To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Health Services, Economic Development Board, Emergency Management
Staff Name and Phone Number: Barbie Robinson/565-4700; Dr. Sundari Mase/565-4426; Sheba Person-Whitley; Chris Godley/565-1152
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All Districts
Title:
Title
8:30 A.M. - Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 Threat, Response, Reopening and Recovery Update
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Receive a staff update on the Novel Coronavirus threat, current response efforts, community reopening considerations, and economic recovery planning coordination.
B) Review of Public Health Officer’s Attestation Report to California Department of Public Health for Variance to Stage 2 of California’s Roadmap to Modify Stay At Home Order;
C) Approval of Letter of Support by the Board of Supervisors for the Public Health Officer’s Attestation Report for a Variance to Move Further into Stage 2 of California’s Roadmap to Modify Stay at Home Order.
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Executive Summary:
An update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic will be provided by the County Department of Health Services, Economic Development Board, and Department of Emergency Management. Staff will request guidance and actions to support reopening and recovery efforts. A PowerPoint presentation will be provided to the Board.
Discussion:
Medical / Health
The Department of Health Services continues to lead key COVID-19 policy and response efforts including developing and managing data regarding community impacts, developing and managing Public Health Officer orders, assessing guidance, models and data relevant to reopening planning, supporting development of community information and education, advising on community and organizational health protective measures, conducting community testing and surveillance, addressing vulnerable individuals in the homeless community and establishing and managing and the Alternate Care Site.
Variance to Stage 2 of California’s Pandemic Resilience Roadmap
On April 14, the State unveiled its Pandemic Resilience Roadmap, a four-stage plan for modifying the State's Stay-at-Home Order. On May 4, the Governor announced that entry into Stage 2 of the plan would begin on May 8, and additional Stage 2 activities and sectors were announced on May 12.
The County’s Public Health Officer has issued two Amendments to the County’s current Shelter-in-Place Order which largely aligns with the State's Order and subsequent Stage 2 announcements. In so doing, Sonoma County has now moved into "early" Stage 2 reopening all sectors authorized by the State.
Recognizing that the impact of COVID-19 has differed across, the State created a variance process to allow counties the opportunity to move into the next phase of Stage 2 by submitting to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) what is referred to as the "Variance to Stage 2 of California's Roadmap to Modify the Stay-at-Home Order: COVID-19 County Variance Attestation Form" (COVID-19 Variance Attestation Report). The Variance Attestation Report is a complex submittal that sets forth "readiness criteria" necessary to proceed at an increased pace through Stage 2.
The Public Health Officer and staff prepared the attached draft Variance Attestation Report explaining how the County’s actions to date coupled with ongoing efforts can meet the readiness criteria around epidemiologic stability, protection of Stage 1 essential workers, testing capacity, containment capacity, hospital capacity, vulnerable populations, sectors and timelines, and triggers for adjusting modifications. Details on each of these criteria will be presented at the Board meeting.
A letter of support from the Board of Supervisors is required as part of the Variance Attestation Report submittal. Upon receipt of a letter of support from the Board, the County, by and through the Public Health Officer, can submit its Variance Attestation Report to CDPH. The Variance process also requires a telephone consultation with CDPH. Staff intend to provide the draft Variance Attestation Report to CDPH prior to the consultation in order to have the opportunity to respond to CDPH questions prior to finalizing. The County cannot proceed into the next phase of Stage 2 until CDPH posts the County’s Variance Attestation Report on CDPH's website.
Business Reopening and Economic Recovery
County staff and allied stakeholder organizations have been working as part of the new Business Recovery Task Force Workgroups. The Workgroups and other stakeholders have supported development of additional Best Management Practices to support the safe operation of various businesses and industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are now available at the SoCo Launch website. Economic Development is working to finalize a Full Roadmap to Reopening Plan which will include Self-Certification resources.
