The Orange County Board of Supervisors this week adopted a Healthy Communities Resolution, brought forth by myself and Supervisor Wagner, affirming our Board’s commitment to the principles that the County of Orange is best served by its ability to respond locally to the COVID-19 virus. The resolution was later amended to include a request to the County’s legislative delegation to petition the Governor for local control. To view the Board Resolution, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to enlarge.

The Governor's latest stay-at-home order calls for Orange County to be included in a region with 11 other counties, representing over half the State’s population and spanning as far north as Mono County and as far south as San Diego. This makes it extremely difficult to effectively manage the impacts of COVID-19 on our local communities.

At this time, I am laser-focused on two key objectives: First of all, working with our local hospitals, County staff and other stakeholders in the region to secure funding so we can increase our hospital and ICU capacity to a level above the 15% threshold. Secondly, I will do everything I can to persuade the State to reduce the number of counties in the Southern California Region to a more localized and manageable size.

Tackling this virus on a localized basis makes a lot more sense. We need a balanced approach that effectively balances the health, safety and economic wellbeing of Orange County. The one-size fits all approach does not work. Our business owners have done an amazing job in safeguarding their premises, including protecting their workers and patrons, as have our residents in following public health protocols.

To that end, my goal is to get the regional stay-at-home order lifted as soon as possible so we can begin the process of permanently reopening our economy!

County of Orange health officials were notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on December 1 that the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) should make preparations to receive 25,350 doses of Pfizer-manufactured COVID-19 vaccine on December 15. HCA will distribute this initial supply to Orange County hospitals for prioritization of their high-risk health care workers as part of Phase 1a of a multi-phased plan developed through the CDPH Community Vaccine Advisory Committee.

Though Phase 1a prioritizes health care workers, local hospitals will need to determine which segments of their employee population are at higher risk for contracting the virus due to this limited quantity. This may include those who work in emergency departments or intensive care units. The HCA will provide the first shipment to Orange County hospitals that are prepared and ready to administer the vaccines. 

HCA is currently assessing readiness, which includes enrollment in the State of California’s COVID Reading system and ability to safely store, transport and administer the vaccines in compliance with the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations. Additionally, hospitals must attest that they have a plan to distribute all vaccine doses within 5 days of receipt.

This first shipment is one of several in a planned allotment of Phase 1a doses from the CDPH if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves an Emergency Use Authorization for the vaccines. The additional doses, which are expected to be a combination of Pfizer and Moderna-manufactured vaccines, are slated to arrive by the end of the month if this approval is granted.

As more doses of vaccine become available, a greater portion of the Phase 1a population can anticipate vaccine availability in late December into early 2021. This includes residents of long-term care facilities, which includes skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, who will coordinate obtaining doses through national retail pharmacies being supplied by the CDC. COVID-19 vaccine is likely to become more readily accessible to the general public in the spring of 2021.

Our goal is to get the vaccine distributed to local hospitals, in accordance with State directives, as quickly as possible. Distribution of the vaccine is going to require significant coordination with our hospitals in terms of logistics, and I am pleased to see that efforts are already underway to ensure a smooth and secure distribution process.

For more information, click here. To view the CDPH Community Vaccine Advisory Committee’s Phase 1a Guidelines for California Local Health Departments, click here.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has launched phase 2 of its at-home, saliva-based COVID-19 testing program with Ambry Genetics for all Orange County residents. 

The County’s phase 1 at-home test kit program began November 23 and continued through December 6, during which approximately 12,000 kits were made available to the cities hit hardest by the pandemic — Santa Ana and Anaheim. After reviewing utilization data from the initial success of phase 1, the Orange County Board of Supervisors Testing Ad Hoc Committee recommended that HCA make this free testing service immediately available countywide.

Those who live in Orange County may click here and register to receive a test kit shipped directly to their home at no cost. Ambry Genetics is able to process 4,000 tests each day with a 48 hour turnaround time for notification of results. 

Ambry’s CARE for COVID Program was developed with the latest guidance from federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is an end-to-end screening, testing, and result-management solution, which includes:

• Ambry’s AVA™ virtual assistant supporting an online health questionnaire
• Online determination of essential worker status or medical necessity criteria (symptoms/exposure, etc.) that enables insurance billing or uninsured third-party billing for the test, ensuring there is no cost for the resident
• A HIPAA compliant software that enables users to register their test kit
• Medical provider ordered-testing and supervision (including return and review of results)
  Viral testing by Ambry’s RT-PCR test using saliva collection for a simpler and more convenient experience than nasopharyngeal swabs commonly used by other labs
• Most results reported directly through the CARE platform within 24 hours of receipt of the sample by the lab.

