San Bernardino County Moving Closer to Red Tier
The State’s multicolored tier system has led to some confusion about what’s allowed to open and operate in San Bernardino County.
Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and elementary schools with waivers can operate indoors in San Bernardino County, and restaurants, gyms, and places of worship can operate outdoors while we are in the State’s purple tier. Our County, in partnership with our residents and businesses, has made tremendous strides toward getting our COVID-19 numbers very close to the red tier, which will allow tattoo and massage businesses to reopen and restaurants, gyms, and places of worship to operate indoors with some restrictions.
San Bernardino County is very close to achieving red-tier status. Everyone getting tested by making a fast, simple, and painless appointment will help get us there, as will avoiding gatherings, wearing masks, and social distancing.
‘Get Tested’ TV and Radio Commercials Aim to Help Open San Bernardino County
This week the County launched a new advertising campaign to remind all residents that getting tested for COVID-19 will help open San Bernardino County and reduce the spread of the virus.
We are reaching households across the county through TV commercials on Spectrum and Frontier cable networks as well as streaming services like Roku, Amazon Firestick, Xbox and PlayStation. The 30-second commercial shows the easy, painless testing procedure, which is available for free to residents and anyone who works in the county.
The County has over 15 testing sites available, and there are over a dozen other sites run by the state, private clinics and drugstores. Residents and anyone that works in the county can make an appointment online, or even choose to simply walk-up to a County testing site. Public health officials encourage all residents to get tested, regardless of whether they are showing symptoms!
In addition to the TV commercials, you might see digital ads promoting testing on different media websites as well as on social media. And thanks to our friends at General Outdoor, you can catch our billboards while driving around the County.
Why are we doing all this? Because getting tested helps our county reopen and keeps us safe. The State penalizes counties who don’t conduct enough testing and delays them from reopening. Also, many carriers of the virus are asymptomatic (meaning they show no symptoms), and a positive test gives us the ability to use contact tracing to quickly isolate and inform others to take the proper precautions. Taking the COVID-19 test helps us report positive numbers back to the state with the hope of shifting from a purple tier to a red tier, and eventually orange or yellow.
“We are so close to moving into a red tier and staying on track to open more and more of our businesses, so this appeal to get tested couldn’t be more important,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “Testing is now so easy, with results back in under 48 hours, that it opens the door for residents to take full advantage of this resource. It can give you peace of mind, especially if someone in your household may have found themselves in an unsafe situation.”
Take a half a minute to view – and share – the commercial on YouTube here. You can also view and share the same commercial in Spanish here.
Gary McBride tapped to fill role of new Strategic Projects Director
Supervisors Announce New Position to Better Address COVID-19 Fiscal Challenges
As part of the County’s ongoing effort to meet the unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Sept. 29, plans to modify Chief Executive Officer Gary McBride’s contract with the County, placing him in the newly created position of Strategic Projects Director. The Board on Tuesday will begin discussions on the appointment of a new CEO.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed highly complex strains on the County’s fiscal and organizational status and outlook. This crisis requires the undivided focus of Gary’s experience, unique understating of County finance, and problem-solving talents,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.
“This is a great opportunity for me to concentrate my talents and passions in a way that will be of great service and benefit to the people of this County, the Board of Supervisors, and this organization,” McBride said. “The crisis of COVID-19 presents us with opportunities to rethink how we address public health challenges and funding in this new era. Those are the kind of challenges I love tackling and I am excited that the Board wants to focus on them.”
McBride has spent his entire 26-year professional career in San Bernardino County government and has served as CEO since November 2017. He previously served for four years as the County’s Chief Financial Officer.
As Strategic Projects Director, McBride will assist with the development of Countywide strategies to improve outcomes and efficiencies. Initial projects would include analyzing and developing strategies to address the immediate and long-term fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including identifying the most effective application of CARES Act monies and other available funding vehicles.
McBride will also be charged with providing the County information for determining strategic direction related to complex issues that require a multi-departmental response. One example of this is the nexus between homelessness, mental health, and incarceration.
The creation of this position marks the latest innovation by the County in addressing the extraordinary and unprecedented demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. These innovations include:
- San Bernardino County created the first-in-the-nation COVID-Compliant Business Partnership Program, which provides cash grants to businesses, churches, schools, and nonprofit organizations who agree to operate in a COVID-safe manner to assist with the costs of safety supplies and modifications.
