New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Disease

The State of California Health Order remains in effect in Orange County

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Disease, Emergencies, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

On March 19, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Public Health Officer ordered all individuals to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job. The order also dictated individuals employ social distancing practices by maintaining 6 feet of distance from others.

The County of Orange Public Health Order, originally set to expire March 31, 2020, is superseded by the State’s Executive Order until further notice.

Residents of Orange County are required to continue to stay at home except for essential needs. Because transmission is occurring throughout the county, it is important for individuals and businesses to practice social distancing, as directed by the Governor and the State’s Public Health Officer, regardless of the expiration of the County Public Health Order.

State of California Governor Executive order can be found at http://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/19/governor-gavin-newsom-issues-stay-at-home-order/

Frequently asked questions regarding the order can be found on the state website at http://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/

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For questions related to COVID-19, contact the Orange County COVID-19 Hotline at 1(833)426-6411, visit http://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus, or follow the HCA on Facebook (@ochealthinfo) and Twitter (@ochealth).

SAUSD schools will stay closed through May 1

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Education, Emergencies, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

The SAUSD has announced that their schools will remain closed through May 1, 2020, with instruction set to resume May 4, 2020.

Here is their full announcement:

I’d like to take a moment to provide you with an update regarding the temporary closure of all SAUSD schools that’s currently in place as a precautionary measure to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

SAUSD, like many other school districts in the State of California, is committed to doing our part to stave off the growing national public health crisis being caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The health and safety of our students, family, community, staff, and educational partners is our primary concern and focus during this crisis.

Today, SAUSD has determined that in the interest of public health, SAUSD schools will now remain closed to students and staff through Friday, May 1, 2020, with instruction currently set to resume on Monday, May 4, 2020. These dates are subject to change as we receive further guidance from the OC Health Care Agency, the Orange County Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) related to SAUSD, this step is being taken out of an abundance of caution. This is not a decision we take lightly, as we know that temporarily closing our District has a tremendous impact on our students and families. However, we have confidence that this is the proper course at this time and are taking all precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all our stakeholders.

Doing our part to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is especially important now, as increased testing is leading to higher counts of confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases locally. The OC Health Care Agency on Thursday reported that the total number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Orange County is 256, up from 69 the previous day. This serves as a reminder of the importance of staying at home and practicing social distancing when leaving the household for essential activities.

During the school closure period, we will continue serving free, nutritious meals to all children ages 1-18 at 13 selected school sites three times a week. They are served in a grab-and-go setting that protects the safety of both our students and school personnel. Please remember to practice social distancing when picking up meals out of concern for the health of students, parents and staff, who are placing themselves on the front lines to ensure that our students receive nourishment. For a meal distribution schedule, visit www.sausd.us/coronavirus.

To keep our SAUSD scholars engaged in learning during this time, we have created instructional materials accessible to students in both printed and online platforms to minimize the impact to student learning and any loss of school days. Online documents are accessible via the district website at www.sausd.us/coronavirus.

We would also like to remind our SAUSD community that we are gathering resources that may be of assistance and interest to our families and neighbors at this time and are posting them to our website at www.sausd.us/coronavirus. New flyers with resources on topics such as mental health resources, food distribution programs and more are added daily as a service to our community.

In addition, the County of Orange has resources available for those experiencing worry or anxiety related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Residents are encouraged to call 855-625-4657 or visit www.ochealthinfo.com/oclinks to talk or chat with a trained, clinical navigator. Those with medical questions may call the OC Health Care Agency’s Health Referral Line at 800-564-8448 or visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.

As we approach the end of the school year, we will be weighing whether to cancel all end-of-the-year activities in order to comply with social distancing guidelines for the health and safety of our school communities. We will make a decision in the coming weeks and will be sure to inform all stakeholders of the outcome.

In closing, I’d like to again thank everyone for their patience and trust as we continue to adjust to the rapidly evolving situation. This is a fluid situation and SAUSD is working to provide you with the most current and clear guidance.

We will update you with additional information as it becomes available. Please be sure to visit www.sausd.us, and connect with your child’s school for more updates.

Sincerely,

Jerry Almendarez

Superintendent of Schools

Santa Ana Unified School District

A 27 de marzo del 2020

Estimada comunidad del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Santa Ana (SAUSD),

Quisiera tomar un momento para darles información actualizada acerca del cierre temporal de todas las escuelas de SAUSD que tenemos en vigor como medida de precaución para ayudar a frenar la propagación del Coronavirus (COVID-19).