If an online order is placed for a kit by 1 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday, the kit will arrive the next day. For orders placed after 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, or any time on Saturday or Sunday, the kit will arrive the following Tuesday. The Ambry Genetics lab receives kits every Monday through Saturday, runs testing, and reports out test results 7 days a week.

In our fight against COVID-19, we continue to leverage all available resources to provide convenient and reliable testing our residents. We anticipate the convenience of online test ordering and reporting, telehealth support, and at-home sample collection will provide greater support to OC residents as case counts continue to surge across the county. For more information, please click here.

While not a County of Orange program, I’m pleased to report the State has announced a package of assistance for small businesses affected by COVID-19, including $500 million in grants for small businesses and nonprofits that have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and the associated health & safety restrictions.

The program will be administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), with underserved micro and small businesses, as well as nonprofits, eligible for grants up to $25,000.

CalOSBA is currently in the process of establishing the program and will make it available to small businesses and nonprofits as soon as possible. While the program is being created, please sign-up to receive the update when launched, which is projected to be in early 2021. For more information or to subscribe, please visit business.ca.gov/osba-signup/.

Upon California’s implementation of the latest executive order urging residents to stay home in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) acted immediately and again began waiving the $20 FasTrak account suspension fee that may be assessed when the account balance is negative and the method of payment is rejected by the issuing financial institution more than once.

TCA previously suspended this fee from April to October to offer relief for drivers in the early days of the pandemic. For more information, click here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that COVID-19 can affect adolescents directly and indirectly. Beyond getting sick, many adolescents’ social, emotional and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. The County is doing everything we can to offer vital assistance in these unprecedented times.

To that end, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is launching a student-driven, app-based platform – blucky – that will offer teens a diverse collection of features with creative outlets and access to mental health resources. 

More than ever, young people are struggling to cope with mental health stressors – especially while managing through the COVID-19 pandemic. This prompted the HCA to seek new and innovative solutions to offer needed support.

 The HCA is working closely with Orange County school leaders to actively engage local students in providing input before bplucky’s Phase I soft launch on December 30, 2020. This is an important period of student involvement and app development.

Within bplucky’s Phase I app launch, features such as “The Surge” will greet users with ongoing inspirational quotes when logging on to the app. “Share Your Story” gives teens the opportunity to post personal videos about the challenges or issues they’ve successfully worked through; this includes 24/7 monitoring for any inappropriate language, images, etc. posted. And, unique to the bplucky app is “The Lookout”– a resource section that offers students a directory of mental health apps and hotlines to choose from.

Click the image above for more info.

The County's Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa & Friends holiday gift drives are currently collecting donations for children and seniors across Orange County.

Operation Santa Claus, which began as a small effort to meet the needs of a handful of children in 1962, has become a major event for the community. This program provides gifts and toys to children who are in foster care in Orange County, as well as to children of disadvantaged
families that are receiving services from the County of Orange.

Last year, Operation Santa Claus distributed over 41,000 toys/gifts to children in need.

The Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) also runs Senior Santa & Friends. This program is geared toward providing gifts and special request items to low income elderly or severely disabled adults who are clients of SSA and/or the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Last year, Senior Santa & Friends provided over 2,300 gifts and necessities to low-income seniors and adults with disabilities in Orange County.

For more information about Operation Santa Claus, please call (714) 679-2438 or email here. For more information about Senior Santa & Friends, please call (714) 825-3111 or email here.

In addition to serving on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I'm also pleased to serve you on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. As part of our mission to create a balanced and sustainable future for Orange County, OCTA is developing a Hazard Mitigation Plan.

This project will support current OCTA emergency and crisis management plans, strengthen the organization’s resilience to natural hazards, and assist OCTA in accessing federal funding to implement interventions from natural disasters. Examples of natural hazards include flooding, earthquakes, and wildfires.  

Public input is needed to help identify hazards that might impact the use of OCTA services and find out what is needed to help reduce hazard risks. Please help OCTA assist Orange County by taking this online survey, available through January 8.

I'm pleased to report that the OC Flex micro-transit pilot program has been extended through December 2021 in South County, where the OCTA service has been well used in its first two years.

OC Flex has been operating since October 2018 and allows passengers to request a ride on demand through the OC Flex mobile app within the service area, currently in portions of Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel.

The impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the OC Flex service have made it challenging to evaluate the performance of the pilot program. However, prior to March, ridership in South County had been steadily increasing and key metrics, such as subsidy per boarding, continued to improve.

The proposed 14-month extension of OC Flex will allow OCTA to better evaluate the program’s performance during and beyond the pandemic, as well as incorporate any future health and safety adjustments. For more information about OC Flex, click here.

My office had the pleasure of presenting a proclamation in honor of retiring Aliso Viejo Councilman Bill Phillips at his home this week in recognition of his outstanding public service after 19 years on the City Council.

Presenting a proclamation to Bill Phillips at his home. 

Affectionately known as Aliso Viejo’s longtime “Senior Statesman,” Bill Phillips was a founding member of the Aliso Viejo City Council, as the City’s incorporation took place July 1, 2001. In 2004, Bill Phillips served as the City’s third Mayor, and would go on to serve as Mayor again in 2008 and 2015, including Mayor Pro Tem in 2012.

With Mayor Bill Phillips at the Aliso Viejo State of the City.

Having resided in Aliso Viejo since 1989, Bill Phillips became involved in the community through his active participation with the Aliso Viejo Community Association (AVCA), including as a member of the AVCA Planning Advisory Committee and AVCA Parks and Recreation Committee. In addition, Bill Phillips was a member of the Aliso Viejo Cityhood Committee and appointed to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Citizens Advisory Committee for two years.

With Councilman Bill Phillips at the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Board Installation. 

Representing the City of Aliso Viejo, Bill Phillips also served on the Laguna Canyon Foundation Board of Directors and was a member of the Coastal Greenbelt Authority, in addition to the Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board, as well as many other regional boards, committees and commissions.

To that end, I highly commend Bill Phillips for his outstanding commitment to public service and wish him much success in all future endeavors!

Recognizing the stresses that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having on OC residents, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has launched three new mental health awareness campaigns, with the first one aimed at reducing the stigma in support of wellness and recovery, as the other two are focused on suicide prevention.

Introduced a year ago, StigmaFreeOC has launched a new advertising and community outreach campaign,  addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness and alcohol and drug misuse so everyone in the community is supported in getting the help that they need. Engaging 15-second video ads show a person’s face veiled by animated swirls of textured colors, then transitioning to reveal the human face with the poignant message: See the person not the condition.

Reducing the stigma associated with these conditions is even more important, as many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and wellbeing, such as “... increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus," according to Kaiser Family Foundation.

Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn will be used as the primary platforms for promoting the Stigma Free OC campaign along with digital and print ads in Orange County. The campaign website, StigmaFreeOC.com, provides behavioral health resources as well as the opportunity to sign a pledge to support a stigma-free community in Orange County. Individuals and organizations that take the StigmaFreeOC pledge are listed on the website.  

In addition, the first suicide prevention campaign, Help is Here, focusing on adult males, will roll out in early November and run through the end of the year targeting the holiday season, which has historically shown greater incidents of suicide. The campaign includes outdoor billboards, television and radio spots, transit shelter ads, digital and social media placements. Multiple ad executions were created to reflect real men representing this high-risk group. 

Suicide is also a major concern when it comes to young people. According to the American Association of Suicidology, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. The Be A Friend For Life campaign directs youth to reach out to friends who exhibit warning signs of suicide and seek professional support.

The campaign targets youth ages 15 to 22-years old, with a specific focus on the LGBTQ+, foster youth and high-achiever demographics who are at higher-risk for suicide. The campaign will appear in transit shelters, and digital and social media.

COVID-19 has brought to the forefront many of the behavioral health issues people were already facing before the pandemic. We hope that by raising awareness and providing critical resources, we can help turn someone’s life around, and give them an opportunity for a brighter future.

For more on these campaigns, please visit:

• StigmaFreeOC.com
• HelpIsHereOC.com
• BeAFriendForLife.com

For more information about mental health and suicide prevention resources, visit OC Health Care Agency’s Behavioral Health Services. 

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 97,302 positive cumulative cases and 1,662 deaths, as well as 1,122 currently hospitalized with 265 in ICU.

Please be advised that 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 hospitals and healthcare system, as well as protect those most vulnerable in our county.

