with local public health officials for up to 14 days. Federal quarantine of some individuals traveling from Wuhan is presently occurring at the Travis Air Force Base.
On February 27, 2020, the CDC issued new guidelines to screen individuals suffering from a fever and/or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath) for COVID-19 for a history of travel from China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea as well as patients suffering from a fever with severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization and without alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza).
At the time of the declaration of local health emergency and the proclamation of local emergency, there were 86 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two confirmed fatalities in the United States, as well as about 88,930 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,000 fatalities worldwide. There are two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sonoma County. It is likely there will be more confirmed cases in Sonoma County from non-travel, community transmission due to the increase of these cases in the country, combined with the worldwide uncontrolled spread of COVID-19.
Health & Safety Code section 101080 allows a local health officer to declare a local health emergency in the health officer’s jurisdiction, or any part thereof, whenever the health officer reasonably determines that there is an imminent and proximate threat of the introduction of any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease. The Health Officer has found that the conditions constituting a threat to community health, including a presumptive case of community infection, may be present in the County of Sonoma, warranting a declaration of a Local Health Emergency. This declaration enables the County to more effectively respond to the outbreak, seek and utilize mutual aid, potentially obtain reimbursement, and ensure that the County’s public health professionals and providers have all necessary personal protective equipment to provide quality care and keep our community safe.
The County of Sonoma Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10, Article 1(b) empowers the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence of local emergency when conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of a Local Emergency. The Health Officer has determined that DHS cannot implement with CDC’s guidance without immediate action beyond the County’s ordinary response capabilities, including directing personnel and resources from other County departments to assist with the ongoing and developing threat of COVID-19. This proclamation will enable the County of Sonoma and other local government entities to adequately plan, prepare and preposition resources, and to warn Sonoma County residents and visitors of the threat posed to enable them sufficient time to plan and prepare.
Staff recommends that the Board ratify the Health Officer’s Declaration of Local Health Emergency and the Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation of Local Emergency in order to meet the seven day period that both can remain in force without Board ratification. The local health emergency declaration lasts for a duration of 30 days and may be extended by the Board for additional 30 day periods. The local emergency proclamation lasts for a duration of 60 days and may be extended by the Board for additional 60 day periods. When conditions improve, staff will request the Board formally terminate the local health emergency and the local emergency.
The proclamation also gives the County Administrator the authority to make decisions regarding pay for the County workforce given the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the County workforce and may require County service and facility closures.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Attachments:
1. Resolution Ratifying the Declaration of Local Health Emergency and Ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency
2. Proclamation of Local Emergency
3. Declaration of Local Health Emergency
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None