Emergency Management
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
The County/Operational Area Emergency Operations Center (EOC) transitioned into stand-by mode on May 12th. DEM staff are resetting the physical facility and operational systems in preparation for resumed activities or response to new hazards. DEM will also conduct an internal review of the COVID-19 response to date in the areas of EOC operations and the County’s Continuity of Operations Program (COOP).
- Food Resources
The County set up a Food Resources Task Force in March to ensure food delivery to all individuals that needed assistance. The County is providing supplemental funding (two rounds of $500,000) to nine non-government agencies, who serve food and/or meals to seniors of all incomes, and residents who are undocumented, low-income, unemployed, and the LatinX community. These funds are filling resource gaps for these agencies as they face a dramatic increase in demand. The first round of funding in April was issued under an emergency contract and provided 119,680 meals and meal equivalents to residents.
To support ongoing efforts, staff issued a Request for Proposals which resulted in nine responsive, qualified proposals. Those contracts are now in process and will provide 167,627 meal and meal equivalents (for a total of 287,304 meals through end of May). This funding includes one contractor (Sonoma Family Meal) whose model uses restaurants to provide the food delivered to agencies who distribute in a number of different locations throughout the County. To date 19 restaurants have been used as part of this food plan. FEMA has approved this plan for the initial 30 days of work at $1.5 million. Staff have requested an additional 30 days extension.
Staff are assessing potential participation in the Governor’s proposed economic stimulus and senior feeding initiative called the “Great Plates Delivered” Program to target and connect seniors (65+) and high-risk seniors (60-64) to prepared meals from restaurants. The program is to be developed and administered by local jurisdictions. To be eligible, seniors must have income between 200-600% of poverty level, which excludes all those eligible for CalFresh benefits as well as any seniors receiving benefits from other state or federal food programs.
- Childcare
At the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, the County of Sonoma took action to ensure that medical/healthcare workers would be able to work by providing for emergency subsidized childcare services via an agreement with Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs). Phase 1 (March 23 - April 7) provided 49 children childcare ensuring their parents (medical workers) could attend work. In Phase 2 (April 8 - May 1), 71 children received care. This project also ensured that childcare sites could stay open, had critical supplies to meet health & safety guidelines, maintained social distancing protections, and were available to support these our medical worker families.
To date, the County has expended approximately $205,000 to support this project. The State of California is now providing voucher-based childcare support to essential workers. The 4Cs has proposed that the current agreement with the County be modified to continue to provide supplemental funding to childcare providers supporting essential worker families.
- Public Information
The Public Information Team continues to be a collaborative effort between County Public Information Officers (PIOs) and Health Services PIOs - all working closely together to share consistent, coordinated messaging with the community. The Team is continuing to meet with PIOs throughout Sonoma County jurisdictions including cities, health care districts, transit authorities, education partners, tribal leaders, and more to align accurate messaging for our community.
The County continues to share regular video updates from both Chair Gorin and Dr. Mase, Spanish versions of each, as well as working to develop short health education and community education videos on dental health, why social distancing is important, how our Logistics team is managing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procurement and distribution, and what role the EOC plays during emergencies. Over the past three weeks, these videos have had over 380,000 views and received 6,500 comments.
Staff also continue to make updates and improvements to the SoCoEmergency.org, SoCoEmergencia.org the Virtual Local Assistance Center websites. The Public Information Team is also continuing to support expanded efforts for LatinX community outreach, engagement, and education.
Prior Board Actions:
May 12, 2020: Received a staff update on the Novel Coronavirus threat, current response efforts, community reopening considerations, economic recovery planning coordination, and County parks restrictions.
April 28, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
April 21, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
April 14, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
April 7, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
March 24, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
March 17, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
March 10, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 threat and approved the Pandemic Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
March 4, 2020: The Board ratified the proclamation a local emergency and the Public Health Officer declaration of Public Health emergency for COVID-19.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
1. Public Health Officer’s Attestation Report to California Department of Public Health for Variance to Stage 2 of California’s Roadmap to Modify Stay At Home Order
2. Transmittal Letter for Public Health Officer’s Attestation Report
3. PowerPoint Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.