SAUSD, como muchos otros distritos escolares en el estado de California, tiene el compromiso de hacer nuestra parte para evitar la creciente crisis nacional de salud pública causada por el Coronavirus (COVID-19). La salud y seguridad de nuestros alumnos, familias, comunidad, personal y socios educativos es nuestra inquietud principal y enfoque durante esta crisis.

Hoy, SAUSD determinó que, en interés de la salud pública, las escuelas de SAUSD ahora permanecerán cerradas a los alumnos y el personal hasta el viernes 1º de mayo del 2020, y actualmente la enseñanza está programada para reanudar el lunes 4 de mayo del 2020. Estas fechas están sujetas a cambio a medida que recibimos mayor orientación de la Agencia de Salud del Condado de Orange, el Departamento de Educación del Condado de Orange y los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades.

Aunque no hay casos confirmados de coronavirus (COVID-19) relacionados con SAUSD, se está tomando esta medida por una abundancia de precaución. Esta no es una decisión que tomamos a la ligera, pues sabemos que el cierre temporal de nuestro Distrito tiene tremendas repercusiones sobre nuestros alumnos y familias. Sin embargo, tenemos la seguridad de que este es el curso adecuado en este momento y estamos tomando todas las medidas de precaución para garantizar la seguridad y bienestar de todos nuestros colaboradores.

Es de particular importancia ahora hacer nuestra parte para frenar la propagación del Coronavirus (COVID-19), ya que un aumento en las pruebas está indicando que hay mayores cifras de casos confirmados del Coronavirus (COVID-19) localmente. El jueves, la Agencia de Salud del Condado de Orange reportó que la cantidad total de casos del Coronavirus (COVID-19) en el Condado de Orange es 256, comparado con 69 del día previo. Esto sirve como un recordatorio de la importancia de quedarse en casa y practicar el distanciamiento social cuando salga de su hogar para realizar actividades esenciales.

Durante el período del cierre escolar, continuaremos sirviendo alimentos nutritivos gratuitos a todos los niños de 1 a 18 años en 13 escuelas selectas tres veces por semana. Son repartidos en modo “para llevar” que protege la seguridad de nuestros alumnos y el personal escolar. Por favor recuerde practicar el distanciamiento social cuando recoja los alimentos por preocupación por la salud de los alumnos, padres y personal, quienes se están arriesgando al dar un paso al frente para asegurar que nuestros alumnos reciban alimento. Para ver el horario de distribución de alimentos, visite www.sausd.us/coronavirus.

Para mantener a nuestros alumnos de SAUSD activos en el aprendizaje durante este tiempo, hemos creado materiales didácticos accesibles a los alumnos en plataformas impresas y en línea para para minimizar el impacto en el aprendizaje estudiantil y cualquier pérdida de días de enseñanza. Los documentos en línea están accesibles mediante el sitio web del distrito en www.sausd.us/coronavirus.

También deseamos recordar a nuestra comunidad de SAUSD que estamos recopilando recursos que pueden ser de ayuda e interés para nuestras familias y vecinos en este momento y los estamos subiendo a nuestro sitio web en www.sausd.us/coronavirus. Se están agregando a diario volantes nuevos con recursos en temas como recursos de salud mental, programas de distribución de alimentos y más, como un servicio para nuestra comunidad.

Además, el Condado de Orange tiene recursos disponibles para las personas que estén experimentando preocupación o ansiedad relacionada con el Coronavirus (COVID-19). Se anima a los residentes a llamar al 855-625-4657 o visitar www.ochealthinfo.com/oclinks para hablar o chatear con un navegador clínico capacitado. Si tienen preguntas médicas, pueden llamar a la Línea de remisión de salud de la Agencia de Salud del Condado de Orange al número 800-564-8448 o visiten occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.

A medida que nos acercamos al final del año escolar, estaremos sopesando si cancelar todas las actividades de fin de año, a fin de acatar las directrices de distanciamiento social por la salud y seguridad de nuestras comunidades escolares. Tomaremos una decisión en las próximas semanas y nos aseguraremos de informar a todos los colaboradores del resultado.

Para concluir, nuevamente quiero agradecer a todos por su paciencia y confianza a medida que continuamos ajustándonos a la situación en rápida evolución. Esta es una situación fluida y SAUSD está trabajando para brindarles la orientación más actual y clara.

Les brindaremos información adicional a medida que esté disponible. Por favor asegúrense de visitar www.sausd.us, y conéctese con la escuela de su hijo/a para más actualizaciones.

