Weekly Update - January 8, 2021 |
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The State's Regional Shelter-at-Home Order
Continues in Contra Costa County
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The State’s regional Stay at Home Order, which began last month, remains in effect due to the dwindling supply of hospital beds for patients who need intensive care in the Bay Area.
The state’s stay-at-home order evaluates hospital capacity of California by region of the state, and is triggered when the amount of intensive care unit (ICU) beds available in a region’s hospitals falls below 15%. As of today, only 6.7% of ICU beds are available in our County, and in the Bay Area (which is the metric used by the State) capacity is at 8.1%. We need to be at 15% capacity before the State will lift the stay at home order.
Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) urges everyone who lives or works in the county to follow the health advice within the law to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
- Avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household, especially indoors.
- Always where a face covering, practice physical distancing whenever you go out and avoid unnecessary trips outside the home.
- Always stay home if you are not feeling well and consider a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms of illness.
Although the regional stay at home order was put in place in early December and helped to flatten and stabilize COVID cases, we are in a post-holiday surge. Currently 273 people are hospitalized with COVID in our County. Two months ago, on November 1, there were only 35. The numbers are increasing and will continue for the next few weeks. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
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Contra Costa Scales Up Immunization Campaign |
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Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) and its partners have administered more than 18,000 doses in the three weeks since the COVID-19 vaccine became available in Contra Costa, and are working hard to build on this start.
As of yesterday, 18,830 doses had been administered in the county, including 3,396 by CCHS.
CCHS has received 40,825 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to date and allocated (distributed or earmarked) 24,000 doses for use by other healthcare providers in the community.
Contra Costa County is now expanding staffing and infrastructure in preparation for a widespread community vaccination campaign.
The vaccine has been in short supply initially and it will take months before it’s widely available. Healthcare workers, first responders and nursing home staff and residents are the first being vaccinated, followed by other frontline workers, and high-risk populations. Supplies will increase over time, and all persons 16 years and older are estimated to be able to receive vaccine by the second half of 2021.
The Health Services Department is updating their vaccine web page daily. Visit CCHealth Vaccine Web Page to see comprehensive information about the vaccine, such as:
Contra Costa follows the federal and state guidelines for distributing vaccine while it is in short supply, which prioritizes access for people at high occupational risk of exposure to the virus, and people at high risk of serious illness from a COVID-19 infection.
The county has also convened the COVID-19 Ethical & Equitable Vaccine Allocations Committee to ensure those guidelines are applied in ways that address health equity and maximize community benefit. Information about the committee, including who comprises the committee, can be found here allocations-committee.
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How will groups in Phase 1b (people 75 and older and more essentials workers) be notified when it’s their turn? |
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We are still a few weeks away from completing vaccinations for Phase 1a groups, who still need their second doses. To make Phase 1b groups aware that they’re eligible, Contra Costa Health Services will:
- Communicate through the news media
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Use social media - Twitter, Facebook
- Do direct outreach to senior organizations and other stakeholder groups, such as business and labor groups representing essential workers
- Healthcare providers, such as Kaiser, Sutter and John Muir Health, are expected to communicate to their eligible members about how to get vaccinated through their health systems
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Hospitalization Data in Contra Costa County |
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Supervisor Andersen Sworn into 3rd Term
on the Board of Supervisors
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Supervisors were sworn-in by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier for new terms on Tuesday at their annual reorganization meeting and luncheon, which had a very different feel this year. Supervisor Candace Andersen begins her third term, after running unopposed in the March 2020 election. Supervisor Diane Burgis begins her second term, and Supervisor Federal Glover his sixth term.
Supervisor Andersen completed her term as the 2020 Board Chair and handed the “virtual gavel” over to Supervisor Diane Burgis who will be Chair of the Board for 2021. Supervisor Federal Glover is the Vice-chair. They will lead the five-member elected body that sets the direction of county government and oversees its $3.98 billion budget.
Pictured above, Rep. DeSaulnier swears-in Supervisor Andersen, Supervisor Burgis and Supervisor Glover, via Zoom
Supervisor Burgis is in her second term, and Supervisor Glover is serving his sixth term. They will lead the five-member elected body that sets the direction of county government and oversees its $3.98 billion budget.
The Supervisors will continue to meet virtually until it is deemed safe to gather as a group again.
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Join Supervisor Andersen, Sheriff Livingston and Fire Chief Meyer for an Alamo Public Safety Town Hall Meeting |
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To join the Town Hall via Zoom, click here. The meeting Webinar ID is: 898 2129 0868. Or by Telephone: Dial: USA 214 765 0478, or USA 8882780254 (US Toll Free). Conference code: 689647.
To learn more please contact Cameron Collins via email at [email protected] or call 925.957.8860.
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District 2 Volunteer Opportunities
Happy New Year! It is a great time to consider ways you might want to give back to your community. 2020 saw our advisory bodies pivot to virtual meeting, which will likely continue well into 2021. The benefit of these meeting platforms is that more people are able to 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-Lafayette Cemetery District
The Board of Trustees operates the Cemetery District, including parts of Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, and Diablo, according to California law (Health and Safety Code).
Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (CSA P-2B/APSAC)
To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community for police services.
Alternate Seat Available
The Assessment Appeals Board conducts impartial hearings on property assessment disputes between taxpayers and the county assessor. Based on the evidence presented at these hearings, the appeals board determined the value of the disputed property or determines other matters of property tax assessment within the board’s jurisdiction.
To advise the Board of Supervisors on aviation issues related to the economic viability and security of airports in Contra Costa County, and to provide a forum for the Director of Airports regarding policy matters at and around the airports.
County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee (Roundhill Residents only)
The P-5 Committee advises the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Alamo community for extended police services for Roundhill.
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