- In order to create additional capacity within the County Public Health Department so it could strategically focus on health guidance, contact tracing, vaccinations, and other core health duties, the County proactively assigned other key pandemic-related functions to other County departments and agencies for greater efficiency.
- The County assigned the management of COVID-19 testing to the County Office of Emergency Services, which specializes in securing facilities, staff, and supplies in crisis situations.
- The County assigned management of the SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) Task Force, created by Public Health to address and help prevent outbreaks in state-regulated nursing facilities, to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
- The County assigned complaints about noncompliant businesses and enforcement to a multi-agency task force headed by the County Administrative Office, which created the proactive Education/Engagement/Enforcement Plan. Partners include the Sheriff’s Department, County Fire Marshal, Environmental Health Services, Code Enforcement, and County Counsel.
“These innovative measures demonstrate the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to protecting the public’s health, our Countywide economy, and County Government’s ability to function fiscally and organizationally through this pandemic and beyond,” Hagman said.
“FightFluTogether” Campaign Encourages Californians to Get Vaccinated Against the Flu
This year, a flu shot is more important than ever. That’s why San Bernardino County, California hospitals, physicians and public health officials are joining with a coalition of healthcare stakeholders, social service organizations and governmental agencies to launch the statewide “FightFluTogether” campaign.
The campaign aims to underscore the importance of getting a flu shot as California works to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and preserve scarce health care resources for those in need.
“As we continue to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, flu shots are important to keeping you healthy and key to keeping people out of hospitals,” said Carmela Coyle, California Hospital Association President & CEO. “More people getting flu shots will ensure that hospitals are not overburdened and remain able to treat COVID-19 patients. Because the symptoms of flu are similar to those of COVID-19, limited resources like testing supplies, personal protective equipment, and medical devices can be maximized if the number of flu cases is kept down.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42.9% of California adults and 63.5% of children age six months to 17 got a flu shot during the 2018-19 season. The goal of the “FightFluTogether” campaign is to increase those percentages this year.
The centerpiece of the “FightFluTogether” campaign is a website — that features links to the CDC’s VaccineFinder, to help Californians locate a flu shot provider quickly, as well as useful facts to help you protect yourself during flu season, and timely news articles. The site will be available in both English and Spanish language versions. CHA also has developed a public service announcement inSpanish and English that will be distributed to news agencies throughout the state.
Flu shots are an inexpensive (in many cases free), safe, and simple (often you don’t even need to get out of your car) way to avoid getting sick and possibly ending up in the hospital. With few exceptions, the CDC recommends a flu vaccine for anyone 6 months and older.
According to the CDC, an influenza vaccination can help reduce the overall effects of respiratory illnesses on the population. Engaging in best practices such as hand washing, wearing masks, and social distancing can also help fight the flu and reduce hospital visits and the strain on the health care system.
“Don’t ignore your health, especially not this year,” Coyle said. “The flu is a potentially deadly disease and getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your friends.”
Upcoming Webinars Address Exporting and Sustainable Economies
San Bernardino County in conjunction with other partners both regionally and throughout the state are pleased to bring business owners and interested residents ongoing webinars on a variety of important topics. We aim to do everything we can to help businesses succeed during this difficult time.
Global export industry webinars
These webinars provide information on how to make a business more competitive, expand its customer base, and enter more markets while learning how to save time and money establishing a presence in a new market. Our second webinar will dive even deeper into strategic steps needed to expand an international presence and creating an export strategy.
September 29, 10 a.m. “Preparing Your Organization to Export”
Register Now: https://www.selectsbcounty.com/events/preparing-your-organization-to-export
October 1, 10 a.m. “Expand Your Global Footprint”
Register Now: https://www.selectsbcounty.com/events/expand-your-global-footprint
Sustainable economies
San Bernardino County is a supporting partner for a series of no-cost webinars on Sustainable Economies. Interested parties are invited to join as we create a re-imagined future and the community map needed to get there. These interactive webinars will begin with a panel or a “Ted-style” talk followed by breakouts.
Dr. Angelo Farooq, chairman of the California Workforce & Development Board, will kick-off the first in a series of three sessions held in October. His presentation on the “Jobs & Climate Action Plan for 2030” will provide insights into a statewide blueprint addressing our most pressing challenges.
Thursday, October 1, 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 15, 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 29, 1 p.m.
Register Now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-economies-webinar-fall-season-tickets-119559779519
Latest Stats
53,359 Confirmed Cases (up 0.4% from the previous day)
918 Deaths (up 1.1% from the previous day)
597.810 Tests (up 0.9% from the previous day)
For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
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