Atentamente,

Jerry Almendarez

Superintendente de Escuelas

Distrito Escolar Unificado de Santa Ana

(B?m vào �ÂY d? truy c?p b?n sao PDF c?a b?c thu này)

Ngày 27 tháng 3 nam 2020

Kính g?i c?ng d?ng H?c khu Th?ng nh?t Santa Ana (SAUSD),

Chúng tôi mu?n nhân co h?i này cung c?p cho quý v? thông tin c?p nh?t v? vi?c dóng c?a t?m th?i t?t c? các tru?ng SAUSD mà hi?n t?i, nhu m?t bi?n pháp phòng ng?a d? giúp ngan ch?n s? lây lan c?a coronavirus (COVID-19).

SAUSD, gi?ng nhu nhi?u khu h?c chánh khác ? Ti?u bang California, cam k?t th?c hi?n ph?n c?a chúng tôi d? ngan ch?n cu?c kh?ng ho?ng s?c kh?e c?ng d?ng qu?c gia dang gia tang do coronavirus (COVID-19) gây ra. S?c kh?e và s? an toàn c?a h?c sinh, gia dình, c?ng d?ng, nhân viên và các d?i tác giáo d?c là m?i quan tâm chính và tr?ng tâm c?a chúng tôi trong cu?c kh?ng ho?ng này.

Hôm nay, SAUSD dã xác d?nh r?ng vì l?i ích c?a s?c kh?e c?ng d?ng, các tru?ng SAUSD s? dóng c?a cho h?c sinh và nhân viên cho d?n th? Sáu, ngày 1 tháng 5 nam 2020, v?i hu?ng d?n hi?n du?c thi?t l?p tru?ng s? b?t d?u tr? l?i vào Th? Hai, ngày 4 tháng 5 nam 2020. Ngày gi? d?nh nhu trên nhung n?u có thay d?i gì khi chúng tôi nh?n du?c hu?ng d?n thêm t? Co quan Cham sóc S?c kh?e OC, Phòng Giáo d?c Qu?n Cam và Trung tâm Ki?m soát và Phòng ng?a D?ch b?nh, chúng tôi s? cho quý v? bi?t.

M?c dù không có tru?ng h?p nào du?c xác nh?n v? coronavirus (COVID-19) liên quan d?n SAUSD, bu?c này dang du?c dua ra kh?i s? th?n tr?ng. �ây không ph?i là m?t quy?t d?nh mà chúng tôi xem nh?, vì chúng tôi bi?t r?ng vi?c t?m th?i dóng c?a H?c khu c?a chúng tôi có tác d?ng to l?n d?n h?c sinh và gia dình c?a chúng tôi. Tuy nhiên, chúng tôi tin tu?ng r?ng dây là khóa h?c phù h?p t?i th?i di?m này và dang th?c hi?n t?t c? các bi?n pháp phòng ng?a d? d?m b?o an toàn và phúc l?i cho t?t c? chúng ta.

Trách nhi?m và b?n ph?n c?a chúng ta là làm ch?m s? lây lan c?a coronavirus (COVID-19) là d?c bi?t quan tr?ng hi?n nay, vì xét nghi?m tang lên d?n d?n s? lu?ng cao hon xác nh?n c?a coronavirus (COVID-19) t?i d?a phuong. Co quan Cham sóc S?c kh?e OC hôm th? Nam dã báo cáo r?ng t?ng s? ca b?nh coronavirus (COVID-19) t?i Qu?n Cam là 256, tang so v?i 69 ngày hôm tru?c. �i?u này cho bi?t nhu m?t l?i nh?c nh? v? t?m quan tr?ng c?a vi?c ? nhà và th?c hành d?ng cách khoãng khi r?i kh?i nhà cho các ho?t d?ng thi?t y?u.

Trong th?i gian dóng c?a tru?ng, chúng tôi s? ti?p t?c ph?c v? các b?a an b? du?ng, mi?n phí cho t?t c? tr? em t? 1-18 tu?i t?i 13 d?a di?m tru?ng du?c ch?n ba l?n m?t tu?n. �? an dã du?c d?ng trong m?t h?p dã thi?t l?p l?y và di d? b?o v? s? an toàn c?a c? h?c sinh và nhân viên nhà tru?ng c?a chúng tôi. Xin nh? th?c hành d?ng cách khoãng khi di l?y d? an vì lo l?ng cho s?c kh?e c?a h?c sinh, ph? huynh và nhân viên, nh?ng ngu?i dang d?t mình lên hàng d?u d? d?m b?o r?ng h?c sinh c?a chúng ta du?c nuôi du?ng. �? bi?t l?ch phân ph?i b?a an, hãy truy c?p www.sausd.us/coronavirus.

