Title
Chief Administrative Officer recommending the Board:
1) Receive an update from County Counsel regarding the County’s obligation to adhere to orders from the Governor;
2) Receive an update from Dr. Nancy Williams, Public Health Officer, on the current status of COVID-19 in El Dorado County and surrounding counties and her plan for a phased re-opening approach;
3) Authorize the Board Chair and the Public Health Officer to sign the attached letter to the Governor requesting approval for El Dorado County transition to Phase 2 of re-opening the county for individuals and businesses; and
4) Provide direction to staff on any additional actions that should be taken at this time, including whether to send a letter to the Governor requesting approval to relax his current stay-at-home orders in El Dorado County. (Est. Time: 2.5 Hr.)
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On March 12, 2020, the County’s Public Health Officer declared a local health emergency based on an imminent and proximate threat to public health from the introduction of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the County of El Dorado. The Board of Supervisors ratified the local health emergency on March 17, 2020 and such emergency shall remain in effect until terminated by the Board of Supervisors.
On March 12, 2020, the Director of the Office of Emergency Services proclaimed a local emergency based on conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the County of El Dorado as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the Board of Supervisors ratified the local emergency on March 17, 2020. This emergency shall remain in effect until terminated by the Board of Supervisors.
On March 18, 2020, the Governor of the State of California executed Executive Order N-32-20 declaring that the COVID-19 emergency required a focused approach that would include emergency protective measures to bring “unsheltered Californians safely indoors, expand shelter capacity, maintain health and sanitation standards and institute medically indicated interventions” to slow the spread of the pandemic.
On March 19, 2020, Dr. Williams, the County's Public Health Officer, issued a directive for all County residents to remain at home except to engage in “essential activities,” effective 11:59 PM, March 20, 2020, to slow the spread of COVID-19. The directive applies to the unincorporated areas of the County, the City of Placerville and the City of South Lake Tahoe.
On March 19, 2020, the Governor released an executive order, requiring Californians to stay at home for an indefinite amount of time.
On March 31, 2020, Dr. Williams extended the County's Shelter-in-Place Directive through April 30, 2020.
Additionally, on April 3, 2020, acknowledging that continued inappropriate travel into the Lake Tahoe Basin was still occurring, Dr. Williams issued an order restricting travel into the Lake Tahoe Basin. Specifically, Dr. Williams ordered “the cessation of all nonessential travel into the El Dorado County portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin effective immediately.” The order is to remain in place through April 30, 2020, unless extended, terminated, or modified by the Health Officer.
On April 14, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted an urgency ordinance to authorize administrative citations and fines for violations of the Health Officer’s April 3, 2020 Order implementing the Governor’s stay-at-home order. The ordinance authorizes citations and fines to any person or business violating the Health Officer’s Order, including for travel to vacation home rental properties and travel to and occupancy of private vacation or second homes by the owner for non-essential purposes.
County residents and businesses have been under stay-at-home order for over one month. A number of local businesses have been closed during this period of time, especially those in the restaurant and services industries, as those businesses were deemed by the State to be non-essential.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Public Health Department, Sheriff
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Provide signed letter to Chief Administrative Office to be submitted to the Governor.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance, Healthy Communities, Economic Development, Public Safety
CONTACT
Don Ashton, Chief Administrative Officer