COVID-19 Update: California Health Equity Metric, Latest Video Updates, Ballot Drop Box Locations, New App & Upcoming Events

City of San Ramon sent this bulletin at 10/08/2020 11:02 AM PDT

This week, Contra Costa County remains in the State of California’s red (substantial) tier, and a health equity metric from the State of California went into effect on Tuesday, October 6. If you missed last Friday's Virtual Mayor's Breakfast, which included an expanded discussion of the County's move into the red tier and the new equity metric, you can catch up on YouTube.

Secure ballot drop boxes are now open at several locations in San Ramon, and ballots can be returned between now and November 3.

Free flu shots are now available at several County-run COVID-19 testing sites in Contra Costa County, including the drive-through site in San Ramon, along with several free one-day flu clinics throughout the county during the month of October.

The City of San Ramon has launched a new app to provide enhanced self-guided tours to visitors of Forest Home Farms, and the deadline to apply for San Ramon’s Virtual Culture in the Community celebration is October 19.

Below are the latest updates for the San Ramon community.

California Health Equity Metric

Last week, the State of California released details on a health equity metric that will be used as part of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, in determining whether a county may progress to a less restrictive tier in the re-opening framework. The health metric was originally announced on August 28, and requirements of the equity metric went into effect on October 6, 2020.

According to the California Department of Public Health, “certain communities—low-income, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, and essential workers—have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in terms of higher rates of infection, hospitalizations, and deaths. These disparities create a public health imperative to address exposure in all communities, including especially those disproportionately impacted, as a measure to protect all communities.”

In order for a county to advance to the next less restrictive tier in the state’s re-opening framework, counties with a population of 106,000 or greater, such as Contra Costa County, will need to meet an equity metric and demonstrate targeted investments to eliminate disparities in levels of transmission:

  • Equity Metric
    Ensure that the test positivity rates in its most disadvantaged neighborhoods, as defined as being in the lowest quartile of the Healthy Places Index census tracts, do not significantly lag behind its overall county test positivity rate (see "Equity Metric" below).

  • Targeted Investments
    Submit a plan that (1) defines its disproportionately impacted populations, (2) specifies the percent of its COVID-19 cases in these populations, and (3) shows that it plans to invest Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (Strategy 5: Use Laboratory Data to Enhance Investigation, Response, and Prevention) grant funds at least at that percentage to interrupt disease transmission in these populations. The targeted investments can include spending on augmenting testing, disease investigation, contact tracing, isolation/quarantine support, and education and outreach efforts for workers. Effective for the October 13 tier assignment, this plan must be submitted before a county may progress to a less restrictive tier.

Equity Metric

The equity metric utilizes the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), a composite measure of socioeconomic opportunity applied to census tracts, that includes 25 individual indicators across economic, social, education, transportation, housing, environmental and neighborhood sectors. Each county's census tracts will be divided into quartiles based on HPI. In order for a county to move into a less restrictive tier, both the county as a whole and the lowest quartile HPI census tracts must meet the next tier’s test positivity rate threshold for two consecutive weeks:

  • For counties entering the red tier, their lowest quartile HPI census tracts' test positivity must also be  ≤8%
  • For counties entering the orange tier, their lowest quartile HPI census tracts' test positivity must be within 5% of the orange tier threshold, or  ≤5.2%
  • For counties entering the yellow tier, their lowest quartile HPI census tracts must be within 10% of the yellow tier threshold, or  ≤2.1%

Accelerated Progression

A county can progress faster through the State’s tiers by meeting the threshold for two tiers less restrictive in its lowest quartile HPI census tracts.

If a county is in the red tier and its case rate is declining, but has not met threshold for the orange tier, the county can still progress to the orange tier if both the countywide and the county's lowest quartile HPI census tracts' test positivity rates meets the threshold for the yellow tier for two consecutive weeks.

According to the California Department of Public Health, the equity metric will not be considered as a factor in whether a county needs to move to a more restrictive tier.

> Read full details on the Equity Metric from the California Department of Public Health

> Learn more about the California Healthy Places Index

> Learn more about the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy

 

Video Update: Red Tier Re-opening Info & Health Equity Metric

Last Friday's Virtual Mayor's Breakfast, hosted by San Ramon Mayor Bill Clarkson, featured an expanded focus on Contra Costa County's move into the red reopening tier, along with the State of California’s new health equity metric, from Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen. UCSF's Dr. Patrick Joseph also shared medical updates on COVID-19. If you missed the live broadcast, the recording is available on YouTube and on the City’s website.

> Watch full recordings and clips of San Ramon’s Virtual Mayor's Breakfasts

 

Secure Ballot Drop Boxes Open in San Ramon

Ballots for the November 3, 2020 election have been mailed by Contra Costa County, and can be returned by mail or secure drop box between now and November 3 at 8 p.m. Outdoor ballot drop boxes are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the following locations:

  • San Ramon Community Center (12501 Alcosta Boulevard)
  • Dougherty Station Community Center (17011 Bollinger Canyon Road)

Indoor ballot drop boxes are available at the following locations during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.):

  • San Ramon City Hall (7000 Bollinger Canyon Road)
  • Alcosta Senior and Community Center (9300 Alcosta Boulevard)
  • San Ramon Permit Center (2401 Crow Canyon Road)

For more information, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (925) 973-2539 or email CityClerk@sanramon.ca.gov.

>  View San Ramon Voting Information

 

Free Flu Vaccines Available at County COVID-19 Testing Sites and 1-Day Clinics

Contra Costa County Health Services is now offering free flu shots to people who come in for COVID-19 testing at several testing sites in Contra Costa County, including the drive-through site in San Ramon.

Flu shots at COVID-19 testing sites are being offered in addition to the series of free one-day flu vaccination clinics held by the County in October.

> Read the Press Release from Contra Costa Health Services

> View a list of COVID-19 Testing Sites Offering Free Flu Vaccines

> Learn more about Flu Vaccines and View Locations of One-Day Vaccination Clinics

 

Step Into History at Forest Home Farms with the New Otocast App

Using Otocast for your self-guided tour is like having a personal tour guide at all times. Discover new information about the farm through audio guides, videos, text, and photos. Videos highlight our trained docents sharing fun facts and giving demonstrations at some of the various locations on the app. Enjoy our scenic, historic park, and explore it at your own pace. Download the Otocast app at Google Play or the Apple App Store and visit Forest Home Farms to start your tour.

> Learn more about the Otocast App

 

Deadline Extended: Apply for Virtual Culture in the Community Celebration by October 19

The Culture in the Community Celebration is going virtual this year—and we want you to be a part of it! We are looking for video submissions from solo and group performers, restaurants/home cooks, families, and community members to showcase the different cultures in our community and around the world. We're looking for music, dance, cooking demonstrations, fun facts, immigration stories, or anything that you want to share about your culture. Make it fun, exciting, and entertaining for everyone—we are looking forward to seeing your videos!

The deadline to apply has been extended to October 19, 2020. Videos will be posted on November 13, 2020.

> Learn more about Culture in the Community and Apply

 

Community Resources for San Ramon

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

 

Ways to 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) 570-1186

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