�? gi? cho các h?c sinh SAUSD c?a chúng ta tham gia vào vi?c h?c trong th?i gian này, chúng tôi dã t?o ra các tài li?u gi?ng d?y cho các em ? c? hai n?n t?ng in và tr?c tuy?n d? gi?m thi?u tác d?ng d?n vi?c h?c c?a các em và không m?t bat k? ngày h?c nào. Các tài li?u tr?c tuy?n có th? truy c?p thông qua trang m?ng c?a H?c Khu t?i www.sausd.us/coronavirus.

Chúng tôi cung mu?n nh?c nh? c?ng d?ng SAUSD c?a chúng tôi r?ng chúng tôi dang thu th?p các tài nguyên có th? h? tr? và quan tâm cho gia dình và hàng xóm c?a chúng tôi t?i th?i di?m này và dang dang chúng lên trang m?ng c?a chúng tôi t?i www.sausd.us/coronavirus. Các t? thông tin m?i v?i các tài nguyên v? các ch? d? nhu tài nguyên s?c kh?e tâm th?n, chuong trình phân ph?i th?c ph?m và nhi?u th? khác du?c thêm vào hàng ngày nhu m?t d?ch v? cho c?ng d?ng c?a chúng ta.

Ngoài ra, Qu?n Cam có s?n các tài nguyên cho nh?ng ngu?i g?p ph?i lo l?ng ho?c lo l?ng liên quan d?n coronavirus (COVID-19). Cu dân du?c khuy?n khích g?i 855-625-4657 ho?c truy c?p www.occvid19.ochealthinfo.com/oclinks d? nói chuy?n ho?c trò chuy?n v?i nh?ng ngu?i dã du?c dào t?o. Quý vi có nh?ng th?c m?c v? y t? có th? g?i cho �u?ng dây gi?i thi?u s?c kh?e c?a OC Health Care Agency theo s? 800-564-8448 ho?c truy c?p occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.

Khi g?n d?n cu?i nam h?c, chúng tôi s? cân nh?c xem có nên h?y t?t c? các ho?t d?ng cu?i nam d? tuân th? các hu?ng d?n cách khoãng v? s?c kh?e và s? an toàn c?a c?ng d?ng tru?ng h?c hay không. Chúng tôi s? dua ra quy?t d?nh trong vài tu?n t?i và ch?c ch?n s? thông báo cho t?t c? quý v? v? k?t qu?.

Sau cùng, chúng tôi mu?n c?m on t?t c? quý v? dã kiên nh?n và tin tu?ng trong khi chúng tôi ti?p t?c di?u ch?nh theo tình hình dang phát tri?n nhanh chóng. �ây là m?t tình hu?ng r?t khó và SAUSD dang làm vi?c d? cung c?p cho quý v? hu?ng d?n rõ ràng và m?i nh?t.

Chúng tôi s? c?p nh?t cho quý v? nh?ng thông tin b? sung khi có s?n. Xin quý v? vào trang m?ng cua h?c khu t?i www.sausd.us và k?t n?i v?i tru?ng d?y con c?a b?n d? bi?t thêm thông tin c?p nh?t.

Trân tr?ng,

Jerry Almendarez

Superintendent of Schools

Santa Ana Unified School District

The O.C. Health Care Agency warns about use of non-FDA approved COVID-19 tests

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Emergencies, Federal Government, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick today warned residents against the use of testing kits that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diagnosis of COVID-19.

“These non-approved tests can produce false results and lead to unintended negative consequences for the individual and the broader community,” said Dr. Quick. “For example, a false negative result from a non-approved testing kit may lead an individual who in fact has COVID-19 to think they are healthy and not capable of spreading the virus. We want to ensure our community members are getting accurate information about their health, and accurate information drives appropriate medical care.”

The most accurate, FDA-approved testing available to-date is polymerase chain reaction, also known as PCR testing. PCR can detect small amounts of the virus in a specimen from a patient. This is the test used by the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Public Health Laboratory and by commercial labs reporting to the HCA.

There are currently no FDA-approved COVID-19 serology tests available in the United States. Serology testing may detect if an individual’s body is starting to develop antibodies against a particular virus.

Orange County residents should understand that:

· There is currently no Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on how to interpret or take public health action in response to a positive or negative COVID-19 serology result.

