As we ring in the New Year and look back on 2020, the events we reflect upon are like nothing we have ever experienced in our lives.

2020 brought many hardships. Families suffered, businesses destroyed, and many lives changed, perhaps forever.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, all of us here at the County have been working diligently to meet the needs of all Orange County residents.

From large-scale food distributions to millions of dollars in small business grants, to supplying our frontline workers with much-needed PPEs and building up our COVID testing network.

With that said, let’s all look forward to 2021 with hope.

Just a couple of weeks ago, healthcare workers and high-risk residents began receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with more on the way.

While widespread availability of the vaccine is still months away, we must do our part to protect each other between now and then.

Wearing our masks, practicing physical distancing, and following public health guidelines could mean the difference between life and death for many. Especially those who are vulnerable to the virus.

I know it’s been hard, harder than we could have ever imagined. But even when we get the virus under control, the economic fall out will be with us for at least a few years.

But together, we can lift one another and return ourselves to a place of security and happiness.

We have worked so hard to get here, let’s see this through with compassion for each other.

As always, stay safe, stay healthy, and MaskUpOC.

Happy New Year and God bless.