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3.
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| AD HOC COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 ECONOMIC IMPACT AND RECOVERY |
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| Information |
| Referral History: |
Although the Board of Supervisors has authority over County issues, under State law, when an emergency of this nature is declared and there is a pandemic of this magnitude, the Health Officer of each county has the legal authority to impose whatever orders she or he deems necessary to protect the public.
Ad Hoc Committee
On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the Board of Supervisors formed this ad hoc committee to advise the Health Department on COVID19 impacts. The goal of the committee is to work toward having a sustainable COVID-19 mitigation and recovery plan. The committee engages with the community and industry on issues of concern, advising the Board of Supervisors and the County Health Officer on possible ways to interpret and apply Health Orders so they will continue to keep the community safe but allow, to the greatest extent safely possible, more businesses to re-open; and to provide common-sense applications to outdoor activities.
The Committee has so far conducted 22 public meetings, having met almost weekly from May through July 2020 and then monthly from August 2020 forward. Meeting topics have covered recreation and lifestyle services; in-home and other personal services; small businesses; family, social and religious gatherings; schools and dining; and vaccines; a plan to move to fully to Stage 2 and, regrettably, the second surge that required postponement of many planned Phase 2 re-openings; the State's move to the Tier system of recovery, and the county's movement between tiers from Orange back to Purple (most restrictive) and, five months later, back to Orange, the current County tier. See the next paragraph for a review of the County's tier journey. Written and video records of all prior Committee meetings are posted on the County's website at this link (use the Previous button at the site to scroll back to prior Committee meetings).
State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy
In August 2020, the State subsequently established a four-tier reopening plan under its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which became the Committee's primary reference point. Under the Blueprint, every county was assigned by the State to a tier based on a county's test positivity and adjusted case rate (see Tier chart at the end of this section). The State reviews and updates tier assignments weekly. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks.
On September 29, 2020, Contra Costa County progressed from the Purple (most restrictive Widespread) Tier to the Red (Substantial) Tier, and on October 27, 2020 progressed again to the Orange (Moderate) Tier. Following a resurgence of new cases and increase in hospitalizations, the County, on November 16, 2020 was moved back to the Purple Tier where it remained until March 14, 2021 when the County progressed to the Red Tier. The County recently, on April 7, progressed to the Orange Tier. Additionally, Governor Newsom implemented a Regional Stay-at-Home Order between December 3, 2020 and January 25, 2021 in response to concerns about shrinking ICU capacity. Click to learn more about tier assignments and metric details.
State's Plan to Move Beyond the Current Blueprint
On April 6, Governor Newsom announced that he is looking to move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy to fully reopening California's economy. He predicted that on June 15, if vigilant, all industries across the state can return to usual operations with common-sense risk reduction measures such as masking and vaccinations. The state will monitor hospitalization rates, vaccine access, and vaccine efficacy against variants with the option to revisit the June 15 date if needed.
Vaccines
Late December 2020 brought the availability of two vaccines, one from Pfizer and one from Moderna. Both available vaccines require two injections a few weeks apart. The first injection starts building protection. A second injection a few weeks later is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer. In response to guidelines from the State, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) is now offering the vaccine at no cost to people aged 16 and older who live, work or go to school in Contra Costa County. Click here to request an appointment from CCHS .
In late March 2021, the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine became available.
People who have been fully vaccinated are advised to:
- Take steps to protect oneself and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Take these precautions whenever you are:
- Still avoid medium or large-sized gatherings.
- If one travels, one should still take steps to protect oneself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required?to get tested within 3 days of their flight (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
- Still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
- You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace.
Testing
All Bay Area residents are also encouraged to get tested for COVID-19, and to do so immediately if they have symptoms. Check with your local health department for more information about testing and about efforts in your community to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit cchealth.org/coronavirus to read the latest health order and its appendices, and for local information about Contra Costa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here is a link to the updated FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions): FAQs
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| Referral Update: |
Deputy County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Warne will provide a COVID-19 update at today's meeting. A discussion will then follow regarding prospects for holding public and private events in the County in 2021. Following that discussion, there will be an opportunity for general public comment and public comment on any agendized matter. The Committee and Dr. Warne will be available to respond to questions raised during the meeting. County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey may be available to provide an update on local school openings and respond to questions.
