COVID-19 Update: Drive-Through Testing & Cloth Face Coverings

City of San Ramon sent this bulletin at 04/23/2020 04:39 PM PDT

Dear San Ramon Community,

We continue to be encouraged by the ways we see our residents caring for neighbors, observing public health guidance, and finding new ways of connecting during this time.

Many of you have reached out to the City with questions about local resources, ways to help, community response, and more. In addition to the City's COVID-19 website, I would encourage you to watch our weekly Virtual Mayor's Breakfasts, hosted by Mayor Bill Clarkson. You can watch live on YouTube every Friday at 9 a.m., or watch all recordings here.

Guests rotate weekly, and include leaders from the City, County, and State, including local police, fire, medical, and government representatives, to address a wide range of COVID-19 updates and questions from the community.

The most recent Virtual Mayor's Breakfast was held on Friday, April 17. Guests included Contra Costa County District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen; California District 16 Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan; Stanford Health Care - ValleyCare President and CEO Richard Shumway; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco Dr. Patrick Joseph.

The next Virtual Mayor's Breakfast will be held tomorrow (Friday, April 24) from 9–10:15 a.m.

This week's participants include:

To watch all recent Virtual Mayor's Breakfast videos, or to submit a question, click here.


Public Health Order on Face Coverings in Public

Last Friday, April 17, Contra Costa County Health Services released a new Public Health Order requiring everyone to wear a face covering in public to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The reason for this is that a key transmission method for the COVID-19 virus is respiratory droplets that people expel when they breathe or sneeze. With the virus that causes COVID-19, people can be infected and not have any symptoms, but they can still be contagious. People can also be infected and contagious 48 hours before developing symptoms. Many people with the COVID-19 virus have mild symptoms and do not recognize they are infected and contagious, and they can unintentionally infect others.

Therefore, the CDC, CDPH, and CCHS now believe that wearing a face covering, when combined with physical distancing of at least 6 feet, and frequent hand washing, may reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus when in public.

We appreciate everyone taking this important step to protect our community, and continuing to observe social distancing and hand-washing measures.

As a reminder, you should wear a face covering in public when:

  • Working at an essential business
  • Visiting an essential business, such as a grocery store
  • Visiting a healthcare provider or facility
  • Waiting in line for, or using public transportation

Medical-grade masks are not required; face coverings can be anything made of cloth, fabric or other permeable material that covers the nose and mouth and the lower part of the face.

It is not necessary to wear a mask when:

  • Driving in personal vehicles alone, or with members of your household
  • Children under the age of 12 are not required to wear masks
  • Children ages 2 and under should not wear masks due to risk of suffocation

Masks and outdoor activity:

  • When outdoors for physical activity or exercise, everyone must carry masks or face coverings and use them whenever they come within six feet of others outside their own households.
  • Those engaged in more strenuous exercise, such as running or bicycling, should stay farther apart from others while breathing heavily and take steps to avoid breathing on others, such as moving to the other side of the road to avoid pedestrians and wearing a mask if possible.

For more information on who should wear a mask, and in what circumstances, read the full text of the new Health Order, and view the press release from Contra Costa County Health Services.

 

Drive-Through Testing Sites Open in Contra Costa County by Appointment Only

Contra Costa Health Services announced on Wednesday that Contra Costa residents who have fever, cough or similar symptoms can make an appointment for free COVID-19 testing at one of four drive-through sites around the county.

The sites, located in Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, and San Pablo, are available to anyone regardless of insurance.

Testing is available to people who have symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, coughing or shortness of breath and fatigue.

Any Contra Costa resident with these symptoms can call 1-844-421-0804 for a confidential screening by a health professional. Telephone screenings will be available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Depending on their symptoms, callers may receive health advice during their screenings or an appointment for testing at one of four drive-through testing sites:

• Contra Costa Public Health Clinic Services, 2500 Bates Ave., Concord
• Martinez Health Center, 2500 Alhambra Ave., Martinez
• Pittsburg Health Center, 2311 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg
• West County Health Center, 13601 San Pablo Ave., San Pablo

Screening and appointments are only available by phone. Testing is not available on a walk-in basis.

Patients with appointments must travel in their personal vehicles to their appointments.

Testing is done without patients leaving their vehicles. Testing results are available in three to five days.

Click here to read the full press release from Contra Costa County.

 

Now Accepting Donations of Childcare Supplies

The City of San Ramon is now accepting donations on behalf of Contra Costa County for childcare supplies in addition to personal protective equipment for healthcare personnel.

New items that can be donated include:
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes
- Surgical type gloves
- Liquid hand soap
- Household grade disinfectant spray
- Household grade disinfectant wipes

For a full list of items needed, and donation times, click here.

 

Community Resources

As a reminder, the following information and resources are available at the City of San Ramon’s website, and are updated regularly:

 

Stay Informed

Website: www.sanramon.ca.gov/covid-19

Social media: Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor

General Questions: (925) 973-2500

General COVID-19 Help Line for San Ramon: (925) 973-3240

Senior Hotline (English): (925) 973-3250

Senior Voicemail Line (Mandarin): (925) 973-3277

Contra Costa County Help Line: 2-1-1

Email: info@sanramon.ca.gov

 

Working together is what keeps our community strong!

Joe Gorton
San Ramon City Manager