Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan's Weekly Updates on COVID-19

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Updates on COVID-19 from
Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan

In this issue:

ACPHD Updates: Bay Area Shelter in Place Order Extended to May 3, 2020

April 1st is Census Day

Expanded Renter Protections Throughout Alameda County

Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers

Donations to Alameda Health System (AHS

Operation Comfort

Protecting Yourself from
COVID-19 Price Gouging,
Scams and Fraud

Stay Informed

Public Comment Procedures for Board of Supervisors Meetings During Shelter in Place

Community Resources

Alameda County Public Health Department
COVID-19 Contact Information

Enforcement of the Shelter in Place Order E-mail:
COVID19compliance@acgov.org

Non-Immediate Concerns
Email: nCoV@acgov.org
Phone: 510-268-2101

Public Health Agencies' Dedicated COVID-19 Information Web Pages:

 

Alameda County
Public Health Department:

www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx

 

California Department of
Public Health:

covid19.ca.gov

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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Housing Information and Critical Health & Human Services

 

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Connect with me on Facebook

 

 

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Email me:
District3@acgov.org


County Seal

 

 

Oakland Office
1221 Oak Street, Suite 536
Oakland, CA 94612 (map)
Phone: 510.272.6693
Fax: 510.268.8004

  

 

District Office
15903 Hesperian Boulevard
San Lorenzo, CA 94580 (map)
Phone: 510.278.0367
Fax: 510.278.0467

 

 

Dear District 3 Community,

The County of Alameda is committed to keeping the public informed as we work together to stop the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this bulletin, you can read more about expanding emergency renter protections in Alameda County, protecting yourself from COVID-19 scams and fraud, and an update on extending the Shelter in Place order. 

For up-to-date data and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Alameda County Public Health Department's (ACPHD) dedicated COVID-19 web page.

It is an honor to serve you.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any comments, questions or concerns that you may have regarding the district or Alameda County.

Sincerely,                                                                           

wc

Wilma Chan
Supervisor, Third District 

ACPHD Updates:
Bay Area Shelter in Place Order 
Extended to May 3, 2020

Earlier today, the Alameda County Public Health Officer and six other Bay Area public health jurisdictions announced the regional Shelter in Place Order has been extended to May 3, 2020 in order to preserve critical hospital capacity throughout the region.

The new order adds clarifying language around essential business and activities, as well as some new directives, including but not limited to:

  • Use of recreational areas (e.g. playgrounds, picnic areas) and recreational facilities (e.g. tennis and basketball courts, golf courses) is prohibited. 
  • Essential businesses to develop a social distancing protocol before April 3
  • Most construction—residential and commercial—is prohibited
  • Essential businesses expanded to include additional service providers

This virus is so new that it has no approved medicines are vaccines. Prevention and the slowing the spread of COVID-19 crucial to minimizing the harm the virus causes to our communities. 

Increasing physical distance between yourself and others, avoiding crowded spaces, and limiting your travel outside your home to only essential activities (otherwise known as social distancing) has been proven to slow the spread of the virus, prevent deaths, and stop the health care system from becoming overwhelmed. 

While the Shelter in Place order has been difficult for many, I commend the Alameda County community for your commitment to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19. By working together to follow social distancing and safe hygiene practices, we can protect our community's health. 

For additional updates and the full text of the new Shelter in Place order, please visit ACPHD's dedicated COVID-19 page.

April 1st is Census Day

Census 2020 Shelter in Place Flyer

The 2020 Census is happening now. Census notifications have arrived by mail and can be completed online at my2020census.gov/.

An accurate count is necessary to ensure our community receives its fair share of funding, including funding for critical emergency services during times of crisis. 

Expanded Renter Protections Throughout Alameda County

Earlier today, the Board of Supervisors voted to expand the emergency eviction moratorium that I sponsored for renters and homeowners affected by COVID-19. This expanded ordinance will provide a County-wide eviction moratorium- both within all cities and the unincorporated areas - for 90 days. 

Affected residents must demonstrate a substantial loss of income due to substantial loss of income, substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses, or extraordinary child care needs caused by COVID-19. Please review the ordinance text for definitions on appropriate documentation to demonstrate COVID-19 related financial hardship. 

If your city has already passed a more strict eviction moratorium, the County's ordinance will not override your city's law. 

For additional questions and clarifications, please contact the Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department at jennifer.pearce@acgov.org or 510-670-6474

Emergency Child Care for
Essential Workers

For many essential workers who are continuing to provide valuable services to the public during the Shelter in Place order, child care is a necessity. Alameda County's early care and education community is available to help and support these workers during this critical time. 

The Alameda County Resource and Referral  (R&R) agencies are serving essential workers and connecting them with child care during the COVID-19 Shelter in Place.

Requests are NOT open to the general public.

