18 minute read
NEWS
County strengthens public safety orders
by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
On April 9, Ventura County Public Health Officer Robert Levin issued an order adding new requirements to orders previously issued in March aimed at protecting public health amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic. The order was in effect when issued and is effective until April 19, unless rescinded or extended by Levin.
“We cannot underestimate COVID-19, a virus that knows no boundaries, infects people of all ages, and can cause significant illness and death, particularly among people who are elderly or who have underlying serious health conditions,” said Dr. Levin in a written statement issued with the order. “The Stay Well At Home Order has been updated to further help save lives and protect our community.”
New restrictions for gatherings
The order clarifies that “All gatherings are prohibited.” A gathering is defined as “public and private gatherings of two or more persons”who live in different homes. Gatherings larger than two people are only allowed “for the limited purposes of operating an essential business or to perform essential governmental functions or services.” The order allows “no more than seven people” who are “staff of organizations or associations” to “gather for the sole purpose of preparing and facilitating live-stream.”
The order clarifies that members of larger families or households are “permitted to engage in essential travel or essential activities together.”
In the event of graveside funeral services, “gatherings of 10 or fewer persons are permitted.”
Long-term care facilities
The public health order states that “Seniors confined together in a Long-Term Care Facility are at particular risk. An outbreak there might result in numerous deaths.” For that reason Levin advises that COVID19 positive patients at long term care facilities be moved to hospitals.
Instructions for essential businesses
The order also requires that all essential businesses prepare and by April 12 post near the entrance a “Social Distancing Protocol” for all locations where employees or the public will visit. The protocol must be easily visible and provided to all employees. Evidence of implementation must be provided to any enforcement agency “upon demand.” The protocol must include plans for how the number of people entering, waiting in line and working will maintain a minimum six-foot distance from others and how the business will provide means to sanitize hands in appropriate place. Businesses must ensure that employees who have a cough or fever are not to come to work or enter the business.
Other restrictions for essential businesses include: • Bicycle repair and supply shops may only sell bicycles online when “all bicycles are delivered to a place of residence or essential business.” • Residential real estate services, including renting, leasing and home sales, may engage in activities “provided that appointments and other residential viewings must only occur virtually.” If virtual viewing is not possible, it must be “by appointment with no more than two visitors at a time, both of whom must” live together, joined by the agent/owner showing the unit. “In-person visits are not allowed when the occupant is present in the residence.” • Auto sellers may only sell online “provided that all vehicles are delivered to a place of residence or essential business.”
Read the entire order online, access the business protocol form and view the guidance for long term care facilities at: www.vcemergency.com/ newsroom.
COVID News and Updates
by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
6 — — April 16, 2020 Insurance companies ordered to refund premiums
On April 13, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued orders that require insurance companies, including those providing personal auto insurance, to issue appropriate refunds of premiums for March and April if the insured driver was impacted by the stay at home orders.
“With Californians driving fewer miles and many businesses closed due to the COVID-19 emergency, consumers need relief from premiums that no longer reflect their present-day risk of accident or loss,” said Lara. “Today’s mandatory action will put money back in people’s pockets when they need it most.”
The order will extend through May if shelter in place orders continue. A separate order extends insurance coverage for those with expired driver’s licenses and vehicle registration.
Insurance types included in the order are: private passenger automobile, commercial automobile, workers compensation, commercial multi-peril, commercial liability and medical malpractice. The order also states that it includes “any other insurance where the risk of loss has fallen,” due to the pandemic.
Insurance companies must “provide a premium credit, reduction, return of premium,” or other appropriate adjustment “as soon as possible” and no later than August 2020. Lara has previously requested a 60-day grace period to avoid cancellations of policies due to nonpayment.
View the order online at www. insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100- press-releases/2020/upload/ nr038AutoPremiumRefund- sCOVID04132020.pdf.
County’s first blood plasma donation
On April 8, Dwight Everett of Camarillo became the first “convalescent plasma” donor in the county. He thinks he caught the novel coronavirus while on a cruise ship, he tested positive, then received and tested negative for the virus on March 14.
“Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 may have immune-boosting antibodies in their plasma; that plasma — called ‘convalescent plasma — could be used to treat critically ill COVID19 patients,” explained Dr. Lynn Jeffers, chief medical officer at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital. Everett’s plasma was used to treat a patient at SJPV.
The plasma donation took place at the Ventura office of Vitalant, a nonprofit network of blood donation locations. Vitalant is working across Ventura County with multiple hospitals to identify qualified donors and collect plasma to treat COVID-19 patients. All donors must be evaluated and cleared by a physician. For information on registering to donate plasma visit: www.vcemergency. com/donate/plasma.
