California has 157 confirmed coronavirus COVID-19 cases — not counting passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland — and two deaths.
More than 10,000 people who returned to the U.S. via San Francisco or Los Angeles airports are monitoring themselves; 19 labs statewide have testing kits.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted unanimously to declare a local emergency, while ratifying a concurrent declaration of a local health emergency for COVID-19, which has infected 118,500 around the world with 4, 2626 fatalities including 27 in the U.S. as of March 10.
Two cases have been confirmed in Santa Cruz County, with both patients in isolation and recovering.
“The measures we are taking are guided by the best available science and after consulting state and federal experts,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Caput said. “We support Public Health’s efforts and ask all residents to take precautions to assure the health and safety of themselves and their family members.”
The parking lot at the Cavallaro Transit Center in Scotts Valley, usually filled by cars parked by Silicon Valley commuters, has plenty of room on March 10 after tech companies across the Bay Area recommended employees work from home. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
New Cancellations
- March 9 rally for ocean protection by Save Our Shores at Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting in Santa Cruz. New date to be announced.
- March 11 Santa Cruz Business Expo at Coconut Grove, Santa Cruz. New date to be announced by Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce.
- March 12 Community Brainstorm with new executive director Robb Woulfe and March 14 Open House at Museum of Art & History known as MAH in Santa Cruz postponed. New dates to be announced. Museum remains open; online version of Community Brainstorm planned.
- March 14 Aptos High/Jr. High Choir Concert at Aptos High School in Aptos.
- March 21 Calvary Episcopal Church community forum in Santa Cruz on labyrinths.
New Process
The City of Santa Cruz is limiting attendance of City Council meetings in the council chamber to 50 people with an overflow area in the Tony Hill Room. The city encourages people to view City Council meetings on the city website: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-council/council-meetings, on http://communitytv.org/watch/government-demand/ or on channel 25.
There will continue to be public comment during the meeting for each agenda item under the “Oral Communications/Public Comment,” city spokesman Ralph Dimarucut said, adding that “the public should be prepared for logistical adjustments due to the Council Chamber room capacity being temporarily limited to 50 people.”
Members of the public can submit comments via email to cityclerk@cityofsantacruz.com; include the agenda item number and title in the email’s subject line. All emails are shared with councilmembers and considered part of the public record.
The Show Goes On
March 28-29: Santa Cruz Symphony plans to give its concerts on March 28 & 29 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz and the Henry Mello Center in Watsonville, following state guidance for events and staying in contact with Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, should the coronavirus outbreak escalate. In the event of a cancellation, all ticketholders will get notice via email, and they are advised to check SantaCruzSymphony.org/news or SantaCruzTickets.com for the latest information. The Symphony reports the Civic and Mello will be sanitizing all seats, bathrooms, and high traffic areas, plus providing hand sanitizers.
Rescheduled
The new dates for the 2020 Sea Otter Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey will be October 1- 4, 2020.
Sick Leave Bill
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced March 9 that he co-sponsored the Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal Family Care Act to provide paid sick days immediately to workers in light of coronavirus COVID-19. The legislation builds on the Healthy Families Act, H.R. 1784, of which Panetta is a cosponsor, that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave.
The federal Centers for Disease Control recommend people stay home from work if they are sick but an estimated 27 percent of private sector workers do not have paid sick days.
The Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal Family Care Act would require all employers to allow workers to accrue seven days of paid sick leave and to provide an additional 14 days immediately for any public health emergency, including the current coronavirus. The bill would ensure paid sick leave covers days when your child’s school is closed due to a public health emergency, when your employer is closed due to public health emergency, or if you or a family member is quarantined or isolated due to a public health emergency.
Blood Needed
The American Red Cross urges healthy, eligible individuals who are feeling well to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply during the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19. Donors with type O blood and platelet donors are especially needed right now.
Cold and flu season has already impacted the nation’s ability to maintain its blood supply, the Red Cross said.
“As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most,” said Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Blood Services.
To make an appointment to donate blood, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Story By Jondi Gumz