Today, CA Department of Public Health released further guidance on additional Stage 3 sectors that will be allowed to reopen June 12, with County Public Health Officer approval. Now that the guidance is out, our OC Public Health Officer will be evaluating the new guidelines to ensure it is safe for Orange County to advance into these specific Stage 3 sectors.

The following sectors were issued guidance today:

• Schools and School-Based Programs
• Child Care Programs and Providers
• Day Camps
• Tribal Casinos
• Music, Film and Television Production – Guidance document for Management Office Workspaces
• Professional Sports without Live Audiences – Guidance document for Retail within arenas and fields
• Campgrounds, RV Parks, and Outdoor Recreation
• Hotels, Lodging, and Short Term Rentals
• Cardrooms, Satellite Wagering Facilities and Racetracks
• Family Entertainment Centers
• Restaurants, Bars, and Wineries
• Fitness Facilities – including pools
• Museums, Galleries, Zoos, and Aquariums

If your business is included in any of these new guidance documents, please start to prepare your business to reopen with these specific guidelines so you are ready once we have approval from our Public Health Officer.

For more information, click here.

After many months of negotiation, this week, my Board colleagues and I approved an agreement with Southern California Edison; Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD); the Counties of Orange and San Diego; and the Cities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point to receive funding for nuclear emergency preparedness and response relating to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

Following several attempts at legislation, I initiated multiple meetings between key stakeholders, given the time sensitivity of the issue. I strongly advocated for all parties to come to an agreement as soon as possible that would ensure continued funding for many years to come. This funding is crucial in order to sustain emergency preparedness and response activities for the safety of the surrounding communities that I represent in the event of an emergency.

The agreement requires Southern California Edison to provide financial support for emergency preparedness and response activities, equipment and services required for the decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and nuclear materials storage, transport or disposal.

This funding was set to expire shortly, but this new agreement extends it through June 30, 2049. With the funding, our County can plan, organize, coordinate and direct disaster response services before, during, and after a possible disaster. Although the funding for these emergency services has a sunset, signatories of the agreement will have the opportunity to re-negotiate further agreements if the need exists.  The agreement also allows for the signatories to request additional funding, should there be an emergency.

I am grateful for the cooperation between the signatories and Southern California Edison, especially Sheriff Don Barnes and Donna Boston of OCSD. Our work on this agreement ensures the safety of our community for years to come!

As reported in my newsletter last week, out of an abundance of caution, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park has been closed due to recent mountain lion activity, as members of the public and OC Parks staff reported multiple mountain lion sightings in the park.

During that time, OC Parks, CDFW, and local mountain lion expert Dr Winston Vickers have been conducting field monitoring and investigation, as well as reviewing video and photos from multiple wildlife cameras. Based on the field data and footage, we believe there to be three lions in the park (1 adult and 2 juveniles). 

CDFW game wardens will be returning this weekend (contingent upon availability, as their personnel also serve as law enforcement backup for protests in the region) in an attempt to encourage the big wildcats to leave using nonlethal hazing techniques. 

Although we initially planned to reopen Whiting Ranch to the public tomorrow (Saturday), the park will continue to remain closed at least 48 to 72 hours following the last field or video evidence of a mountain lion in the vicinity of trails within the park.

The last closure was January 20, after a mountain lion grabbed a small child hiking with his family. The child was treated at a local hospital and released the same day. Though encounters are rare, visitors should always remain vigilant in wilderness areas and report any sightings to the park office. If one does encounter a mountain lion, stand tall, wave arms, shout loudly at the animal and throw rocks. Do not run and do not turn your back to it. Please visit OCParks.com for updates.

In light of recent industry guidance by the California Department of Public Health and Cal-OSHA regarding places of worship and hair salons, the County Health Officer last week issued amended Health Officer’s Orders and strong recommendations to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County as more businesses move toward re-opening. They revise and supersede the May 23, 2020 Orders and recommendations.

Effective today at 12 AM, Friday, May 29, 2020, and continuing until further notice, the following will be in effect in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Orange County: 

1) Self-Isolation of Persons with COVID-19 - All Orange County residents who have been diagnosed with or are likely to have COVID-19, as defined below, shall immediately isolate themselves in their home or another residence under the following criteria, as applicable:

• Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms shall isolate themselves until: (i) at least 3 days (72 hours) after they have recovered, meaning their fever has resolved without use of fever-reducing medications and their respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved; AND (ii) at least 10 days has elapsed from when their symptoms first appeared.
• Individuals who have a positive COVID-19 PCR laboratory test result and are without COVID-19 symptoms shall isolate themselves for 10 days from the date when the specimen for the positive COVID-19 PRC laboratory test result was obtained.

This self-isolation order DOES NOT in any way restrict access by first responders to an isolation site during an emergency. 

