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Over the last several weeks, we have made significant strides in our efforts to flatten the curve and start reopening certain sectors of the economy. This couldn't be accomplished without the efforts of our community members as well as the tireless efforts of our fantastic staff here at the County of San Bernardino.
Thank you for your support. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for reminding me day in and day out how amazing our community is.
#SBCountyTogether
Vaccinating San Bernardino County (as of April 7, 2021)
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Total county residents fully vaccinated
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292,178
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Percentage of county adults fully vaccinated
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18.1%
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Total persons fully vaccinated by county providers
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223,617*
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*Includes people who work in San Bernardino County but live elsewhere.
Vaccination eligibility continues to expand: anyone age 16 and older is now able to schedule a shot. The County is now receiving a steady supply of the vaccines, reducing the shortages that have complicated efforts over the past three months.
The biggest challenge now may be reassuring those reluctant or skeptical about getting the vaccine.
“Despite overwhelming evidence that the approved vaccines are both safe and effective, there are some in our population who continue to express fears,” said the County’s Interim Public Health Director Andrew Goldfrach. “We want to do all we can do to answer any questions about the vaccines to help individuals overcome their reluctance and schedule a vaccination appointment as soon as they can.”
The County has made specific outreach efforts to underserved communities, including a collaborative effort with many of the County’s African-American churches and a town hall and upcoming vaccination event with the Mexican Consulate.
“Our Black and Latino residents have been especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more likely to have front-line, essential jobs that cannot be performed from home,” Goldfrach said. “Many of these individuals also tend to be overrepresented in severe COVID-19 cases and death, so getting them vaccinated is a top priority.”
Goldfrach said that vaccine skeptics are not limited to minority communities, but rather can be found in almost every neighborhood in the county. He listed five main reasons why every eligible resident should get a vaccination shot as soon as possible.
A COVID-19 vaccination will prevent you from getting sick
All three of the vaccines currently available in the United States have demonstrated a remarkable ability to prevent serious COVID-19 symptoms. They were carefully evaluated in clinical trials and were only approved after repeatedly showing their efficacy in preventing illness. Even in rare cases where an individual does get sick in spite of being vaccinated, the drug prevents the illness from becoming serious.
Though the COVID-19 vaccines were fast-tracked, the approval process remained stringent
The companies that created the COVID-19 vaccines were careful not to cut corners when testing the drugs for safety and efficacy. Moreover, before issuing Emergency Use Authorization for the vaccines, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) meticulously evaluated the potential benefits and the potential risks of the vaccines and confirmed they are both safe and effective.
Vaccine side effects are temporary and tend to produce minimal discomfort
The vast majority of vaccine recipients experience very little discomfort from the vaccines, usually limited to a sore arm, a mild fever or body aches. Such symptoms are temporary, typically lasting only a day or two, and merely indicate that the body’s immune system is learning to recognize and fight the coronavirus. Also, since none of the approved vaccines actually contain live coronavirus, it is not possible to get COVID-19 from a vaccination.
Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 helps others in your community — including those most at risk of hospitalization and death
Getting vaccinated not only protects you from COVID-19; it also protects the people around you, especially those at heightened risk for severe illness from the disease. And while wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of spreading the virus to others, such measures will not suffice in ending this pandemic.
More vaccinations for COVID-19 mean a chance to return to normal
After more than a year of coronavirus pandemic closures, cancellations, and postponements, the overwhelming majority of County residents are eager to begin returning to work, school, sporting events, family celebrations, restaurants, movie theaters, and various social activities. Every person who gets a vaccination contributes to our returning to normal life sooner rather than later.
“We are employing every tool we have to stop the pandemic, and our most powerful weapons are the vaccines,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “But it is essential for us to move forward as quickly as possible. If people wait too long to get vaccinated, they will enable the coronavirus— including new variants — to continue spreading.
“COVID-19 can be very dangerous; it has already killed more than 4,000 people in San Bernardino County alone,” said Hagman. “So the sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you can protect yourself and others from this terrible disease.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred for deaths related to COVID-19. Beginning Monday, April 12, 2021, FEMA will begin to accept applications through a dedicated call center.
The assistance is a provision under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which will cover up to $9,000 of verified expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation. The aid is for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
Applications can only be taken over a dedicated assistance toll-free phone number, 844-684-6333, beginning on April 12, 2021. The phone line is staffed by FEMA Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. A list of covered expenses, FAQs and more information can be found on FEMA’s funeral assistance webpage.
To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, the policy states:
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien
- If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant.
- An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
- This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
Documentation necessary during application process
After applying on the phone, applicants will need to submit supporting documentation, such as the following:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms.
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Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
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Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.
For more information about this assistance, visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov.
Spectators and observers are now permitted to watch outdoor live events and performances under new guidelines issued by the State Department of Public Health late Tuesday.
Previously, there were limitations on spectators and observers – and observers were only allowed for “age-appropriate supervision” for sports participants under age 18. That was further limited to a single parent or guardian. No spectators were previously allowed for adult sports.
The new guidance also allows inter-team competitions, meets, races or similar events, but the competitions must only occur with other teams from within the state of California.
Previously, competition was only allowed between teams either from the same county, or with teams from counties that shared a border. Now teams from all over the state may compete, but there is still a requirement that a single team can only play another single team in any given day, meaning that a team cannot play multiple teams in the same day.
For more information on the updated guidance, please visit the State’s website.
On Friday, April 9th, my office will be transitioning to a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This means that if you wish to continue to hear from me and receive up-to-date information about the County of San Bernardino and the Fourth District, please make sure to sign-up here. By completing the survey above, your information will be then transferred to the new CRM system. If it is not completed, you will miss out on valuable updates and other relevant communications.
Complete the survey here.
- Documents will be shredded on-site
- Limit of 3 standard filing boxes per vehicle
- No CD's, DVD's, binders, plastics, x-rays, etc.
- Receive tips from law enforcement on how to protect your identity
“All commissions and boards are important, and I value the input of our residents in making them work towards improving the quality of life in our County. The Community Commission is especially important because they will discuss the District Attorney's caseload, their role in the administration of criminal cases in San Bernardino County, and their role in helping in educating the community members regarding all the laws that impact us" noted Hagman. “I’m personally very grateful to all those who take the time to apply and to serve, and I will review every application carefully.”
If you would like to apply, please submit the following to my Field Representative, Suzette Dang at Suzette.Dang@bos.sbcounty.gov :
* Resume – must include name, address, and email
* Letter of Interest – answering why you would like to serve/are qualified to serve
* 3 References – contact information only
** The applicants must be residents of the Fourth District which includes the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario, and Upland south of Foothill Boulevard as well as the immediately surrounding unincorporated areas.
Our dedicated communications team has put together an array of resources and information online related to COVID-19. The content ranges from COVID-19 case stats to resources for community members and businesses. Please be sure to check SBCOVID19.com regularly for the latest updates.
Follow Chairman Hagman on social media to stay informed and connected. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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