REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 25, 2020
FROM
CORWIN PORTER, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Public Health for Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in San Bernardino County for COVID-19
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No.1, effective July 21, 2020, to Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding County Agreement No. 20-582 (State Agreement No. 19-11178) with the California Department of Public Health for Emergency Medical and Health Disaster Assistance relating to Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in San Bernardino County for COVID-19, with no change to the agreement period of June 26, 2020 through December 26, 2020.
(Presenter: Corwin Porter, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The recommended amendment is non-financial in nature and as such, does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommended amendment to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) County Agreement No. 20-582 (State Agreement No. 19-11178) with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will provide the Department of Public Health (DPH) an additional 30 State employees increasing the original 25 State employees requested by DPH on June 26, 2020, for a total of up to 55 State employees. Due to the increased need by local health jurisdictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the State is amending the MOU to increase State staffing resources in order to assist with critically needed Case Investigation and Contact Tracing (CICT) efforts within the County to contain the spread of COVID-19. These efforts are provided through the State’s mutual aid system, free of charge, for the period of June 26, 2020 to December 26, 2020.
CDPH, the lead department for the State program, California Connected, is tasked with, and responsible for, the deployment of state’s Disaster Service Workers to assist local public health jurisdictions with contact tracing efforts. The MOU established program-specific guidelines and expectations, such as State CICT Personnel assisting the County with CICT work to meet the County’s specific needs.
On July 4, 2020 (Item No. 24), the Board of Supervisors (Board) ratified the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) exercise of the authority granted to him by the Board in approving Non-Financial County Agreement No. 20-582 (State Agreement No. 19-11178) with the CDPH for Emergency Medical and Health Disaster Assistance relating to Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in San Bernardino County for COVID-19, for the period of June 26, 2020 through December 26, 2020, signed by the CEO on June 25, 2020.
The COVID-19 virus originated in late 2019 and began spreading, initially, within China and then to other countries. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a “public health emergency of international concern”. This was followed on January 31, 2020 by the United States Human Services Secretary declaring a public health emergency. Cases internationally, within the US and within California, as evidenced by the Governor’s Proclamation, continue to rise.
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak due to the rising number of confirmed cases and anticipated complications for those infected. On March 10, 2020, the County Public Health Officer declared a local health emergency to help ensure county government and the public were prepared for the possibility that COVID-19 would appear within the county. On March 10, 2020 (Item No. 75), the Board proclaimed the existence of a local emergency within San Bernardino County resulting from COVID-19, which causes infectious disease resulting in symptoms of fever, coughing and shortness of breath with outcomes ranging from mild to severe illness and in some cases, death.
Amendment No. 1 to Non-Financial MOU County Agreement No. 20-582 (State Agreement No. 19-11178) with CDPH is being presented to the Board at this time as the amendment was received from CDPH on July 21, 2020. This is the first date available following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews for presentation. Approval by the Board at this time will have no impact on DPH’s contact tracing services.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on August 10, 2020; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 11, 2020; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on August 10, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on August 10, 2020.