· Any company that claims FDA approval or authorization for a serology test is misleading the public.

· No COVID-19 serology test kits have been reviewed by the FDA or received Emergency Use Authorization.

For general information about COVID-19, please call the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448, visit http://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus, or follow the HCA on Facebook (@ochealthinfo) and Twitter (@ochealth).

For non-medical questions, contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085.

Orange County Jail inmate tests positive for COVID-19

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Disease, Emergencies, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE, Ca. (March 24, 2020): An inmate in Orange County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19. The inmate, a man in his 40s, was booked into the Orange County Jail on June 17, 2018 on suspicion of child endangerment, torture, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon.

The inmate was recently isolated for flu-like symptoms, and was administered a test for COVID-19. The positive test results were returned today. The inmate remains in isolation receiving medical treatment with moderate symptoms, and at this time does not require hospitalization.

Prior to exhibiting symptoms, the inmate was housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana in barracks housing. The Orange County Jail employs an electronic card system inside the facility, which will enable the Department to identify all inmates and staff who have had contact with the inmate to notify them of the potential exposure.

Inmates who have potentially been exposed will be closely monitored for symptoms and their movement inside the jail will be restricted for up to 14 days. If an inmate begins to exhibit symptoms, the Department will follow the Communicable Disease protocol and the inmate will be isolated. The OC Health Care Agency’s Correctional Health Services staff will provide appropriate medical care and testing.

“We have been proactive in implementing containment strategies, and now will be activating our Communicable Disease protocol to safeguard the inmates and staff at the Orange County Jail,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

To date, twelve inmates have been isolated due to flu-like symptoms, and eight have had negative COVID-19 or flu test results. The remaining three inmates are isolated pending test results.

The Sheriff’s Department is requiring enhanced medical screening for all inmates, law enforcement, and staff entering the Orange County Jail, including temperature screening prior to entering any OC Jail facility. The Orange County Jail population has steadily declined over the last ten days.

The City of Santa Ana is closing the skate parks due to COVID-19

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Disease, Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment

All skate parks operated by the City of Santa Ana will be temporarily closed to the public beginning on Wednesday, March 25, to fight the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The California State Public Health Officer has ordered all individuals living in California to stay home except when going out for necessities such as buying food, medicine and gas and going to work at certain essential jobs.

City of Santa Ana parks remain open for public use and people may still go outside to exercise, but people should avoid gathering in groups and practice social distancing, as required by the State and County health agencies.

City Hall and all municipal buildings, including libraries and community centers, are closed to the public. The City is continuing to provide essential services, including Police and Fire emergency services, road repairs, street sweeping and trash collection.

For more information and updates about City services and COVID-19, please visit www.santa-ana.org/covid19.

First Orange County death due to COVID-19 confirmed

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today confirmed the first death of an Orange County resident related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The individual was a male in his 70s with underlying health conditions who was receiving treatment at a local hospital.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the patient’s family and friends,” said Dr. Nichole Quick, County Health Officer. “This serves as a very unfortunate reminder to the community about the importance of staying at home and social distancing when leaving the household for essential activities, or to work at an essential business, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help protect our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Additional details about the individual’s death, the name of the hospital, and his city of residence will not be disclosed.

The HCA updates their dedicated novel coronavirus website daily with case counts and testing figures. If you have medical questions about COVID-19, please call the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448, visit http://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus, or follow the HCA on Facebook (@ochealthinfo) and Twitter (@ochealth).

For non-medical questions, contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085.

O.C. residents can now sign up for COVID-19 text message alerts

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Emergencies, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Effective immediately, residents can now sign up to receive text message updates related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Orange County, California. To opt-in for this service, text OCCOVID19 to 888777.

The County of Orange Emergency Operations Center has collaborated with Everbridge Nixle to launch this one-way alert system as an additional option for community members to receive the latest news and resources related to COVID-19. Text message updates will be provided daily from the County of Orange Emergency Operations Center during its activation.

Residents who have questions about an update can contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

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For non-medical questions, contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085.

National Guard activated in California to provide COVID-19 aid and assistance

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Disease, Emergencies, Federal Government, Public Safety Leave a comment

Yesterday, President Trump activated the National Guard to the three states hit hardest by the coronavirus: New York, Washington, and our state, California. National Guard units are expected to be activated in Orange County to assist in providing food and supplies as well as performing vital humanitarian support missions to local and state agencies.