If you are an essential worker looking for child care, please call your local R&R agency or fill out the online Child Care Request Form. For more information on what qualifies an essential worker, please review ACPHD's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Alameda County R&R Agencies' Referral Lines:

  • BANANAS (510) 658-038
    Serving: Alameda, Oakland,
    Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont
  • 4 C's of Alameda County 
    (510) 582-2182 ext. 3198
    Serving: San Leandro, San Lorenzo,
    Castro Valley, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Union City
  • Hively (925) 417-8733; hello@behively.org
    Serving: Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, Sunol

Donations to Alameda Health System (AHS) - Alameda County's Public Hospital System

AHS appreciates the outpouring of support from members of our community and is collecting supply donations. In order to ensure the supplies are safe and effective, and to distribute appropriately throughout the system, donations should be directed to:

Fairmont Campus, Central Supply Service
15400 Foothill Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94578

Central Supply Service is located between Building E and the Cafeteria.

The Fairmont Central Supply area will accept donations from Monday to Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.

Operation Comfort

Our unsheltered neighbors have a high-risk of contracting COVID-19, especially in encampments where self-isolation and social distancing may not be possible. 

Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, the Alameda County Social Services Agency, and the Alameda County General Services Agency have launched Operation Comfort to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among those experiencing homelessness.

Hospitals, shelters, and other approved agencies will be able to refer homeless individuals who have either tested positive for, are experiencing symptoms of, or have been exposed to COVID-19 to hotel rooms for safe space for isolation and recovery. To maintain client and employee health and safety, no walk-ins will be allowed. For isolation housing questions, contact
COVIDHOUSING@acgov.org.

Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 Price Gouging, Scams, and Fraud

The Alameda County District Attorney's (DA) Office reminds the public to protect themselves from price gouging, scams, and other consumer fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The DA encourages the public to be aware of scammers who are taking advantage of people during this global crisis. A few tips to stay safe:

  • Think before you click: stay away from unknown sources that could download a virus onto your computer or device.
  • Be skeptical of callers from unknown numbers or prerecorded messages that ask you for information like your address, credit card information, social security number or other personal information.
  • Be wary of emails or posts claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or medical experts claiming to have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information, visit a trusted agencies' dedicated webpage (see left sidebar). 
  • Ignore offers for vaccinations or other treatments from individuals or unknown companies.
  • Do your homework when it comes to donations to charities claiming to help the crisis.
  • Be alert to “investment opportunities.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning people about online promotions, including on social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly-traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure coronavirus and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase.

In order to report an apparent scam or fraudulent clam please email the DA’s Consumer Protection Division at AskCEPD@acgov.org.

Price gouging - an unreasonable increase in prices of goods, services, and commodities - is illegal under the State of Emergency. During these uncertain times, the DA is committed to investigating businesses who are exploiting consumers with unfairly inflated prices. Anyone who has been the victim of or has information on potential price gouging is encouraged to file a complaint with the DA's office. You can make a complaint online (www.alcoda.org/cewpd/) or by calling (510) 383-8600.

For more advice on identifying potential scams and price gouging, please read the District Attorney's bulletin on what to watch for and report. 

Stay Informed

For updates on COVID-19, visit one of the following dedicate web pages from trusted public health agencies:

Public Comment Procedures for Board of Supervisors Meetings During Shelter in Place

Procedures for Board of Supervisors meetings are subject to change to improve videoconferencing tools. Please check the Board of Supervisors' website for the most up-to-date guidelines.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will continue to conduct essential government business at our regularly scheduled Board meetings.

While in-person participation is limited to essential personnel, we are committed to providing the public with live broadcast and remote opportunities to participate in public comment during the Shelter in Place order. The following guidelines allow for public participation in Board meetings while following safe social distancing practices:

Remote Viewing/Listening:
Members of the public who wish to watch the Board of Supervisors meetings, are encouraged to view the live stream online at: http://acgov.org/board/broadcast.htm.

We recommend against using Internet Explorer to view the meetings. We recommend using Google Chrome or other browsers to view the meetings.

Public Comment via Teleconference:
Members of the public may address the Board of Supervisors on a matter on the agenda or during the Public Input portion of the meeting on a matter not on the agenda but is an issue within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction.

To observe the meeting by video conference, please click on this link to join the webinar at the noticed meeting time.

  • If you are using a laptop:
    Use the "Raise Hand" button to indicate you would like to speak or provide public comment. When you are called to speak, unmute your speaker.
  • If you are listening to the meeting by phone:
    Use the numbers listed on the Zoom/Teleconferencing Guidelines. 
    Dial *9 to raise your hand to speak.
    If you decide not speak, you may hang up and dial back into the meeting or simply notify the Clerk you do not wish to speak when you are unmuted and asked to speak.

Written Comment (accepted until the start of the meeting at 9:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted on the meeting agenda).
To provide written comment on an item on the agenda or to address the Board about an issue during Public Input, you may send an email to CBS@acgov.org.

Please include your name and note the agenda item number you want to address or whether you intend for comment to be included in Public Input. Copies of all written comments will be provided to the Board Members and will be added to the official record.

ADA Accessibility: If you require a reasonable modification or accommodation for a disability, please email the Clerk of the Board at CBS@acgov.org or call (510) 208-4949.

Community Resources

I am committed to ensuring District 3 residents receive the services and supports they need. My District Office team is available to provide information on resources and connect you to services. Please contact my Main Office at 
510-272-6693 for further assistance.

Alameda County Care Connect has provided the community with a COVID-19 Rapid Response Resource Guide, which will be updated on a weekly basis. This document provides information on numerous services available from local, state, and federal government agencies, public transportation agencies, and utility companies.