One-stop 211 service
All Ventura County residents can dial 2-1-1 to be connected to a wide array of services and information. Many resources are available, from financial assistance to meal deliveries for homebound seniors to help for those at risk from domestic violence. 211 Ventura County is part of Interface Children and Family Services. Since March 5, there have been over 15,182 calls fielded by the service. Another 33,274 people were connected to resources through the organization’s texting program.
“Besides our staff, we have over 50 volunteers assisting now, including 30 employees of Boys and Girls Club from three clubs closed due to COVID-19,” said Erik Sternad, executive director of Interface.
Calls range from people having anxiety about the virus, seniors needing food, people losing jobs and complaints from renters about landlords seeking early rent payments. People who call are connected to resources which include “telemedicine” services, including mental health support.
Domestic violence help, human trafficking prevention and youth crisis services are all continuing through both virtual help and the shelters operated by Interface, which are still open. Direct numbers for specific help and support: 24-hour Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-800- 636-6738 24-hour Youth or Housing Crisis Hotline: 805-469-5882 Mental Health Intake Line (Mon-Fri. 8am-5pm): 805-485-6114 ext. 662
Crisis calls increase
Oxnard-based Coalition for Family Harmony reports a 10 to 15 percent increase in calls to its hotline for victims of domestic abuse and violence since stay-at-home orders were issued.
“Financial and emotional stresses are taking a toll. Victims are calling our hotline, fearful about staying in their home with an abuser but also worried about leaving and possibly being exposed to COVID-19,” says Dr. Caroline Prijatel-Sutton, Coalition For Family Harmony executive director. “They are in desperate situations.”
The Coalition offers individual and group counseling sessions, operates a 24/7 bilingual hotline (800- 300-2181) and can help develop a plan to exit a dangerous situation. When that is not possible, it will also offer plans on how to be safe, and how to call the police if needed.
Call 805-983-6014 for questions regarding services or visit www. TheCoalition.org
Ojai Valley School donates food
Ojai Valley School, a private school, has donated food from the OVS kitchen to HELP of Ojai, a nonprofit organization supporting seniors and others in need in the Ojai Valley. The food will be part of HELP of Ojai’s program delivering 180 meals each day to seniors who are unable to get to grocery stores, or for whom it is unsafe to do so.
County accepting waivers for property tax payments
Beginning April 11, Steven Hintz, Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector, will be accepting waiver applications for “late-payment penalties and fees” for the second payment of 2019-20 secured property tax bills.
A written statement issued by Hintz reported that he will consider “significant economic hardship . . . caused directly by the COVID19 virus pandemic” that prevented property owners from making payments on time (Feb. 1 and April 10, 2020).
If the waiver is granted, the new payment date will be August 31, 2020. That is the final date for payment. No other extensions will be available.
The application form, submitted “under penalty of perjury,” is available online at ventura.org/ttc/. The form will be mailed to those who request it if they are unable to download it. Applicants should attach documentation to support their hardship. A separate application must be submitted for each property.
Payments made under a waiver cannot be paid online or by a credit card.
More information at the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office: 805-654-3738 or email HelpingHand@ventura.org.
County DA highlights price gouging rules
The Ventura County District Attorney’s office has set up a price gouging hotline for residents to report incidents of exorbitant prices pursuant to new state rules.
On April 3, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-44-20, which states that retailers may not charge more than they did on Feb. 4 for many categories of products including food, medical and emergency supplies. There are exceptions if the seller’s costs have increased or if their prices were reduced on Feb. 4. Additionally, products being sold by a seller that were not being sold on Feb. 4 are now subject to a price cap. Retail prices cannot exceed the cost to seller to purchase or manufacture the item, plus a 50 percent markup.
Violations of these provisions are considered a misdemeanor punishable with six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
If you suspect price gouging in Ventura County, call the District Attorney’s office: 805-662-1737 or email DAOpricegouging@ ventura.org.
CalEPA takes Earth Day Online
April 22 is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Due to the pandemic, community events and festivals are cancelled. The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) is part of a national movement involving local, state and federal agencies creating safe ways for the public to celebrate Earth Day through online hangouts, community social distancing clean-ups and more.
“While sheltering in place, I invite all Californians to join Earth Day 50 celebrations online and take steps to save the planet from home,” said Jared Blumenfeld, secretary of CalEPA.
