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Supervisor Candace Andersen, Chair
Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair |
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1. | Introductions | |||||||
Chair Andersen called the meeting to order at 1:34 p.m. |
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2. | Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes). | |||||||
No one requested to speak during the general public comment period. | ||||||||
3. | RECEIVE and APPROVE the partial Record of Action for the May 14, 2020 meeting. | |||||||
No action was taken on the partial record of action for the prior meeting. | ||||||||
4. | CONSIDER the impacts of COVID-19 on the following business sectors and discuss pathways that may allow these business to resume, if possible, within the limitations established by the County Health Officer:
1. Recreation/Lifestyle Services
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Chair Andersen asked Dr. Farnitano to address some questions that she and Supervisor Mitchoff had received during the previous week. She asked about private sports clubs and private neighborhood pools, and why the health order is not allowing adult lap swimming and when we might see it being allowed. Dr. Farnitano explained that the State health order does not currently permit community pools outside of a family backyard pool. The County health order cannot be less restrictive than the State order. Until the State lifts this restriction, the only public pool exception is for children’s day camps that are specifically structured to comply with State and County guidelines. Chair Andersen next asked about children’s swimming lessons and described how many people feel such lessons are a health and safety necessity, especially with summer months approaching. She asked when swim lessons might be allowed and if some dedicated swim camps could be permitted. Dr. Farnitano explained that swimming lessons could be provided in a structured children’s day camp setting as previously described. However, the State order does not currently permit swim lessons outside of the camp setting. Chair Andersen suggested that many recreational activities could be administered using the same model as the children’s day camp, such as a sports league with training classes. She asked if a sports league could operate if it complied with the 12:1 stable group to stable adult ratio. Dr. Farnitano clarified that the activity could only be permitted for children of working adults in a setting where the same adult is supervising the same group of children for the entire duration of the camp, rather than changing week to week. While there are no minimum requirements for the duration of a camp, the objective is to not expose adults or the kids to different people, in order to minimize risk of transmission of the virus. Chair Andersen asked how the health order is being enforced. Dr. Farnitano explained that the health department is not certifying operating plans. Each business is responsible for reading and complying with the legal requirements of the health order. The health officer can assist with interpreting the health orders, as is being done in this meeting. Chair Andersen provided an update of the County’s virus statistics, noting that three more deaths have occurred, and more cases have been identified. Dr. Farnitano noted that with additional testing, the County had seen a 4% jump this week and that neighboring Alameda County’s cases have increased significantly, so caution is still required to prevent another surge. Chair Andersen asked, in response to people who want to see the State and County jump ahead to Phase 2, how much time is needed to assess the impact of the loosened restrictions. Dr. Farnitano responded that at least a couple of weeks are needed and probably somewhat more to study the effect of a change in restrictions due to the lengthy incubation period of the virus. Chair Andersen moved on to discuss the importance of business and community activities to begin planning how they can meet health guidelines once the State and County eventually move fully to Phase 2 and then 3. She asked how they might best provide input into how their businesses can resume operations in compliance with the health order. Dr. Farnitano said that input to the health officer and to Sacramento (legislators) would be helpful towards incorporating ideas into the ultimate plan and to achieve better consistency across the state. He said that the Bay Area is like one big ecosystem and must cooperate for the best outcome. He discussed the five indicators used by the health officers to determine direction. He said that testing had been ramped up as well as contact tracing to interrupt the spread. Very few hospitals have certified that they have access to PPE (person protective equipment) sufficient to meet their needs. There are many metrics that must be considered. He opined that counties that have chosen to disregard the health orders are taking big risks and any consequences won’t be known for weeks. Chair Andersen asked Dr. Farnitano to speak to the weighing of loss of life metrics with the loss of economic productivity and the loss of livelihoods, and the mental and physical toll of the SIP (shelter in place) rules. Dr. Farnitano agreed that we need to find the balance but didn't attribute all of the economic downturn to the pandemic. Towards finding that balance, the health orders have been loosened somewhat, but even if all business could fully resume, he said people won’t patronize them if they don’t feel safe. Vice Chair Mitchoff commented that it’s difficult to respond to the frustration vented by people who want the economic recovery to proceed faster because we cannot know what the impact would have been if we had been less restrictive sooner. How many more deaths might have occurred had we been less cautious? She said that she hears concerns about both the tight restrictions and, on the flip side, fears about the health risks of loosening them. Chair Andersen opened the public comment period for issues pertinent to recreation, curbside retail, and associated warehousing / manufacturing. The following individuals commented:
Chair Andersen emphasized that the health officer relies on a way array of expertise in the medical field and coordinates with Bay Area health officers. He is not making decisions for Contra Costa County in a vacuum.
Vice Chair Mitchoff then discussed the seriousness of the virus and how it is unlike other flus and causes not just deaths but agonizing deaths. She mentioned some businesses who claimed they had certification to operate from the County health officer, but the health officer makes no such certifications.
Chair Mitchoff asked staff to add the transmitting email to the record and explained that correspondence was being sent to staff via multiple channels. Chair Andersen moved onto the curbside retail and warehousing/manufacturing business sectors and mentioned the FAQs on the County’s website.
Dr. Farnitano clarified that nothing in the health order precludes the acceptance of donations. He recommended setting up processes that maintain social distancing, wiping down hard surfaces, and letting items sit in a temporary space before anyone handles them if they cannot be easily wiped down. He suggested also examining ways to mimic current protocols around essential retail like supermarkets in preparation for the time when thrift stores can reopen. Chair Andersen commented that people who are sheltering in place are reorganizing closets and households and need to know that donations can be accepted and where to donate. She asked for this information to be added to the County’s FAQs. |
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5. | The next meeting is currently scheduled for May 28, 2020. | |||||||
The start time of the May 28th meeting was changed from 1:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. | ||||||||
6. | Adjourn | |||||||
Chair Andersen thanked everyone who participated in the meeting and said we can find wisdom in the Constitution that appoints a health officer to make these decisions rather than relying on politics. She thanked Vice Chair Mitchoff and Dr. Farnitano and announced that the next meeting would focus on religious gatherings. The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m |
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