2) Self-Quarantine of Persons Exposed to COVID-19 - All county residents who know that they have been in close contact, as defined below, with a person diagnosed with or likely to have COVID-19 shall take the following actions:

• Quarantine themselves in their home or another residence until 14 days from the last date that they were in close contact with a person that has been diagnosed with or likely to have COVID-19.
• Exposed persons shall self-quarantine themselves for the entire 14-day COVID-19 incubation period, the typical time between exposure and when symptoms and signs of the disease may develop. They may not leave their place of quarantine except to receive necessary medical care or to obtain such other goods or services necessary for their basic subsistence.

This self-quarantine order DOES NOT in any way restrict access by first responders to a quarantine site during an emergency. This self-quarantine SHALL NOT APPLY to health care professionals and law enforcement personnel.

All businesses, industries, and entities listed on the State’s website here and here, which are reopening in Orange County as part of Stage 2 of the State’s Resilience Roadmap, shall post their corresponding industry-specific checklist at a location visible to the public at the public entrance of each property.

In addition to the foregoing industry-specific checklist, all businesses, industries, and entities shall post a document at a location visible to the public at the public entrance of each property that specifically includes an attestation by the business, industry, or entity owner and/or operator that it has:

• Performed a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan;
• Trained employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them;
  Implemented individual control measures and screenings;
• Implemented disinfecting protocols; and
• Implemented physical distancing guidelines. 

3) Cloth Face-Covering - All Orange County residents and visitors shall wear a cloth face-covering outside their home when they are not able to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from another person who is not a family/household member or does not reside in the same living unit. The cloth face-covering order SHALL NOT APPLY to the following persons:

• Children under the age of 2;
• Anyone who has trouble breathing, or who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face-covering without assistance; or
• Persons with a medical or mental health condition or development disability that prevents wearing a cloth face-covering.

Residents are encouraged to read the Health Officer’s Order and strong recommendations (and related FAQs) in their entirety HERE, as there is greater detail to provide necessary clarification.

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 7,064 positive cumulative cases including 174 deaths in Orange County, as well as 283 currently hospitalized with 123 in ICU.

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.

I'm pleased to report our OC Community Services Community Investment Division has partnered with Google Fiber to provide loaner laptops and hotspots in an effort to increase access to workforce development programs and services offered through our Irvine One-Stop Center during this critical period.

The laptops and hotspots will be made available, enabling dislocated workers free access to apply for jobs and unemployment benefits. Job seekers will be able to check out a laptop and hotspot at the Irvine One-Stop Center by contacting the Orange County Economic and Business Recovery line at (714) 480-6500 and completing a telephone application.

The laptops and hotspots will be available for checkout as a pair at no cost. With free access to laptops and hotspots for job seekers, businesses will be connected to a larger pool of candidates who are qualified for jobs, without barriers to resources.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Orange County One-Stop Centers had to modify service delivery available to match the need of those impacted. The partnership between these organizations not only allowed the County to expand resources at the Irvine One-Stop Center but also created an opportunity to offer these services at no cost.

In addition to the laptop and hotspot loans, the Irvine One-Stop Center offers free comprehensive services such as hiring assistance, career transition services, and employment services to businesses and job seekers.

For more information about the Orange County One-Stop Centers, click here. For more information about Google Fiber, click here.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) recently partnered with the California Department of Public Health to launch four new testing sites in Buena Park, Orange, Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano. 

The State sites are powered through a partnership with OptumServe, the federal government health services business of Optum, a leading health services innovation company. 

The new test locations were identified by looking at areas where Californians had to travel between 30 and 60 minutes to reach existing test sites. This information was cross-referenced with under-served populations to address known disparities and median income, so residents have access to testing, regardless of socioeconomic status.

The four new State sites increase the County’s testing capacity by 2,640 per week. When combined with testing presently available through the County’s existing OC COVID-19 Testing Network, a total of nearly 7,000 tests per week are available for FREE to all community members without insurance or who have been unable to receive testing through their health care providers.

At this time, testing priority is given to people with symptoms as well as asymptomatic health care workers, first responders, and social service employees and essential workers who do not have access to testing through their employer or health care provider.

There is no out-of-pocket cost, though insurance will be billed if available. Additionally, there is no medical assessment offered at these new testing sites, so residents who access the testing feature are also strongly encouraged to call their health care provider for guidance on management of symptoms.

I believe knowledge is power. Now that we have the ability to test more residents, we can gather additional data that may help us refine our knowledge of COVID-19 in Orange County and inform our policy decisions moving forward.

For more information on testing criteria and to schedule an appointment, please click here and scroll down to OPTUMSERVE TESTING SITES. Residents without internet access interested in making an appointment at a State site may call 1-888-634-1123. 

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

Pursuant to the State orders, Orange County Public Libraries are not yet permitted to open. Libraries are part of Stage 3 and no guidance or timeline has yet been provided by the State.

However, I'm pleased to report we are opening bookdrops June 9 at all County branch libraries for patrons to return checked out items; and June 16 we will open all libraries for contactless curbside pickup of holds. Please click on the image below for more information.

Click the image above to enlarge.