California residents are encouraged to use various hashtags on social media — #CalE
Ventura resident
arthDay50, #HowISavethePlanet — and share photos and videos of their ecofriendly activities that day. The movement can continue beyond Earth Day with people sharing images everyday. CalEPA will also offer practical actions to protect the environment, and will have educational activities for children throughout the month.
More information online: www.calepa.ca.gov.
Unable to pay your rent? Report it now.
California tenants are urged by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to pay as much of their rent as possible, but that if they are short or unable to pay, to report it as soon as possible.
“I urge families who are facing an inability to pay their rent due to COVID-19 to act swiftly and take control of their rights under the Governor’s executive order,” said Becerra in a written statement. He is referencing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order halting evictions. “The order allows certain evictions to be delayed, but tenants must act quickly or risk losing their rights.”
Tenants must first notify their landlord in writing as soon as possible, but no later than seven days after rent is due. The written notice must state that the tenant is unable to pay full rent “due to reasons related to COVID-19.” Then tenants should gather any documents that show they are unable to pay their rent, including notices of layoff, bank statements and medical bills.
Many cities and counties, including Ventura County, have taken additional measures to protect tenants.
A printable form tenants can use to notify their landlord is available online: https://oag. ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/ Tenant%20to%20Landlord%20notice%20 form%20UPDATED.pdf.
Tenants who receive an eviction notice or lawsuit and need legal guidance should contact their local legal aid organization, which they can find at www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/ Need-Legal-Help/Free-Legal-Help.
aboard USNS Mercy
Navy hospital ship supports local hospitals by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
On March 29, Kimberly Wyss, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class, from Ventura, prepares to assist the first patients who will board the U.S. Navy Ship Mercy docked to serve in Los Angeles.
The ship will be serving nonCOVID-19 patients from the area to make room in hospitals for the anticipated surge of patients needing care related to COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
There were 800 medical professionals on board with about 15 patients.
This mobilization is part of collaboration between the Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is the lead agency.
This week the Navy announced that seven crewmembers on the ship tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation off of the ship. Any person they were in contact with are being quarantined, all but one have tested negative. Procedures are in place on the ship to protect the safety of all crew members and patients on board. Photo by Ryan M. Breeden, U.S. Navy Mass Community Specialist 2nd Class.
A peak season like no other
Strawberry harvest during the pandemic
by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
Ventura County is entering peak strawberry season in the midst of a global pandemic. Agricultural workers have been deemed essential and the unique requirements of social distancing and enhanced hygiene practices create new needs and challenges for those doing the harvesting.
“We are doing more, trying to make sure the guidance stays updated,” said Carolyn O’Donnell, communications director with the California Straw berry Commission (CSC), an agency of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). She said a current major focus in responding to the pandemic is it to “get up-to-date information” to the fields “as quickly as possible,” as procedures seem to be changing almost constantly.
Other procedures related to foodborne illnesses are important, too, but O’Donnell stressed that there is no current evidence of novel coronavirus being transmitted through food.
According to the CDFA website, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Con trol and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “have all stated that there are no reports at this time of human illnesses that suggests COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. The CDC is reporting that, in general, because of poor survivability of the coronavirus on surfaces, there is likely a low risk of spread from food products or pack aging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated or frozen temperatures.”
“The basis of all of this is a culture around food safety for the past 10 or 12 years,” O’Donnell said, which cre ates a strong foundation for responding to the current pandemic. The CSC has been providing training around not working while sick and regular hand washing for years.
The most recent training in early March was slightly modified amid murmurs of the virus. “We modi fied our training to emphasize staying healthy, working healthy and hand washing.” Training materials include flip charts, signs and videos.
“What I’m worried most about, it is the worst possible time for the pandemic to peak . . . at the same time that strawberry season is peak ing,” said Lucas Zucker, policy and communications director with Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), a local organization that advocates for farmworker interests and other issues. “The best news is right now, there is not a huge outbreak among local farmers, yet.”
California’s strawberry season
Kindness Corner Nourishing frontline workers
by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
The mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends and loved ones who are working in all positions at area hospitals are getting some extra support and nourishment from local restaurants, who in turn are getting support to keep their kitchens open.
The Oxnard-based Law Offices of Hiepler and Hiepler have sponsored 350 meals from the local Urbane Café for staff at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital.
“We are grateful to Mark and Michelle Hiepler for their generous support of our physicians, nurses and staff,” said Darren Lee, president and CEO. “Mark, a graduate of Camarillo High School, wanted to recognize the heroes close to home and support local restaurants that are struggling during this unprecedented time.”
Two other local restaurants have started programs to support free meals for healthcare workers.