“I applaud our brave men and women in uniform that have been activated in California to assist the people of this great state as we combat the coronavirus pandemic,” said Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “I welcome the National Guard’s assistance in providing necessary food and supplies to our residents in this time of great need.”

First elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2014, Michelle Steel represents the residents of the Second District, which includes, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Stanton, the unincorporated area of Rossmoor, and portions of Buena Park and Fountain Valley. Steel, a successful businesswoman and renowned taxpayer advocate, previously served as Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization where she represented more than eight million people in Southern California, including all of Orange County, as one of the state’s 12 constitutional officers.

Orange County announces their COVID-19 public health mitigation strategy

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Emergencies, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

To minimize adverse health consequences and resource impact from COVID-19, and consistent with guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Orange County Health Care Agency has shifted the approach in public health away from containment and toward mitigation, a more effective strategy to address the virus county-wide.

The mitigation strategy shifts the focus from labor-intensive contact tracing, the process of identifying every person a known COVID-19 case has potentially exposed, to protecting the most vulnerable populations, persons over age 65 and those with chronic health conditions, by minimizing their exposure to the virus. Community transmission of COVID-19 has been identified in California since late February, and since early March, most of the confirmed cases in the state were not related to travel outside of the United States.

The Health Care Agency’s daily COVID-19 status updates will reflect this change as follows:

– The HCA COVID-19 web page will be updated daily by 2:00 pm

– Effective March 21, 2020, confirmed cases will no longer be identified as ‘travel-related’, ‘person to person spread’, or ‘community transmission’, as most cases as we move forward will be community transmission

– HCA will continue to report age and gender information for all confirmed cases

To help prevent community transmission and limit your exposure you can:

– Stay home except for essential needs

– Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

– Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue

– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

– If soap and water aren’t available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

For non-medical questions, contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085.

Orange County is now up to 42 cases of COVID-19

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 4 Comments

The Orange County Health Care Agency has released their latest update regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Orange County now has 42 documented cases of COVID-19. We were at 22 cases in their last report – the figure has almost doubled in one day.

The cases include 22 Travel Related victims, 7 Person to Person Spread and 12 Community Acquired. The latter are a major concern as these are people getting sick with no direct connection to another victim. They are getting sick and don’t know how they came into contact with the virus.

The total number of people tested by HCA Public Health Lab (PHL) and by commercial labs is 457. HCA PHL has kits available to test 990 specimens.

Some key points include:

High-risk populations which include older adults (ages 65 and higher) as well as people who have serious, chronic medical conditions (like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease) are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. These individuals should self-isolate at home.
Residents should practice good health hygiene which includes washing your hands, staying home if you are sick, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not hands).
Minimizing risk through social distancing whenever possible which includes avoiding attendance at large gatherings (250 people or more). Small gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 people and provide social distancing of six feet per person.
Maintain vigilance and personal readiness which includes being prepared if there is COVID-19 in your household or a disruption of daily activities in your community. For example, maintain a supply of medications, food and other essentials in your house.
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home while you are ill. If you need to seek medical care, call your health care provider first so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

The O.C. Public Health Order is not an order to shelter in place

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Today’s order from County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick is NOT an order to shelter in place. It is not a lockdown. It is important for all Orange County businesses to remain open while practicing social distancing consistent with the Governor’s guidance. However, following State guidelines, all bars and other establishments that serve alcohol and do not serve food shall close. All restaurants and other business establishments that serve food shall close all onsite dining. Pickup, delivery and drive thru services may remain open. It is important for all Orange County residents to read the order in its entirety.

Unfortunately, the order as written caused wide-spread confusion. In order to provide additional clarity requested by Orange County residents and businesses, the County will be issuing an amended Health Officer’s Order.

Should you have questions, please contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless it is an emergency.

The City of Santa Ana closes the Libraries, Community Centers and Zoo in response to COVID-19

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Family, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Zoo Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana took further action today to address the growing threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus), closing all libraries, community centers, recreation facilities and the Santa Ana Zoo and canceling related programs and services, City Manager Kristine Ridge announced.

The City additionally is expanding upon its decision last week to cancel City-sponsored events of 250 or more people to now include gatherings of 50 or more indefinitely, in accordance with new guidance announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. City Manager Ridge also is restricting the ability of outside groups to obtain permits for hosting gatherings in excess of 50 or more attendees. Restrictions are also in place for general public access to police and fire facilities.

The City previously closed the Santa Ana Senior Center and canceled adult recreation classes in order to protect those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Those who rely on the senior meals program will be able to pick up frozen to-go meals. In addition, the City implemented enhanced cleaning measures at all City facilities.