The most significant developments since our last meeting on March 18, 2021 are:
- The County's April 7 progression to the Orange Tier
Starting Wednesday, April 7 several business sectors and community services can reopen or expand capacity:
- Amusement parks: Overall park capacity and indoor capacity will be limited to 25%, including indoor dining.
- Outdoors with modifications; no meals required to be served
- Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries: Indoors at 25% maximum capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer; no meals required to be served
- Family entertainment centers: Indoors for naturally distanced activities like bowling, escape rooms, and billiards; 25% maximum capacity
- Gyms, fitness centers and studios (including at hotels): 25% maximum capacity and indoor pools are permitted; Indoor hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms continue to be closed
- Movie Theaters: 50% maximum capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer encouraged
- Outdoor sports and live performances with fans/attendees: Up to 33% and with advanced reservations only. Concession sales will be primarily in-seat (no concourse sales). Designated indoor seated dining area capacity will be limited to 25%. Attendance will be limited to in-state spectators and guests must attest their reserved seats are only for one household.
- Places of worship: 50% maximum capacity
- 50% maximum capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
- Open indoors with modifications and food courts permitted with indoor dining restrictions
Contra Costa County must remain in the Orange Tier for at least three weeks before moving into the next, less restrictive yellow tier.
- Expansion of the County's vaccination program to people aged 16 and older who live, work or attend school in Contra Costa County
On March 30, CCHS announced that due to an increase in vaccine supply from the state and federal governments, there became capacity to open eligibility to people in the 16-49 age range.
- Governor's Newsom's prediction for fully reopening the California economy by June 15 if two criteria are met:
- If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who wish to be inoculated; and
- If hospitalization rates are stable and low.
DISCUSSION OF PROSPECTS FOR HOLDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS IN THE COUNTY IN 2021
Contra Costa County was classified in the State's Purple and Red COVID Tiers from November 16, 2020 until April 7, 2021. Now that the County has been upgraded to the Orange (Moderate) Tier, questions have been raised about when community organizations might again be allowed to hold public events, which require significant planning and foreknowledge.
Public Events (Indoor and Outdoor)
Under the new state guidance unveiled on April 2, public events can begin taking place starting April 15 subject to capacity limits and other requirements, such as that workers be tested weekly, that tickets be purchased in advance, that organizers establish designated areas for eating and drinking, and that attendance be limited to California residents. See attached Blueprint for a Safer Economy-Activity and Business Tiers and attached Guidance for Live Performances.
For indoor venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people, the new rules for Orange Tier counties include: the capacity cap would be 15% or 200 people and increase to 35% if all guests are tested or fully vaccinated. For larger-capacity venues, the capacity cap would be 10% or 2,000 people, whichever is fewer, with modifications and with no food/drink consumption — and could increase to 35% if all attendees are tested or show proof of full vaccination.
For outdoor live events such as sports and live performances, the capacity cap would be 33% and could increase to 67% all attendees are tested or show proof of full vaccination, subject to certain other requirements such as weekly worker testing, in-seat concessions, and California residency.
Private Events (Meetings/Receptions/Conferences)
State officials also unveiled new guidance Friday pertaining to private events, gatherings and meetings. Beginning April 15, outdoor private events of up to 100 people will be permitted -- and could increase to 300 if all attendees are tested or show proof of full vaccination. Indoor events will be permitted up to 150 people if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. All such events would require purchased tickets or a defined guest list, assigned seating, and no intermingling of multiple private events.
Social/Informal Gatherings
Beginning April 15, outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted in the Orange Tier. Indoor gatherings will remain strongly discouraged but allowed with certain modifications.
County Guidance for Private and Public Events While in Orange Tier
The County Health Officer continues to assert that the County will generally follow State guidelines and not create more restrictive policies for our county, unless the county's situation should worsen.
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| Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): |
| RECEIVE status report on the County's COVID-19 status and vaccination framework and DISCUSS prospects for holding public and private events in the County in 2021. |
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