“We need your help during these challenging times to keep our business alive and to support our healthcare workers,” said Hernan Lopez. He and his wife, Corina, own The Blend Superfood Bar at The Collection in Oxnard. He
Staff at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo enjoy meals from Urbane Cafe sponsored by Law Offices of Hiepler and Hiepler. Photo submitted.
has set a goal of raising $10,000 through a Go Fund Me page that will pay for 1,000 meals and keep employees working during a major slowdown in business.
To claim a free meal, healthcare professionals simply need to show their medical ID and/or the medical IDs of those whose orders they are picking up. The Blend’s menu includes a variety of healthy açaí bowls, smoothies and juices.
“There are some amazing teams of medical workers and first responders who are working long hours and risking their time and health for us, so we want to give back to them,” said Sarah Pritchett, owner of Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, also at The Collection in Oxnard. “During a hard time we have to stick together and stay positive.”
Pritchett is inviting community members to purchase snack packs to be donated to local healthcare workers. Pack options include freshly baked pastries, jug of latte, granola with yogurt, croissant sandwiches and coffee.
Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters: email hello@ragamuffinroasters. com or visit www.ragamuffinroasters.com. The Blend Superfood Bar Go Fund Me campaign: www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-the-blendamp-fuel-health-care-workers.
Rows of strawberries in Oxnard, CA. Photo courtesy of California Strawberry Commission.
starts now in Oxnard. “The season rolls up the coast to Santa Maria, then to Salinas. During that peak season there is a powerful incentive [for farmworkers] to work extremely hard and fast, sometimes at the expense of their own safety,” said Zucker. He explained that for many farmworkers, spring means that winter savings have been drained, and the busy strawber ry season is the opportunity to “get financially back on their feet.”
During strawberry season, most growing operations shift to paying workers a piece-rate rather than hour ly wage. Zucker said Oxnard workers are paid about $2 for a large flat of strawberries.
“Safety precautions — like staying six feet apart or washing hands for 20 seconds — can easily fall by the wayside. Twenty seconds can feel like an eternity.” Even with many growers taking more steps aligned with best practices during the pandemic, there is still concern.
“They are doing better than usual. I’ll tell you, normally we get a lot of complaints,” Zucker said, noting that hand-washing stations often run out of soap or paper towels. But he said it seems “most growers are now taking extra precautions.”
Local agencies such as the Farm worker Resource Program are assisting in getting information out to workers. 30,000 educational outreach materials have been inserted into paycheck envelopes, and videos are pushed out using WhatsApp, to reach those who may not read or write. The materials are all provided in English, Spanish and Mixtec.
O’Donnell said these methods have been used in the past, and were height ened during the Thomas, Woolsey and Hill fires. She added that the idea of only working when you’re healthy is normal protocol, and all field crews should understand that if they are sick at all to stay home. “We have stressed that for a really long time.”
But she said the CSC is not responsi ble for regulation or ensuring all workers see or hear their information, or that employers properly implement them.
“We don’t have any regulatory authority over farmworker hygiene, or adherence to state/federal laws on sick leave,” said Ed Williams, Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner. He confirmed hygiene practices would be under the authority of Ventura County Public Health and then usually enforced by law enforcement. Labor issues like sick leave would fall under the purview of state and federal labor boards. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) investi gates complaints related to workplace safety filed by employees or representatives of employees.
Inspections by any of those regulatory agencies are complaint driven. “No one wants to file a claim during the pandemic . . . if you file with CalOSHA, they don’t do unannounced inspections,” said Zucker. “The indus try will often say ‘we are overregulated, look at all the agencies.’ It’s a patchwork riddled with holes.”
Part of the pandemic response in agriculture in the county has involved weekly calls with stakeholders includ ing advocates, growers and agencies — all trying to stay ahead of the virus.
Zucker points to a few local growers who are getting it right. “Brokaw Nursery and ranch, they immediately expanded sick leave. Good Farms and Reiter, they are the biggest ag employ er in Ventura County, they are a huge mega ag corporation and have all these affiliated farms [in the county]. Some do a good job, and as a company they put out some good health directives to their contractors.” But, he said, “At the end of the day, it’s the retailer, the dis tributor level . . . If Driscoll was doing random spot inspections, a lot more of the strawberry farms would be taking it really seriously.” He did offer that even the large companies may lack the capacity to do those kinds of checks. “I would be curious to see if they are inspecting their own supply chain.”
Ventura County Farmworker Resource Program information: 805-385-1899, email HSA-AGFRP@ventura.org or visit www.ventura.org/human-ser vices-agency/farmworker-resources/.