“I am in communication with the governor and other California mayors to ensure that we have a coordinated effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Miguel Pulido said. “The measures we have put in place in Santa Ana will help protect the public health while we continue to provide essential services to the community.”

On Tuesday, March 17, the City Council will meet in closed session to discuss public safety impacts related to COVID-19. During the Council’s open meeting, they will consider other possible actions, including Declaration of an Emergency, which may further expand closure of non-essential services and actions to alleviate financial hardships for our community due to business interruptions.

Please go to www.santa-ana.org/coronavirus for updates, links to updates from local school districts and other agencies, health resources and more. Details about City services impacted by the closures and cancelations are below.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Santa Ana City Council will meet on Tuesday, March 17, but the City is encouraging the public to watch the meeting on television or online instead of attending in person. The meetings are broadcast live on Spectrum TV Channel 3 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 and livestreamed at www.santa-ana.org/cc/city-meetings. Members of the public who wish to comment on matters before the council, instead of doing so in person, may submit comments by emailing ecomment@santa-ana.org. The comments will be provided to the City Council as part of the meeting record and will be uploaded to the City’s website.

SANTA ANA SENIOR CENTER
The Santa Ana Senior Center is closed and adult recreation classes have been canceled. Beginning on Tuesday, March 17, seniors will be able to pick up frozen to-go meals at the Senior Center provided by Meals on Wheels. The Senior Center is located at 424 W. 3rd St. and can be reached at (714) 647-6540.

COMMUNITY/RECREATION CENTERS
All community centers, recreation centers and sports facilities have been closed, and all classes and activities have been canceled. Existing field reservations at City facilities will be honored, but the City is requesting that organizers cancel their activities. For more information, call the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency at (714) 571-4224. The closed locations include:
• Corbin Center, 2215 W. McFadden Ave.
• El Salvador Community Center, 1825 Civic Center Drive.
• Jerome Park Recreation Center, 726 S. Center St.
• Logan Recreation Center, 1009 N. Cluster St.
• Memorial Recreation Center, 2102 S. Flower St.
• Salgado Recreation Center, 706 N. New Hope St.
• Santa Anita Recreation Center, 300 S. Figueroa St.
• Garfield Center, 501 N. Lacy St.
• Roosevelt/Walker Community Center, 816 E. Chestnut Ave.
• Nature Center, 2535 N. Main St.
• Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave.

LIBRARIES
The Main Library and the Newhope Library have been closed and all programs and classes have been canceled. For information, call the Main Library at (714) 647- 5250. For digital books and other eLibrary services, go to www.santa-ana.org/library/elibrary.

POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Santa Ana Police Department front lobby, Santa Ana Family Justice Center and the Santa Ana Jail front lobby will be closed until further notice.

FIRE STATIONS
The Orange County Fire Authority, which provides fire and emergency services to Santa Ana, announced that it has closed all fire stations to the public for non-emergency matters. The fire stations are still staffed and available for all emergency needs.

Cierres de los Vestíbulos Delanteros de Santa Ana PD y Cárcel y El Centro de Justicia Familiar de Santa Ana

Por extrema abundancia de cautela y siguiendo las medidas establecidas por los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades y la Agencia de Salud del Condado de Orange, el vestíbulo delantero del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana, El Centro de Justicia Familiar de Santa Ana, junto con el vestíbulo frontal de la cárcel de Santa Ana, permanecerán cerrados hasta nuevo aviso para minimizar la exposición a COVID-19.

La seguridad de NUESTRA comunidad es nuestra máxima prioridad y estos cierres no tendrán ningún impacto en nuestra capacidad para proporcionar servicios de vigilancia.

NÚMEROS DE TELÉFONO IMPORTANTES PARA RECORDAR

Línea de no emergencia
(714) 245-8049

Centro de Justicia Familiar de Santa Ana
(714) 245-8278

Le agradecemos su paciencia y comprensión durante este tiempo. Manténgase atento y conectado para recibir actualizaciones.

This week’s Cochino List includes Hacienda Arzate and KD’s Donuts

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Health, Health and Medical, Insects, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana 2 Comments

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1FtA0qgop8V-aE2I0rqaLnp3_WerYQLCR&ll=33.71625667413062%2C-117.84999085273438&z=10

The O.C. Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of March 5 to March 13. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved.

