Jennifer Huber, resident of Contra Costa, objects to increases in the Sheriff’s budget, the purchase of military weapons and armed vehicles and says she and many others have little trust in the Sheriff;

Melvin Willis, Richmond City Council, noted that many relate stories of trauma from dealings with the Sheriff’s Department and that the jail facility is not rehabilitative. He recommends closure of juvenile hall and investment in vital services;

Stephanie Barr, resident of Danville, also supports increased funding for vital services and no increase of the Sheriff’s budget;

Kate Collins, resident of Martinez, opposes increasing the Sheriff’s budget and any proposed closure of the Orin Allen Youth Facility. She recommends closure of juvenile hall;

Randy Bullets, supports existing levels of funding for the Sheriff and encourages a possible increase specifically to address training on handling of domestic violence interventions. He is concerned at the current state of the country and suspects that Black Lives Matter, Antifa and possibly MS-13 are receiving funding from communist sources;

Tonisha Walken, resident of Antioch, spoke in favor of keeping the Orin Allen Youth facility operating, closing Juvenile Hall, and informed the Board that the area had just lost the services of CoCo Lead, leaving the east bay area underserved for those who need mental health and substance abuse program services. She urges services to be provided in the communities in which the residents live;

Dan Kelly requested the Board consider adopting an ordinance to rename Kirker Pass Road, noting that the road was named in 1892 after an early settler who proclaimed to have murdered 487 men, women and children and selling their scalps;

Rose Barreto, resident of Walnut Creek, is in favor of lessening the funding for the Sheriff’s Department and reallocating the funds to social service needs in the community. She encourages a complete rethinking of public safety;

Catherine Wally, resident of Walnut Creek spoke on her concern for the continued practice of incarcerating children in a system that does not rehabilitate them and sets them up for failure. She encourages the closure of Juvenile Hall and the reinvestment of those funds into alternatives and making substantial investments in education;

Resident, opposes any defunding of the Sheriff's Department;

Michael Kerr, Oscar Grant Committe, states that our priority is rehabilitate youth and notes great successes from the Orin Allen Youth Facility;

Resident, feels the  proposal to close the Orin Allen Youth Facility is a desire by the Sheriff to sell the land it is on, and is wholeheartedly in support of the ranch and diversion programs.

Chair Andersen notes for information purposes that the Sheriff has no operational or decision making authority over the Orin Allen Youth Facility (aka Boys Ranch), which is run by the Probation Department.

Speakers in support:  No Name;  Gabriel Lemus, President of Local 21,; Melody Howe Weintraub, Multi-Faith Action Coalition; Dan Geiger, Budget Justice Coalition; Josh Anijar, Contra Costa Central Labor Council; Alex Zobel, resident of Richmond; Tom Powers, American Medical Response; Donald Lang, resident of Pittsburg; Elsie Mills, resident of Concord; Marianne Moore, Ensuring Opportunity Campaign; Melvin Willis, City of Richmond; Jan Warren, Walnut Creek resident.

Speakers in opposition: Debra Thompson; Randy, resident of Pleasant Hill; Resident of Contra Costa; Resident of Contra Costa.

Written commentary was provided by (attached): William Colin-Richardson, Central County Regional Group; Efgenia Bravo, Central County Regional Group; Connie Chiba, resident of Moraga; Hector Malvido, Ensuring Opportunity Campaign; Nicole Zapata, resident of Walnut Creek; Daniel Safran, resident of Pleasant Hill; Debra Ballinger, Executive Director of Monument Impact; Carmen Chang, resident of North Hollywood; Jennifer Morales, Monument Impact; Gabby Lazzeretti, resident of Martinez; Linda Olvera, Freedom for Immigrants, Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance; Tania Pulido, resident of Richmond; Deborah Donovan, resident of Pleasant Hill; Jeanette McKillop, resident of Walnut Creek; Linda Russell, resident of Pleasant Hill; Wayne and Helen Reznick, residents of Clayton; Marianne Callahan, resident of Concord; Meg Keeley, resident of Walnut Creek; Nancy Moran, resident of Walnut Creek; Sally Edgerton, resident of Walnut Creek; Emily Hampshire, resident of Walnut Creek; Elizabeth Copley, resident of Walnut Creek; Lynne White, resident of Concord; Sheli Cryderman, resident of Concord; Rose Barreto, resident of Contra Costa; Elsie Mills, Showing Up for Racial Justice; Liz Miller, resident of Danville.

Speakers: Karen, resident of Contra Costa; Shawna Gavin, Brentwood; Daniel, resident of Concord;Savanna Sharp; Dave Sutton; Nora, resident of Antioch; Danielle Besema, resident of Concord; County Resident; County Resident (2); Debra Thompson;  County Resident (3); County Resident (4); Resident of Pinole; Edith Halderen, resident of Richmond; California resident; Denise Pursche; County Resident (5); Barry, resident of Contra Costa.