The Great Plates Delivered program supports seniors and local businesses needing assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. To that end, the County partnered with multiple local food providers to deliver three nutritious meals per day to adults 65 and older, as well as adults 60-64 who are at high-risk for COVID-19, to support them staying home and healthy.

Thousands of seniors countywide have signed up for the Great Plates Delivered Program and more are signing up each day. The program also provides essential economic stimulus to local businesses and workers struggling to stay afloat during these difficult times. The program has been extended through June 10.

Restaurants already participating in a state or federal meal service program, including the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program, are not eligible to participate.

Per the State’s direction, individuals who wish to enroll in the Great Plates Delivered program must fall under the following criteria to qualify:

A) Individuals who are 65 or older, or 60-64 and at high-risk as defined by the CDC, including:

• Individuals who are COVID-19 positive (as documented by a state/local public health official or medical health professional)
• Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 (as documented by a state/local public health official or medical health professional); or
• Individuals with an underlying condition.

B) Individuals must live alone or with one other program-eligible adult.

C) Individuals must not be currently receiving assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs, such as CalFresh or Meals on Wheels.

D) Individuals must affirm an inability to prepare or obtain meals. 

Individuals interested in receiving meals and businesses wanting to participate can call the Information & Assistance Call Center at (714) 480-6450 for further guidance.

For more information on meal assistance programs for seniors in South County, please visit Age Well Senior Services. For more information on business and economic recovery in Orange County, visit OC Community Services or call (714) 480-6500.

Many of you are at home working or self-isolating and spending more time on the internet. Unfortunately, thieves are taking advantage of this situation and coming up with new and innovative ways to separate you from your money.

Now would be a good time to educate yourself on the various ploys that are used by scammers regarding COVID-19. Read more here.

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 (833) 426-6411, HCA website, or follow HCA on Facebook and Twitter.

OC Public Libraries (OCPL) recently announced its new Virtual Programs webpage, as OCPL staff worked hard to create some amazing digital content. To date, OCPL has dozens of virtual programs published on social media (with dozens more in our backlog ready to be published!) and our communities are responding positively to the new way we are providing service.

This site will be updated regularly. For more information, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above for more info.

Experience great art from celebrated museums around the globe virtually through the magic of tableaux vivants, or living pictures. Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach has launched #TourDePageant, a social media series showcasing past Pageant re-creations, with real people posing as works of art. This art-stopping online initiative offers a unique look into some of the most famous museums in the world, all from the comfort of your home.

With society practicing social distancing, the arts are needed more now than ever. Festival of Arts hopes this online initiative will enrich, entertain and inspire during this challenging time.

Laguna Playhouse brings you their "Play-at-Home" series, designed to keep you connected to the Playhouse artists you love, and some more fun stuff to pass the time while your at home. For more information, click here.

Laguna Art Museum (LAM) hopes you are well and safe at home. While LAM is temporarily closed, they are working remotely to offer art and inspiration online. We believe art has the power to connect us, and we hope that you will enjoy these new ways to stay connected with Laguna Art Museum,

Sunset Serenades from your Sofa is a new virtual video series. The Laguna Beach Arts Commission has postponed the May and June concert series due to COVID-19, but the musicians want to give the community a personal message.

Mission San Juan Capistrano invites all to visit their Digital Resource Center (DRC) for continued ways to experience, learn, and interact with the Mission. The DCR offers many digital events and video tours, including:

• Mission Garden Tour Video
• Birds Eye View Video
• Moment with a Docent Video
• Digital Photography Art Exhibit
• En Plein Air Digital Artwork Exhibit
• Fourth Grade Free Voucher
• Distance Learning Page for Parents & Teachers
• Reopen Dates for Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Sunset Stroll through the Mission Gardens
• Digital Museum Archives

For more information, please click here.

Enjoy a FREE livestream event this Saturday, June 6 at 6:00 PM on AlertTheGlobe.com. The show, taking place at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, will feature Skeleton Crew (Grateful Dead Tribute).

Take 10, produced by Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano, is an opportunity to entertain you, as well as your chance to enjoy one of their favorite 10 minute plays. Take 10 minutes Tuesday and watch one of one of their favorite 'ShowOff!' plays, "Psych Nick" by Scott Lummer.

If you can’t come to Ocean Institute in beautiful Dana Point Harbor, we want to bring Ocean Institute to you! A variety of topics will be covered, including ocean science, ocean conservation, and maritime history. Lessons include a video resource and an educational activity for you to try at home. For more information, click here.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente is the historic home of Ole Hansen, the founder of the city of San Clemente, Casa Romantica invites you to Live Virtually @ the Casa and enjoy world-class arts and culture in your home with highlighted Casa virtual artists and activities. For more information, click here.

Even though Pacific Symphony has temporarily suspended live concerts in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as a public health precaution, the Symphony will stay in touch online, serving up culture and entertainment. Their new Watch+Listen page provides you with a central overview for all the Symphony’s offerings online!