Hacienda Arzate, 1502 E. First St., Santa Ana, Closed: March 6, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: March 6
KD’s Donuts, 1700 E. 17th St., Suite D, Santa Ana, Closed: March 5, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: March 5
Update: Mariscos Hector Nightclub at 1701 E. McFadden Ave., Suite K, Santa Ana, which was ordered closed March 5 because of a rodent infestation, was allowed to reopen March 6.
Watson’s Soda Fountain Cafe, 116 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, Closed: March 11, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: March 12
Mary’s Kitchen, 517 W. Struck Ave., Orange, Closed: March 11, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: March 13
Rasoi, 678 El Camino Real, Tustin, Closed: March 10, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: March 12
Paradise Market, 3111 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, Closed: March 11, Reason: Rodent infestation
Kitchen at St. John The Baptist Church, 1015 Baker St., Costa Mesa, Closed: March 9, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: March 10
Mario’s, 15964 Springdale St., Huntington Beach, Closed: March 9, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: March 10
Kiros Catering, 17961 Sky Park Circle, Suite F, Irvine, Closed: March 9, Reason: Fire, or other disaster damage, Reopened: March 9
Primi Donuts, 32880 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 33, Dana Point, Closed: March 6, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: March 7
Imperial Burgers, 241 E. Imperial Highway, La Habra, Closed: March 5, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: March 6

The OC Health Care Agency reports the first locally acquired case of COVID-19

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) today reported the first case of locally acquired COVID-19, more commonly known as novel coronavirus.

The individual, a woman in her 50s, appears to have acquired infection locally and is currently hospitalized in isolation and reported in stable condition. The HCA’s Public Health Services staff are following-up with people who may have been exposed and an investigation is underway to determine how the individual contracted the virus.

Details about three additional cases confirmed today include:

A man in his 70s who is isolated at home, travel-related exposure
A man in his 30s who is isolated at home, contact to a known case
A man in his 60s who is hospitalized in isolation, travel-related exposure

“As public and private labs increase testing capability and surveillance, we expect to see more cases of COVID-19,” said Dr. Nichole Quick, County Health Officer. “We realize the mitigation strategies that have rolled out this week by schools, businesses, and all levels of government are concerning for community members. We empathize and want to thank OC residents for their flexibility and willingness to make adjustments to their daily lives to help protect and promote the health and wellbeing of their neighbors.”

Orange County now has thirteen cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) reported, including one case that appears to have been locally transmitted. The Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) is identifying and contacting close community exposures to these cases. Case numbers are changing quickly; monitor our website (http://www.ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus) for updates. 1629 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the United States; 247 cases have been reported in California. Multiple California jurisdictions are now reporting community spread. Over 125,000 cases have been identified internationally in over 100 countries. Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 3 travel advisory for travel to most countries in Europe. Returning travelers from these countries, as well as China, South Korea, Italy and Iran, are recommended to stay at home for 14 days after return and to contact their medical provider with illness. A list of countries at risk can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

The City of Santa Ana is canceling large events and closing the Senior Center in response to the Coronavirus

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2013 Elections, Civic Affairs, Disease, Santa Ana, Seniors Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana is canceling many large City-sponsored events, closing its senior center and taking other measures to protect public health in accordance with statewide recommendations announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus.)

Through the end of March, City-sponsored events at which crowds of more than 250 people are expected to gather will be canceled or rescheduled, including a carnival scheduled to begin today, March 12, at Jerome Park. The City also is urging organizations, residents and businesses that are planning local events this month to consider canceling or rescheduling them per guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health.

The City will be closing the Santa Ana Senior Center at 424 W. 3rd St. and canceling all senior programs and classes except for senior meals, for which the City is making alternative arrangements to provide. Most other classes and programs provided at City libraries, parks, community centers and other locations will continue as scheduled, but some may be canceled as determined on a case-by-case basis.

The City Council meeting scheduled for March 17 will take place, but the City is encouraging the public to watch the meeting on television or online instead of attending in person. The meetings are broadcast live on Spectrum TV Channel 3 and livestreamed at www.santa-ana.org/cc/city-meetings. Members of the public who wish to comment on matters before the council, in lieu of doing so in person, may submit comments by emailing ecomments@santa-ana.org. The comments will be provided to the Council as part of the meeting record and will be uploaded to the City’s website.

Other City commission, committee and board meetings scheduled this month will be evaluated for possible cancellation.

The City additionally is implementing enhanced cleaning measures at public buildings and facilities.

City officials will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and will provide updates and information to the public. Additional actions may be taken, as needed. Please go to https://www.santa-ana.org/coronavirus for resources, tips and real-time updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.