Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
COVID-19 UPDATE (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
During this unprecedented pandemic, the City of Carson has had to adhere to Federal, State and County Executive orders, which initially helped slow the spread of the virus but it did so by shutting down our local businesses and severely impacting our economy. Our residents and businesses were directed by the State to follow stay-at-home orders, with the exception of employees who were determined to have an essential job or for residents to shop for essential needs. For the first time in its incorporated history, the City was not allowed to operate in any capacity outside of health measures dictated by the Federal, State and County governments.
As of the preparation of this report on January 21, 2021, Los Angeles County Public Health Department has reported 7,499 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the City of Carson, with 1,031,874 cases within Los Angeles County (which includes cases reported by the Long Beach and Pasadena Health Departments). This underreports the actual spread of the virus since those who do not display symptoms or are otherwise mildly impacted have not been tested.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
DISCUSS and PROVIDE direction.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
Due to the Southern California Region’s ICU capacity being less than 15% (currently at 0%), Los Angeles County remains under the Regional Stay at Home Order with restrictions or closures for most businesses. Los Angeles County also remains in the most restrictive tier (Purple)
On January 4, 2021, the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency issued new directives to ambulance providers to reduce the demand surge currently experienced by overburdened hospitals. One directs ambulances to only administer oxygen to patients with oxygen saturation below 90% in order to conserve the oxygen that is in short supply. The other directs them to not transport to hospitals patients who experience cardiac arrest and cannot be resuscitated in the field - determination of death should be made instead. These measures are being taken as hospitals continue to be stretched past capacity with now over 8,000 COVID-related hospitalizations across Los Angeles County.
California has approximately 2% vaccinated (1st dose). The slow rollout in the state is emblematic of vaccine roll-out problems nationwide with only about 3.9% of the population receiving one dose of vaccine. States are continuing to develop strategies to increase the rate of vaccinations. California finalized vaccination prioritization groups Phase 1b and 1c this week. As of the date of this report, the following locations are Vaccine Super Sites for Los Angeles County: Dodger Stadium, Six Flags Magic Mountain, The Great Western Forum and Cal State University, Northridge (CSUN). All of the LA County sites are being offered to Phases 1A, 1B and a portion of 1C.
Small Business Programs
The City of Carson, in partnership with the California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA), launched the Carson Small Business Coronavirus Business Assistance Program to provide support for small business impacted by the COVID-19 virus and associated restrictions. The program has been providing technical assistance to businesses seeking Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding (now ended), other loan programs as well as general business assistance in managing this crisis. Businesses in Carson are eligible for emergency loans of up to $30,000 from the City of Carson’s own Loan Program funded with $500,000. Please visit carson.cceda.com or call (213) 348-7504.
City Rental Assistance Program
The City of Carson has created a one-time Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals and families renting in Carson and financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will continue until funds run out.
The financial assistance is available for up to a maximum of $10,000 per qualified households and based on actual need for monthly rent payment, and does not have to be repaid.
For more information on the ERA program please visit: <http://ci.carson.ca.us/CommunityDevelopment/housing_cdbg.aspx> or call (310) 233-4829.
City Hall
City Hall is operating on Safer Hours and open to public by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays from 7 AM to 6 PM. The public is encouraged to utilize online and telephonic services as much as possible.
For the week of January 18 - January 21
|
CITY HALL |
APPOINTMENTS |
|
Human Resources |
0 |
|
Purchasing |
0 |
|
Public Works |
0 |
|
Building & Safety |
5 |
|
City Clerk/City Manager |
0 |
|
Business License |
4 |
|
Community Development |
0 |
|
TOTALS |
9 |
Parks
Parks are open for passive activities (walking, jogging, running). A face-covering and social distancing is required. Outdoor park restrooms are open during operating hours. Tennis courts are open for individuals or members of a single household (face-covering required).
Recreation Programs
Group in-person recreation programs are currently suspended due to public health orders.
Kids Club/Licensed Childcare Programs
Per guidance provided by State and County authorities, the City was permitted to reopen a number of programs, namely Kids Club/Licensed Childcare programs at our parks.
The following table summarizes the number of participants for:
Week of January 18 - January 21, 2021
|
PARK |
ALL DAY |
AFTERNOON |
TOTAL |
|
Calas |
11 |
0 |
11 |
|
Carson |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Del Amo |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Dolphin |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Veterans |
16 |
0 |
16 |
Carson and Los Angeles County Cases per 100K
Hospitalizations
Medical Point of Dispensing (MPOD)
The City of Carson is in active planning and partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on the establishment of a Medical Point of Dispensing (MPOD) for the COVID vaccine. Current planning targets the utilization of the Community Center as a central hub site for dispensing of the Moderna vaccine for three to six months beginning as early as February. The City is actively seeking to be selected as one of the County’s sites. Vaccines will likely start with the Phase 1B population and continue forward with successive phases until it is open to the general public.
Vaccines with Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA)
|
Pfizer-BioNTech |
Two dose series separated by 21 days. Indicated ages of 16 years and up. EUA issued by FDA on December 11, 2020. |
|
Moderna |
Two dose series separated by 28 days. Indicated ages of 18 years and up. EUA issued by FDA on December 18, 2020. |
Vaccine Phases
|
Phase 1A |
• Tier 1: Healthcare workers in hospitals and settings with direct or indirect exposure and health-care workers and residents in skilled nursing facilities, and long-term care facilities. • Tier 2: Healthcare workers in settings such as home health, community health, primary care, urgent care clinics. • Tier 3: Healthcare workers in settings such as COVID-19 testing, laboratories, occupational health, optometry, pharmacy. • Persons over 65 years old. • Persons 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions. |
|
Phase 1B |
• Front essential workers in: corrections, education, first responders, food & agriculture, grocery stores, manufacturing, people experiencing homelessness, public transit, U.S. Postal Service. |
|
Phase 1C |
• Other essential workers in: energy, finance, food service, IT & communication, legal, media, public safety engineers, shelter and housing, transportation and logistics, waste & wastewater. |
|
Phase 2 (proposed) |
• Persons 16-64 years old without high-risk medical conditions. |
V. FISCAL IMPACT
Staff costs are being incurred by the City for the coordination, surveillance, communication and management of the COVID-19 local emergency, as well as costs for procuring related services and supplies. City costs are either being covered by existing department appropriations or new appropriations from the General Fund. All costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic are being tracked separately by staff who will continue to pursue all available reimbursements for eligible City costs incurred.
VI. EXHIBITS
N/A
Prepared by: David C. Roberts, Jr., Assistant City Manager