With the holiday season already upon us, the Orange County Board of Supervisors is calling on our residents to safely connect with their elderly neighbors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Happy Holidays Neighbor! is a public awareness micro-campaign targeted at raising awareness of the dangers related to senior isolation and suggesting ways everyday citizens can reach out and make a difference.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, there are many public health risks linked to social isolation and loneliness. With one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older considered to be socially isolated, this makes seniors more susceptible to increased risk of serious medical conditions, such as dementia and heart disease.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further cut off seniors from regular social engagement as well as limit their ability to access needed food, supplies and medication. During the holiday period, seniors face further challenges related to gift buying, mailing packages and decorating their home exteriors.

The Happy Holidays Neighbor! public awareness micro-campaign suggests ways to connect and support seniors this holiday season in COVID-safe ways that focus on physical distancing but still maintain a social connection. It features a printable postcard that neighbors can fill out and send to local seniors, asking what assistance they need and providing the neighbor’s contact information. Additionally, the micro-campaign provides information about County and local senior resources that are important during the holiday season.

The physical health of our seniors is critical, but we can’t overlook the importance of mental health. The holidays are a time to come together to show how much we care for the health and well-being of our seniors.

For more information on how residents can support neighbors in their community, please visit the Orange County Office on Aging website.

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 used by scammers for COVID-19.

Be on the lookout for fake calls, texts, and emails
Scammers are pretending to be Social Security Agency employees. They may threaten you and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action. Do not be fooled!

Additionally, a large-scale coronavirus scam has erupted, as impostors are filing claims for unemployment benefits using names of people who have not filed claims. Victims learn about the fraud when they get a notice from their state unemployment benefits office or employer about their supposed application for benefits.

Sadly, people exploiting older adults are often family members or other trusted people who are handling the financial affairs of an incapacitated parent, relative or friend. As such, caregivers and assisted living and nursing facilities can also work together to help protect elderly residents from financial exploitation, both during the pandemic and after life returns to a new normal.

Lastly, if you’re having trouble paying your rent during the coronavirus pandemic, there are relief options and protections available for many renters.

Hoag and JWA officials have announced plans for the Fly Well Clinic, a first-of-its-kind health care facility will offer travelers health services including office visits, telehealth consultations, immunizations, treatment of cold and flu symptoms and prescriptions.

The partnership represents the first airport health clinic in Orange County and comes at a time of heightened health awareness among passengers and Airport employees.

In advance of the Fly Well Clinic’s official opening next spring, Hoag is currently hosting a Pop-Up Health Fair at JWA.  Located across from Gate 10 in Terminal B (post security), Hoag will offer Airport guests complimentary flu vaccinations and screenings, nutrition and exercise tips for travelers, virtual reality health demonstrations and more.

Hoag Pop-Up Health Fair currently at JWA. 

The permanent 850-square-foot Fly Well Clinic, opening in spring 2021, will offer an onsite licensed health care provider, general health and wellness information and other services, including:

• On-site office visits
• Treatment of cold and flu symptoms
• Rapid COVID-19 testing
• Vaccinations – including flu shots
• Virtual Reality demonstration, including relaxation and mindfulness journeys
• Blood pressure and other vital screenings
• On demand telehealth appointments

The Fly Well Clinic also will provide travelers and Airport employees with the ability to access Hoag doctors through on-demand telehealth appointments including video visits.

As the spread and far reaching impacts of COVID-19 continue to 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 What You Feel is Real webpage. 

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’

In their first self-produced virtual choir, Pacific Chorale sings a stirring performance of Bobby McFerrin's heartfelt setting of The 23rd Psalm, dedicated to his mother, Sara. Sara McFerrin was an accomplished singer, veteran music educator here in Orange County, and a longtime Board member of Pacific Chorale. She passed away last December.

Sara and Bobby McFerrin

Pacific Chorale dedicates this virtual performance of The 23rd Psalm (Dedicated to My Mother) to all who have suffered illness and loss due to COVID-19. To view the video, click on the image below.

Click on the image above to the video.

Although Pacific Symphony has suspended live concerts in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as a public health precaution, Pacific Symphony will stay in touch online, serving up culture and entertainment.

Their Watch+Listen page provides you with a central overview for all of the Symphony’s offerings online! Check back regularly as new musical experiences are continuously being added!

Pacific Symphony performing with Pacific Chorale.

MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) based in Laguna Beach, has the inspiration you need for your next adventure! 

In this week's video, the MFF team is on location at Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, filming ice climbing for National Parks Adventure. When the weather drops to 20 below zero, watch how the team finds a way to save their frozen camera equipment! 

Click the image above to watch the video.