Supervisor Sue Novasel District V Newsletter - March 21, 2020

March 21,2020                                                                                                             Edition #29

Supervisor Novasel

El Dorado County

District V Supervisor, Sue Novasel Updates and Input Newsletter 

Corona Virus Update

Your County Government has been working tirelessly to prepare, organize and address the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. Through a coordinated approach, our County Public Health Officer and staff have established a virus response team that is addressing the concerns of our citizens, focusing on informing the public on important and ever-changing situations and responses to this outbreak.

The most important thing you can do is to follow orders from our state and county government to stay at home in your permanent residence as mush as possible. It is imperative for us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect those more vulnerable by separating ourselves as much as possible.

You are still able to leave your home to pick up groceries and medications and to exercise, but when you do venture out, please continue to stay six feet or more apart from others. False rumors have a way of spreading as fast as any virus. Please be aware that the rumor of the National Guard stopping people to prevent travel to Tahoe (as of Saturday, March 21st) is not true. When you hear suspicious rumors, please call my office at (530) 621-6577 and leave a message so we can stop any false reporting as soon as possible. 

Below, you will see information pertaining to various county services. All information is subject to change so please be sure to check any links provided for the latest information. As of March 19, El Dorado County is under a Shelter in Place Directive. Governor Newsom has also declared a Stay at Home Order, both of which I have included in links for your information.

For tourists hoping to visit the Lake Tahoe area, now is not the time to visit. We welcome your presence sometime in the future, after this pandemic has passed. In the meantime, please stay safe AT HOME – and enjoy those special quiet moments! For more information about Lake Tahoe, please go to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority's latest information page.

I would like to send a personal "Thank You!" to our first responders, medical personal, and local law enforcement for continuing to provide critical services. That includes those businesses that continue to ensure we have access to food, medicine, and other essentials at grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. But that also includes the businesses that have had to close. From our ski resorts to our neighborhood establishments, closing temporarily is challenging for these businesses and their staff, but they are playing an important role to limit social contact.

Again, please stay safe, practice the CDC’s recommended guidelines, and remember to go outside for a walk!

Thank you for doing your part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Together we will get through this. 

CANCELLED

Spring 2020 SLT Traffic Advisory Committee Meeting

The Spring 2020 Traffic Advisory Committee Meeting on March 25, 2020, at 924 Emerald Bay Road, has been CANCELLED due to the COVID-19; per state orders, local directives and general public health.  The Department of Transportation will reschedule this meeting at a later date as soon as it is possible.

Friends of the Library

The Friends of the Library are heeding the experts' advice and postponing the upcoming Book Sale, scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2020.

EDC Customer Service Counters Currently Closed

Due to the ongoing public health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, following is a list of  County Departments that have closed their Customer Service counters at this time. I will update this information as changes take place.

  • Planning Services
    Click here for more information.
  • Building Services
    Will be offering limited appointment times to those in need of emergency services related to immediate health, life and safety concerns (i.e., failed septic system, failed water heater, or a hazardous structure). Contact the Building Department to set up an appointment at (530) 621-5315.
  • Department of Agriculture
    All business will be conducted via phone, email, mail, or through the website as much as possible. Any in-person services will be conducted by appointment only. Please contact them by email at eldcag.edcgov.us or call (530) 621-5520.
  • Board of Supervisors
    For more information, call (530) 621-5390.
  • Libraries
    All El Dorado County Libraries are closed to the public starting 3/16/20 through 4/7/20. Library materials will not accrue late fees during this closure.
  • Environmental Management
    Will be offering limited appointment times to those in need of emergency services related to immediate health, life, and safety concerns (i.e., failed septic system).  Contact them to set up an appointment at (530) 621-5300 or (530) 573-3450 (SLT).
  • Parks and Recreation
    If you need in-person assistance, please contact (530) 621-6060 or (530) 621-7538 to set up an appointment.
  • Surveyor
    Members of the public, please contact them through their online form, phone (530) 621-5440, or email at surveyor@edcgov.us.

Barton Health Efforts to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Barton Health is continuing their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with their Health Line, (530) 600-1999, COVID-19 Information webpage, and their How to Protect Yourself webpage. 

First Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in EDC Resident

NEWS RELEASE  3/20/20

El Dorado County officials announced today the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in an El Dorado County resident.

The individual, who traveled to a Central California County where exposure is believed to have occurred, was visiting sick family members and has not yet returned to El Dorado County. She is fully recovered from mild symptoms and has remained in the Central Valley. Health officials are monitoring the case.

“Given the rapidly increasing number of confirmed cases in our region and across California, we have expected and prepared for the inevitability of a confirmed case in an El Dorado County resident,” said El Dorado County Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams. “We are, of course, grateful the individual did not return to El Dorado County while she was still sick, but we are prepared for a reported in-County case.”

El Dorado County is working closely with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local healthcare partners to identify any additional cases of COVID-19 and continues to implement public health strategies, provide public education and collaborate with local and state partners to mitigate the impact of the virus.

“It’s safe to say that more residents will test positive, even in light of the shelter in place directive I issued and the statewide directive issued by Governor Newsom,” said Williams. “But it’s important to remember that most people who become sick with coronavirus will recover on their own.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Members of the general public should take simple precautions to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, including hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds and maintaining physical distances from others of at least six feet.

El Dorado County Public Health provides updated information about COVID-19 on its website. The website also has prevention tips and helpful resources. To access the EDC COVID-19 web page, go to: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/hhsa/Pages/EDCCOVID-19.aspx

For information about CDPH directives, go to: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Guidance.aspx

Second Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in El Dorado County Resident

NEWS RELEASE  3/20/20

El Dorado County officials announced today the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in an El Dorado County resident.

The individual had traveled to the State of Washington where he is believed to have been exposed. Testing occurred in Placer County.

“His symptoms were mild, he self-isolated when he became symptomatic as health officials have been suggesting, and he has fully recovered,” said El Dorado County Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams.

The individual had no underlying health issues and was not in the high risk category of 65 years old and above.

To date, as of March 20 at 12:00 p.m. (noon), El Dorado County Public Health has received notification of COVID-19 test results for 68 El Dorado County residents, with 66 of those tests being negative and two tests being positive. Results are pending for at least 50 more tests that have been performed by healthcare providers at various healthcare facilities across the County over the last week.

“Since the State loosened testing requirements, and commercial laboratories started accepting COVID-19 tests, there has been a significant increase in testing completed by local healthcare providers,” said Williams.

With the extremely high demand and the large number of tests being requested across California, laboratories are finding that it's taking longer (typically 5-7 days) to process tests for COVID-19 and provide the results of those tests.

“While testing is available, it’s still limited,” said Dr. Williams, “We want to ensure that those who really need the test are getting it. Not everyone who has respiratory symptoms needs to be tested for COVID-19. If you’re sick with a fever and respiratory systems, you may simply have the flu. Even if you have COVID-19, if you’re experiencing relatively mild symptoms, you often won't need to be tested and can just stay home and practice self-isolation until you’re well.”

Per CDC guidance, those who should be tested for COVID-19 are those who have known exposure to someone with confirmed COVID-19 and higher risk people, such as the elderly and those with immune compromised systems, with fever and respiratory symptoms, and/or those with severe illness who have ruled out flu.

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IN THIS ISSUE

  • Corona Virus Update
  • Cancelled Meetings
  • Customer Service Windows Closed
  • Barton Health
  • First COVID-19 Case
  • Second COVID-19 Case
  • Truckee
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