As of today the state of California is reporting 466,550 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 8800 deaths. Contra Costa County currently has 7304 CASES, an increase of 1886 cases in two weeks. Sadly, we have lost 108 people to the virus.  Intensive Care Unit (ICU) utilization is at 74% of which 40 of the beds are Covid-19 cases. Of the 931 people in the hospital, 105 are Covid-19 cases.

The state has implemented a monitoring list for counties using various metrics, such as increase in active cases or number of hospitalizations. Contra Costa has on the monitoring list since July 9^th because of the percentage of people testing positive. On July 18, 2020 there were 189 cases positive per 100,000 people.  As of yesterday It was 109 per 100,000. So from slightly over 8% decreasing to  just under 8%. The goal is 5% or lower. 

Contra Costa has a total of 1600 hospital beds with a surge plan in place. We have 4 people hospitalized in our county who are residents elsewhere, and 16 Contra Costa residents in a different county’s hospital. Not all hospitals have been reporting consistently so those numbers may be higher.  

Approximately 70% of the fatalities have been amongst those who are living in long-term care facilities, most of whom have been quarantined since March. This is a clear indicator of community spread – the virus is coming in to them, they have not been outside.  

We are working diligently to prevent the spread in these facilities but we know there is very high risk as long as community spread is happening. The County is currently following 27 outbreaks in those type of facilities.

Statistics indicate the virus is still disproportionately impacting low-income communities, and communities of color. The data on the County website is being refined to be more clear. Neo-natal ICU beds cannot be converted for adult use so those will be removed from the count of ICU beds available.

On July 15^th the Federal Government mandated that the hospital data that historically been reported to the CDC is now being reported to the National Health and Human Services. This has resulted in reporting delays and tracking of hospitalizations. Therefore some of the data points and graphs on our website  have not been updated. It is not known how long this transition will impact our data.  

As reflected nationwide, the County is struggling to get testing results back in a timely manner. At this time it can take as long as two weeks or longer to receive the results, especially those in the asymptomatic category. The County’s public health lab can process a small number of tests with rapid turnaround for hospital patients with symptoms but that is only a fraction of the testing that is needed. Slow testing has become a nationwide crisis that hampers containment of the virus and contact tracing efforts. This is mostly a result of a nationwide surge in cases as well as a local surge. The County has been relying heavily on large commercial labs and the massive surge in testing demands from Arizona, Texas and Florida are impacting their ability to serve our local area.  Another challenge to testing is still shortages of supplies such as reagents to complete the tests.  

The shelter in place in March and April was quite effective in flattening the curve, of flattening the curve. But that came at tremendous cost. No one wants to return to that so we are focusing our strategy on social distancing, hand washing, masking, and protocols for businesses to prevent spread. Those measures are paired with aggressive testing and quarantine to break the chain of transmission.  

To meet the increased demand for testing and faster turnaround for results, some contracts for additional labs will be placed on next week’s Board agenda and more in later weeks. Additionally Health Services is seeking to increase the salary level for our lab scientists to be more successful in filling the vacant positions so the County can perform multiple test runs per day. The Department is also seeking to purchase more testing machines in a highly competitive market.  Contra Costa is now testing above its target of two people per thousand but still needs faster results returns. The County is working with the state on rapid-result tests but Dr. Farnitano cautions that the results of that type of test are not as reliable. All the partner hospitals are experiencing the same difficulties in supplies, equipment to process the tests, and slow delivery of results. Pool testing is being examined, but each machine for that has to be FDA approved.  

Regarding treatment, there is now good evidence that there are several that are effective in treating people with Covid-19, especially those who are hospitalized and very ill. The death rate of the infected is dropping from 5 to 8 percent in the early days of the pandemic to between 1 to 3 percent currently. The drug Remdesivir has shown good results but is still in very short supply. A second drug called Dexamethazone has also shown clear benefit to those very sick with the virus and is a generic steroid drug that has been in existence for many years. For those with very mild illness it is not recommended. Many techniques are in use including the use of blood thinners and rotating patients onto their stomachs to improve fluid balance.   

Dr. Farnitano notes that the random trials of hydroxychloroquine have stopped. The drug is NOT effective in treating Covid-19. No benefit has been shown from the drugs hydroxychloroquine or Zithromycin and the side effects may be harmful.  

Contra Costa County is on the state monitoring list. Schools in monitored counties are mandated to do distance learning and not do in-classroom leaning while on the list and at least two weeks after they fall off the list. Our local schools will be using distance learning. The state did mention they were going to set up a waiver process where elementary schools, defined as Kindergarten through 5^th grade, could potentially apply for a waiver. If that waiver had the support of the local school superintendent, the local teachers union or teachers and parent organization and the support of the local health offer they may be able resume in-person activity. That process is still being worked on at the state level. The state has promised a checklist that may be available as soon as next week. Much depends on improved testing result capability in light of possible outbreaks.  

Everyone wants the children to be able to safely return to school. The best way to get the children back in school is to slow the spread!