Weekly Update - March 12, 2021 |
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Contra Costa County Moves to Red Tier in California's Reopening Plan Effective Sunday, March 14 |
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COVID-19 is spreading slower in Contra Costa than during a post-holiday peak a few weeks ago, allowing some business and community activities to resume in the county for the first time since November.
The average daily number of new cases in Contra Costa has fallen enough that California today moved the county from the purple tier to the red tier of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, effective Sunday, March 14.
Contra Costa was poised to enter red tier on Wednesday next week, but will transition a few days earlier after the state met a goal of administering 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in high-risk, economically disadvantaged communities on Friday. That triggered a relaxation of the blueprint’s requirements.
“It is encouraging to see our data moving in the right direction, and it’s a testament to the hard work Contra Costa residents have put in to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County’s health officer. “But it is important that we make healthy choices to keep up our momentum. This pandemic is not over yet.”
Contra Costa has more tools to protect against COVID-19 than it did last fall, including safe, effective vaccine. So far more than 250,000 county residents have received a dose – about one quarter of the population.
More groups of Californians will become eligible for vaccine on Monday, March 15, including public transit workers, people in congregate living situations and people who have health conditions that put them at high risk of serious illness from a COVID-19 infection. Visit covid19.ca.gov for more information.
Vaccine, along with physical distancing, face coverings, avoiding close contact with people who are not housemates, hand hygiene and regular testing are all healthy choices that protect against COVID-19 and that have helped reduce transmission of the virus since January.
In early January, nearly 50 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population were identified every day in Contra Costa, during the worst part of the most recent surge. On Friday, the county’s adjusted per-capita case rate was 6.7, qualifying for reduced state health order restrictions, including:
- Restaurants, gyms, dance studios and museums may resume indoor operation, following state health guidelines.
- Indoor retail stores and shopping malls may increase their maximum occupancy and grocery stores may operate at fully capacity.
- Small private gatherings may be held indoors, following state health guidance.
- Colleges and other higher education institutions may reopen indoor lectures, following state health guidance.
- Elementary and secondary schools can reopen for in-person learning without submitting a safety plan to Contra Costa Health Services.
For details and sector-specific health guidance, visit covid19.ca.gov. Contra Costa has also updated its county health orders so they do not create additional restrictions to business or community activities.
Contra Costa met other state criteria for returning to the red tier weeks ago, with the average daily percentage of COVID-19 tests that return positive in the county below 8 percent (2.4 percent on Friday). The average daily percentage of positive tests in disproportionately impacted neighborhoods identified through the state’s health equity metric was 4.3 percent.
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Mask Up – Let's Do Our Part to Prevent Another Surge |
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Contra Costa and all of California is roaring into spring. COVID-19 transmissions are plunging, our schools are making reopening plans and we expect state health orders to allow more business and community activities to resume any day now.
But it is hard to forget that, just a few weeks ago, the whole country was suffering through the deadliest surge of the pandemic. We can’t let it happen again.
That is why Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) encourages everyone to keep up the good work and use face coverings whenever they go out. It’s something we can all do to protect ourselves and each other, and there’s new advice from California that wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask is even more effective at keeping the wearer safe from COVID-19.
Some view our country’s improving pandemic data, along with the promise of safe, effective, and more-available COVID-19 vaccine, as reason to relax our guards, drop our masks and return to pre-pandemic life. But no vaccine is perfect, and there is no guarantee that the highly effective vaccines we now use will work as well against future variants of the COVID-19 virus.
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Visitation Now Allowed in Senior Congregate Living and
Residential Care Facilities
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In response to regulations that have been adopted by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Community Care Licensing and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health orders which required congregate living facilities in Contra Costa County to follow specified testing, collaboration, reporting and guidance requirements of the Contra Costa County Health Department have been repealed, effective immediately.
Communal Dining, group activities and other gatherings can resume as long as residents are adhering to the core principles of COVID infection prevention. Facilities can also allow in room visitation for fully vaccinated residents, even in the purple tier, then once we move to the red tier even unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals in facilities not experiencing an outbreak can have indoor visitation
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Have You Been Fully Vaccinated? |
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People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If it has been less than 2 weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected. Keep taking all prevention steps until you are fully vaccinated.
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Scheduling Your Vaccine Appointment |
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Vaccination appointments are currently prioritized for residents who are 65 or older. CCHS recommends that eligible residents who have other health insurance also seek appointments from their own healthcare providers.
There are several ways to find a vaccine appointment.
At this point in time, there is no wrong door. Sign up everywhere you can and when you get an appointment, cancel your requests elsewhere.
1. Register with the State of California at myturn.ca.gov t o be notified when you are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.
2. Make an appointment with Contra Costa County.
Vaccine Appointments for Residents 65-74
3. Make an Appointment at a Partner site.
Healthcare systems, pharmacies and other providers have different eligibility requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations. You can find information about each of these providers by scrolling down on the CCHS Vaccine page: coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-vaccinated
Vaccine Site Map
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Help Your Neighbor Program |
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For Contra Costa residents who are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine, an appointment to get immunized is just a few clicks away. But not everyone feels comfortable making an appointment online or through email.
If you know someone who is eligible for a COVID-19 immunization appointment right now, but may need a little help, please make that offer. Even if you cannot yet make an appointment for yourself, you can help someone you know – and the whole community.
This web page has information that eligible county residents need to make a COVID-19 immunization appointment with Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) or its community partners.
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Contra Costa Health Services Offers a Seminar on Mental Health |
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Fence Work Next Week on the Iron Horse Trail in Danville |
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A contractor for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District will perform fence construction operations along the Iron Horse Trail, between Love Lane and Del Amigo Road, in Danville. The work will begin on Monday, March 15, 2021 through Friday, April 16, 2021, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will occur between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, weather permitting. Trail users may experience delays due to this work and should consider alternative routes during this period. Current social distancing protocol will be observed.
This is a cooperative project between Contra Costa County Public Works and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. It supports improvements being made at the San Ramon Valley High School campus.
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sand Bag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at www.cccpublicworks.org
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Street Smarts Video Contest |
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Are you a middle or high school student who is interested in filmmaking and wants to win a chance at winning a $25 gift card? If so, the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Annual Street Smarts “Be Reel!” Video Contest is for you!
Students create 60-second public service announcement videos on this year’s traffic safety theme: “Biking Safely with Family and Friends!” Visit street-smarts.com for entry rules, forms and guidelines. Contest ends Thursday, April 22, 2021.
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Contra Costa County Juvenile Justice Commission
Seeks Members
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Are you interested in being involved in your community by providing citizen oversight for youth who are caught up in the juvenile justice system or placed in congregate care (i.e., group homes)? Joining the all-volunteer Contra Costa County Justice Commission is a rewarding opportunity for you to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth!
The Commission reports to the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court for the county and makes recommendations to the Probation Department related to public policy regarding in-custody and at-risk youth. Our primary responsibility is to provide citizen oversight of the juvenile justice system, which includes inspecting juvenile hall, police departments holding youth, and group homes in the county.
The Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6 PM at the Walnut Creek Superior Court, Department 38, 640 Ygnacio Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek, CA. Feel free to come and observe the public meetings.
Applications are always accepted for Commissioner vacancies. To apply, please visit Juvenile-Justice-Commission. Following a successful interview with members of the Commission, qualified candidates will be reviewed by the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge for an appointment to the Commission. |
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Save the Date! Cesar Chavez Virtual Celebration |
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District 2 Volunteer Opportunities
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 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 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.
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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