As the spread and far reaching impacts of COVID-19 dominate the world news, we have all witnessed and experienced the parallel spread of worry, anxiety, and uncertainty. The way to overcome this natural tendency is to build our mental resilience, the ability to refocus, clear our minds, and discard negative thoughts.

Here's what you can do...

1) Remember that knowledge is power. Understanding the factors that affect a person’s immune response to COVID-19 will matter as much as, or more than, understanding the virus. There is great information available on the Orange County Health Care Agency's website, 

2) Don’t accept everything you read or hear. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information and frequent updates on the COVID-19’s spread, severity, risk assessment, etc., on the CDC's website. 

3) Get your emotional support system in place:

• Maintain familiar routines in daily life as much as possible; take care of your basic needs and employ helpful coping strategies; rest during work or between shifts, eat healthy food and engage in physical activity.
• Stay connected with friends and family, even virtually connected, and maintain your social networks.
• Have the emails and phone numbers of close friends and family handy.

4) Take control, incorporate preventative measures:

• See the CDC’s list of preventative measures.
• The constant stream of news reports can cause anyone to feel anxious or distressed. Instead, seek updates and practical guidelines at intervals during the day.
• Be supportive to others. Assisting others in their time of need can benefit the person receiving support as well as the helper.

If you or a loved one are feeling anxiety, worry or fear related to the social disruption caused by COVID-19, you can also reach out to these resources for support:

• Call (855) OC-LINKS or visit the OC Links website Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM to talk or chat with a trained clinical navigator.
• The NAMI Warmline is also here to provide non-crisis support for anyone struggling with mental health concerns Monday through Friday from from 9 AM to 3 AM, and Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 3 AM. Call (877) 910-WARM or visit www.namioc.org.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Download the NAMI HelpLine Coronavirus Information and Resources Guide
• American Psychological Association (APA) ‘Building Your Resilience’

For general information about COVID-19, please call the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448, HCA website, or follow HCA on Facebook and Twitter.

For non-medical questions, contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085. 

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) continues to release the daily COVID-19 case counts by cities in Orange County, in addition to the cumulative cases and deaths to date in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 1,138 positive cases in Orange County and 17 deaths.

To provide more inclusive reporting and case distribution throughout Orange County, positive COVID-19 cases by city now includes incorporated cities and unincorporated areas of the county. Please note the following changes:

• Previously, cities with a population less than 25,000 and fewer than 5 cases were listed in the table with no case count number. These cities will be removed from the table until the case count reaches 5 or more; this currently includes Laguna Woods, Los Alamitos and Villa Park.
• Going forward, unincorporated areas will be treated the same as incorporated cities. If the population is over 25,000, the area is now included on the table with case count; and if less than 25,000 and fewer than 5 cases, they are included in the “Other” category until its case count reaches 5 or more.
• In order to make this change, cases which were previously reported to a city, but are actually located in an unincorporated area, will be reassigned to the appropriate area. This means that some cities may see a reduction in case counts.

Please be advised that the city data is reflective of where cases live, not necessarily where transmission occurred. Additionally, city numbers should not be interpreted to reflect where transmission is geographically focused or not, as COVID-19 is present in all communities in Orange County.

Case counts are also not reflective of all disease transmission in any given community because testing is prioritized for those at greatest risk or most sick. Asymptomatic and persons with mild disease may not be reflected due to not being tested.

Because transmission occurs throughout the County, it is important for all residents to practice social-distancing as directed by the Governor and the Orange County Health Officer regardless of the case count in their city. Doing so will help to reduce the spread of infection, ease the burden on our hospital and healthcare system, and protect those most vulnerable in our county.

The County of Orange has consolidated the information and links to various local, state and federal resources that are available to residents and businesses. Please visit our new COVID-19 Resource Directory!  

Residents can sign up to receive text message updates related to COVID-19 in Orange County. To opt-in for this service, text OCCOVID19 to 888777.

The County of Orange Emergency Operations Center has collaborated with Everbridge Nixle to launch this one-way alert system as an additional option for community members to receive the latest news and resources related to COVID-19. Text message updates will be provided daily from the County of Orange Emergency Operations Center during its activation.

Residents who have questions about an update can contact the County of Orange Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085 between 9 AM and 6 PM daily. For more information, click here.

Residents can now call (833) 426-6411 for inquiries related to COVID–19 in Orange County. This hotline will provide resources specific to the Orange County COVID-19 response.

Through the hotline, callers can be connected to the following County of Orange agencies:

• Orange County Health Care Agency – Health Referral Line, Behavioral Health Resources
• Orange County Social Services Agency – Risk Benefits
• Orange County Office on Aging – Resources for Seniors
• Orange County District Attorney’s Office – Scams, Price Gouging
• County of Orange Emergency Operations Center Hotline – Non-Medical Questions

Residents who have questions about COVID-19 can contact the Orange County COVID-19 Hotline at any time, but individual hotline hours will vary. The Orange County COVID-19 Hotline can be reached at (833) 426-6411.

The Orange County Health Care Agency website has information that is regularly updated regarding the status of COVID-19 in Orange County.

For information about COVID-19 in the State of California, please visit their website.

Thousands of seniors are now home-bound, in fear of losing the meals they depend on. With an increased demand for Meals on Wheels deliveries and senior centers closures countywide, seniors may be left without that critical lifeline to healthy meals.

Age Well Senior Services has a plan, but they need your help. They’ve scaled up their Meals on Wheels deliveries and converted the daily senior center meals program to grab-and-go.

To find information regarding program updates and ways you can help, please click here.

As we continue to wear disposable gloves and masks to protect ourselves, please remember to properly dispose of used protective equipment in the trash bin. Littering of waste can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health, including children who may not realize the items they are touching and can potentially be hazardous.

We’re encouraging Orange County residents to make smart decisions to help us all stay healthy and safe during this difficult time.

I want to let you know about an outstanding collaboration this week between the Dana Point Meals on Wheels program and Dana Point Friends of the Library.

The Dana Point Friends of the Library generously agreed to donate used books from their bookstore stock for the Meals on Wheels seniors. 

Library staff selected 200 books in a variety of genres, including mysteries, thrillers, romance and historical fiction.  Meals on Wheels picked the books up from the Library and will store them at their facility. They will ask participants their reading interest and select a book to go in their meal and essential item package.

Dana Point Library staff and the Meals on Wheels folks were very excited to offer this service!

Last weekend, I was pleased to join the Monarch Beach Rotary, as well as other South County Rotary Clubs, in assembling Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our Orange County hospitals.

Rotary Club members in South County assembling PPE.

The first 10,000 PPE will go to St. Judes Hospital for distribution to frontline healthcare workers at OC hospitals. I want to commend everyone who is working behind the scenes to help our community and hospitals to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County!

We're all in this together!