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NEWS
NEWS WWW.VCREPORTER.COM COVID-19 News and Updates
by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
Photo by Gage Skidmore
Gov. Gavin Newsom
NEWSOM SIGNS ORDER TO PROTECT CASH-STRAPPED RENTERS
On March 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an order designed to “waive civil code” requirements and “allow localities to put moratoriums in place” on evictions and foreclosures related to decreased income and/or increase in medical expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including any actions taken by local government to protect the public. Newsom shared the news via a video on Facebook. The order is in effect through May 31, 2020.
The order includes protections related to keeping critical utilities for those burdened by the pandemic. 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD FOR DRIVER LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS
Gov. Newsom has implemented a 60-day grace period on the enforcement of expired driver licenses and vehicle registrations in order to reduce the demand for in-person services at offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles. In a video statement on March 16, Newsom said the grace period will be extended if needed. JUVENILE CORRECTIONS HIGH SCHOOL STILL OPEN
Officials with the juvenile correction center in Camarillo confirmed Monday that its high school is still operating and those employees are still expected to come to work.
The Division of Juvenile Justice “is committed to continuing education programs for youth and limiting the impact our COVID-19 response has on positive rehabilitative programming,” said an official with the California Department of Corrections on March 16, responding via email to the VCReporter. “We are actively adhering to social distancing and hygiene guidelines for classrooms and throughout the institution so that we may continue our overall mission of youth healing and community restoration.”
Local employees of the high school at the facility in Camarillo are required to report to work. CLOSED SCHOOLS TRYING TO CREATE ONLINE LEARNING
All public school districts in Ventura County are closed and have the option of providing tools and programs for online learning options for students. One issue they have to grapple with, however, is potential legal action if they are unable to ensure equity to all students.
Anything that is provided must be available “to every single one of them,” said Stan Mantooth, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. He said state and federal laws related to special needs children can “leave [the district] open to claims of discrimination . . . particularly with special needs students.”
Mantooth said Gov. Newsom “gave us some really good cover by allowing us to not follow all the state regulations related to providing online learning,” right now and those steps have “let us off the hook, if not for the federal government.”
According to Mantooth, the federal government has not provided “good guidance” about how to proceed with providing online learning, and that everything a district does must comply with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for special needs students.
Mantooth clarified that while a parent of a special needs student could waive the requirements, “that would not forestall a class action by a legal entity,” and he emphasized that some districts in the county are moving forward with creating online learning options. ♦
VC CORONAVIRUS REPORT Coronavirus restrictions increase VCPH calls for business closures, hospital preparation, testing access
by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
On Tuesday, March 17, Dr. Robert Levin, health officer with Ventura County Public Health, issued an order requiring all people over the age of 75 to shelter in their place of residence and that certain businesses close or operate by delivery, take-out or drivethrough only.
The order states, “Violation of any provision of this order constitutes a threat to public health.” The order is in effect beginning 12:01 a.m. on March 18, 2020, through 11:59 p.m. on April 10, 2020, unless extended or rescinded by Levin.
Levin’s order states, “All permanent food facilities, as defined by Health and Safety Code § 113849, may only prepare and offer food that is provided to customers via delivery service, via pick-up for takeout dining, and via drive-thru.”
Businesses that are ordered to close completely include “bars and nightclubs that do not serve food . . . movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys, and arcades…gyms and fitness centers and aquatic centers…wineries, breweries and tap rooms that provide tastings.”
The order clarifies, “bars and nightclubs that offer food to consumers may remain open only for purposes of continuing to prepare and offer food to consumers via delivery service, via pick-up or via drive-thru.”
“Permanent food facilities that provide and offer food to consumers for pick up must require patrons or groups of patrons who are ordering food and beverages to be and remain at least six (6) feet apart from each other while inside the facility.” SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER
All people aged 75 or older — “or equal to or older than 70 years of age with an active or unstable comorbity” (over 70 with health issues) — are “ordered to shelter at their place of residence.” If they are using shared or outdoor spaces, “they must at all times as reasonably possible maintain physical distancing of at least six feet from any other person.” Exceptions are allowed “to seek medical care, nutrition, or to perform essential work in healthcare or government.” COUNTY HOSPITAL SURGE CAPACITY
Dr. John Fankhauser, CEO of Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), said that whether the county has enough beds for treating patients with the virus “depends on how well our county controls this outbreak. We have as a county implemented measures early, like social distancing measures of closing schools.”
He added that Ventura County has acted quickly compared to the South Bay and King County.
“Some of those measures may help us with flattening the curve and if that is the case, we may not be overwhelmed.” VCMC has 16 isolation beds, and Santa Paula Hospital has four. County health officials have reported there are 80 total in the county.
Fankhauser is a medical doctor and was in Liberia during the 2014- 15 Ebola outbreak. For the first three months of the emergency, he worked at the ELWA hospital in Monrovia, which was the first center responding to the outbreak. He managed care for Ebola patients for three months, then set up an Ebola survivors hospital.
“Each of our hospitals is developing a surge plan for increasing capacity,” Fankhauser said. Steps include shifting some anesthesiologists from surgery to manage patients on ventilators. VCMC is also looking to increase nursing staff and move nurses from other settings to patient care in the hospital. “EMS and public health have been coordinating that effort countywide for each hospital . . . [determining their] surge capacity,” said Fankhauser. SHOULDN’T WE TEST EVERYONE?
“Many who want to get tested are not people who should get tested . . . In order to be reliable, to perceive [the results] as helpful, you have to do [the testing] in a population that has appropriate symptoms and significant exposure.” Fankhauser said. In areas that are seeing a successful stemming of the spread, such as South Korea, many people were tested — but they were people who met the criteria. “They had very accessible testing. I don’t think that translates to everyone getting tested. In our county we have been fortu
March 19, 2020 — — 5 March 19, 2020 — — nate [in being] able to test hospitalized patients very early.”
Fankhauser acknowledged the insufficient access to testing. “I think that is a national problem.” He emphasized that the county laboratory is equipped to test, and that Quest Diagnostics is also involved and can handle up to 20,000 tests a day at its San Juan Capistrano lab. “That goes a long way to helping us. We are looking at ways to access more testing supplies so we can expand testing.”
Five drive-through testing centers are slated to be active by the end of the week: one in Ventura, two in Oxnard, one in Fillmore and one in Moorpark with a drive-up center in Camarillo. A seventh drive-through site is planned for Thousand Oaks. Patients will be evaluated and the test conducted in their cars.
“Public health measures are critical. People who are ill need to isolate themselves . . . . if you have symptoms reach out to your doctor . . . The less physical contact people have with each other, the more likely we are to bring this virus under control.” ♦
