Weekly Update - January 21, 2022 |
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Join our Interest List for Free Covid-19 Home Test Kits Available to those with the Greatest Need |
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We are taking names for an interest list for Free Covid-19 Home Test Kits. Once on the list, you will be notified by email when we have test kits available.
We are giving priority to:
- Those who need to be tested to visit elderly or immunocompromised family members.
- Those who have not previously received COVID test kits from our office and find it difficult to stand in line to get them.
- Those who may have been exposed to COVID, but have no test kits at home.
- Those who are not eligible for testing at local schools. Students, their families, and school employees are eligible for free testing through their school district.
If you meet one of the above neediest categories, please respond to this email, or email us here, and we will put you on an interest list and let you know by email when you can come to our Danville office to pick up two kits (four tests). Please include your first and last name and address in the email.
We hope to continue receiving shipments but they are dependent upon availability.
More reliable PCR testing continues to be available for free by appointment only at various County sites. The demand has receded a little this week and more appointments are now available. More information about where to get tested can be found here: coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-tested. |
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Get Free at-home Covid-19 Test Kits from
the Federal Government
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To ensure that all Americans have access to timely COVID-19 testing, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Postal Service have launched COVIDtests.gov, a new site for requesting free home test kits by mail.
Every address in the United States is now eligible to receive four free tests by signing up at the site, which is also a helpful resource for finding nearby COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics, and information about insurance reimbursement for purchasing home test kits.
Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.
Learn more about how to get home test kits, or make a testing appointment in Contra Costa, on the Get Tested page.
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Appointments Continue to be Required at Contra Costa Health Services COVID-19 Testing Sites |
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NOTE: You must make an appointment to get tested at County and State testing sites. Walk-ins without an appointment are NOT ACCEPTED.
Scheduled Appointment Testing: Call (833) 829-2626 to schedule an appointment at any county or State site or schedule online .
Please do not go to hospital emergency departments to get a COVID test unless you are seriously ill. Going to an emergency room increases your risk of being exposed to COVID and distracts medical staff from focusing on treating sick patients with health emergencies.
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Indoor Mask Mandate Dashboard |
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COVID Status of Contra Costa County |
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It is estimated by our Deputy Health Officer that approximately 50% of COVID hospitalizations are for patients who have been admitted for COVID, and the other half were admitted for something else and then found to be infected during intake screening. For more data and information about current COVID rates in California, please go to coronavirus.cchealth.org. |
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Because so many people are now being diagnosed with home test kits, and those cases are seldom reported, these numbers are likely higher. |
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It is estimated by our Deputy Health Officer that approximately 50% of COVID hospitalizations are for patients who have been admitted for COVID, and the other half were admitted for something else and then found to be infected during intake screening. For more data and information about current COVID rates in California, please go to coronavirus.cchealth.org. |
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San Ramon Valley Diversity Coalition Honors
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Supervisor Andersen was honored to celebrate the life and important messages of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at San Ramon City Hall with, from left to right, Danville Police Chief Allan Shields, San Ramon City Council Member Sridhar Verose, Danville Town Council Member Karen Stepper, San Ramon Mayor Dave Hudson, San Ramon Poet Laureate Jenyth Jo Gearhart-Utchen, Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich, Danville Town Council Members Robert Storer, and Dave Fong, Former San Ramon Mayor Bill Clarkson, and the San Ramon Valley Diversity Coalition who hosted the event on Monday, January 17th.
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Canyon Road Bridge Opening Celebration |
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Supervisor Andersen was honored to speak at the new Canyon Road Bridge Celebration on January 20th. The Canyon Road Bridge is along Canyon Road over the West Branch of San Leandro Creek (Moraga Creek). The bridge connects the Town of Moraga to the Community of Canyon (in unincorporated Contra Costa County) east of the Oakland Hills community. It is the only exit route out of Moraga to the South and the shortest of three routes out of the Community of Canyon. It also provides access to services for the residents of the Community of Canyon. Without this bridge, access between these communities would have been severely limited, including emergency access and evacuations. Lives and properties could have been lost.
As with many bridges throughout the State, the infrastructure was aging and deficient. The original bridge was built in 1936. It was determined in 2013 to be structurally deficient by Caltrans. In late 2013, the Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) approved funding for the Canyon Road Bridge Replacement Federal Project BRLS-5415(011) (Project). The Highway Bridge Program is a federal infrastructure program that helps fund bridge replacement, rehabilitation, or preventative maintenance of locally-owned bridges. Without this federal aid, the project may not have ever been feasible, and the safety of human lives and property may have been jeopardized, and access to the public parks and amenities in the foothills impaired. The budget for the project was in excess of $12.7 million, including construction, design, and environmental permitting and compliance.
Whereas the old bridge was built to provide primarily vehicular access, the new bridge includes bike lanes and a pedestrian walkway with access to the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) path nearby. Additionally, the Project included restoring and maintaining the habitat, including the native plants and trees in the construction area.
During the construction of the Project, a number of hurdles had to be overcome. Due to HBP funding shortfalls, there were some delays, but these were resolved, and work continued. The original bridge was damaged in April 2017 by landslides before the replacement bridge could be constructed, and a temporary one-lane bridge was installed to maintain limited access over Moraga Creek under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief program. Each adversity encountered was resolved, and the Project proceeded to completion. For more information, visit www.moraga.ca.us/canyonroadbridge.
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County Humanitarians of the Year Honored at
44th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Event
On January 18th
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The annual Board of Supervisors celebration featured keynote speaker, former San Ramon Mayor H. Abram Wilson, who was the City of San Ramon's first elected and African American mayor. The program also featured special guest Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and a Richmond resident, and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, former Contra Costa County Supervisor
Countywide recognition was given to the Adult Humanitarian of the Year, Gigi Crowder, who is Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Contra Costa and an Antioch resident, and the Student Humanitarian of the Year, (pictured above) Kaia Morgan, a senior at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord and a Pittsburg resident.
