Here is my statement regarding my proposal at yesterday’s Board Meeting that would have required all foodservice establishment workers to wear face coverings.

Face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing or frequent hand washing. But wearing some kind of face-covering could provide additional benefits when you absolutely must leave home for essential activities.

Check out this video for some ideas on how to create your own face covering at home!

Orange County will begin providing public health notices, meeting agendas, and emergency information in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean.

At yesterday’s Special Board Meeting, I presented a language access policy to ensure that everyone in Orange County receives public health information and emergency alerts, regardless of what language they speak. County staff will present the execution plan at the Board Meeting on April 28th.

Our Senior neighbors need our help now more than ever.

The Office of Aging created a “Hello Neighbor!” postcard that you can use to safely check up on them. This is an easy way to see if they need help getting essential supplies, medications, and to help avoid feelings of loneliness and isolation.

You can download the postcard here https://bit.ly/2UAqjAh and check out www.officeonaging.ocgov.com for more resources.

Rest assured, empty shelves at your local grocery store do not indicate lack of supply. This is a temporary result of people overbuying given the understandable worry right now. There’s enough for all if we buy smart and don’t overfill our cart.

Be sure to thank our grocery store workers for working hard to keep stores clean and shelves stocked. I am so grateful for all of their hard work during this difficult time!

More tips and resources from the California Grocers Association: https://enoughforallca.com/wp-content/uploads/CGA-Consumer-Facing-Tip_FINAL-2.pdf

First 5 Orange County, Children and Families Commission has compiled a COVID-19 resource page for families with young children to locate mental health services, childcare, food and supplies, at-home learning support, and meet other critical needs.

Check if these resources are right for you here.

Family preparedness is a mainstay of planning for emergencies such as earthquakes and fires, and they are equally important during a health pandemic.

The County of Orange is encouraging residents to create a family preparedness plan in the event they are impacted by COVID-19.

A family plan template to capture this information can be found at http://readyoc.com/pdfs/FamilyEmergencyPlane_Engspan.pdf.

Our future starts with the 2020 Census.

Being counted helps direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services. The 10-minute questionnaire is confidential and easy to fill out. Best of all, you can get counted from the comfort of your own home! Complete yours today online at https://2020census.gov/ or by phone at 844-330-2020.