The celebration also included dances from Grown Women Dance Collective, a group comprised of retired dancers from world-renowned companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, and a Spoken Word performance from the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.
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Homeless Point in Time Count Postponed to February |
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The annual Homeless Point in Time Count will now take place on the night of February 23rd and the unsheltered count will take place in the early morning hours on February 24th. This delay is due to the current omicron surge. Point-in-time counts usually occur in January.
Given the recent COVID-19 surge in positive cases and hospitalizations across our community as well as the impact that COVID-19 has had on staff capacity across our homeless service providers, the Count has been postponed to ensure a safe, reliable, and valid count of all people experiencing homelessness.
The County is seeking volunteer teams of two (people in a "pod"/comfortable being in a car together) to assist with the unsheltered count on Feb 24th, between the hours of 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. To register to volunteer, please complete the survey here.
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Unwanted Mattress? You've Got Options |
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The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) ensures used mattresses are properly recycled. More than 75% of a mattress can be recycled and turned into everyday products like carpet padding, industrial filters, construction rebar, and more. Bye Bye Mattress is a mattress recycling program operating in California. The program was established by law and is operated by Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit that uses a recycling fee collected on each mattress and box spring sold, making recycling easier in our communities.
Whether a city picks up your discarded mattress, a retailer takes it back with your new purchase or you drop it off, the Bye Bye Mattress program converts your old product from waste to recycling. As a result, our landfills and incinerators are less crowded as old mattresses are recycled into new, useful products. California residents can drop off their old mattresses and box springs at no cost at a participating collection site or event. Unit limits vary by location and residency restrictions may apply. It is recommended that you contact the location prior to drop-off.
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Food Bank Needs Volunteers - Hunger Happens Year-Round
Not Just at the Holidays
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January is a great time of the year to volunteer at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. As you may know, food banks see many volunteers (and groups of volunteers) during the holiday season, but then there is a drop-off when the calendar turns to January. Hunger happens year-round, not just during the holidays.
The Food Bank follows all recommended public health guidelines for COVID-19, such as mask-wearing and social distancing. If you are interested in helping, sign up here to volunteer.
Also, if you know someone who has lived experience with food insecurity or has a passion for ending hunger, the Food Bank encourages them to apply to the 6th annual Speaker Series. This six-week course will take place virtually between late March and early May of 2022. Click here to Learn more.
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Alzheimer's Association Invites the Latino/Hispanic Community to Their First 2022 Virtual Brain Healthy Workshop in Spanish |
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Ygnacio Valley Library Re-Opening |
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511 Contra Costa’s Free and Healthy Winter Walk Challenge |
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Fun, free, and healthy: 511 Contra Costa’s Winter Walk Challenge will get you outside and on the move. Sign up and receive a new challenge each Monday throughout March. Complete challenges to earn entries in weekly drawings for $35 Amazon gift cards and be entered to win the iPad Grand Prize. Start 2022 on the right foot and sign up today.
About 511 Contra Costa
511 Contra Costa is a countywide program that strives to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by providing the public with information, resources, and tools that promote mobility options beyond driving alone. Funding for 511 Contra Costa commute reduction programs is provided by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
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San Ramon Valley Unified School District Application for Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee - Deadline Extended |
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San Ramon Valley Unified School District needs volunteers to serve on the Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee (FOAC). The application is simple to fill out, and the deadline has been extended to Saturday, January 22, 2022.
The Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee (FOAC) fulfills the promise to voters that the expenditure of Measure D funds is scrutinized by an independent citizens’ oversight. These volunteer community members meet regularly throughout the year to review projects and expenditures as well as provide input to the Board of Education on the design process of Measure D-funded projects.
All information about the FOAC including the group’s charge and details about committee membership, as well as a list of current members, can be found here: www.srvusd.net/foac.
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Community Advisory Board on Public Safety Realignment |
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Family and Children's Trust (FACT) Committee |
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The Family and Children’s Trust committee (FACT) is looking for new members. Applicants should be committed to promoting the safety and well-being of children and families in our community. FACT makes funding recommendations to the County on the allocation of specific funds for the prevention of treatment of child abuse and neglect for families and children.
The FACT committee also provides oversight of the use of those funds. Attendance at monthly meetings is important. Currently the meetings are being held virtually on the first Monday of each month at 9:30am. To learn more please go to family-and-childrens-trust-fund-fact
Recruitment will continue until the seats are filled.
Applications are available from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at (925) 655-2000 or online via the County Website.
Completed applications can be submitted online, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Clerk of the Board, 1025 Escobar Street 1st Floor, Martinez, CA. 94553. |
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District 2 Volunteer Opportunities |
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Now is a great time to consider ways you might want to give back to your community. 2020 saw our advisory bodies pivot to virtual meetings, which has continued throughout 2021 and into 2022. The benefit of these meeting platforms is that more people can participate than ever before.
If you are interested in participating in government, then perhaps one of these volunteer opportunities are of interest to you:
Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (CSA P-2B/APSAC)
1 Seat
2 Alternate Seats
To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community for police services.
County Service Area, P-2A Citizen Advisory Committee (Blackhawk)
1 Seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
The County Services Area, P-2A Citizens Advisory Committee advises the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Blackhawk community for extended police services which shall include, but not be limited to, enforcement of the State Vehicle Code, crime prevention, litter control, and other issues.
You must reside within the Blackhawk community to serve on this board.
Police Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM, at the Blackhawk Police Service District Office at 1092 Eagle Nest Pl.
In-Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee (IHSS)
1 Seat
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