REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 13, 2021
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Report on Health Order Issued June 15, 2021
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Receive report providing information regarding Health Order issued June 15, 2021, for the control of the Novel Coronavirus.
(Presenter: Leonard X. Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, 387-5417)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China 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.
On March 4, 2020, the State of California declared 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, including potential deaths. 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 will appear within the county. On March 10, 2020 (Item No. 75), the Board of Supervisors (Board) proclaimed the existence of a local emergency within San Bernardino County (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.
On May 8, 2020, in direct response to the strain on the healthcare infrastructure, the County Health Officer issued Health Order entitled “Requirements for All Individuals Entering Certain Licensed Facilities and Other Agencies Who Are Not A Patient, Existing Resident or New Resident” to slow the spread of COVID-19 in order to reduce the numbers of individuals infected at any one time by minimizing situations where the virus would spread.
On June 15, 2021, the County Health Officer issued Health Order entitled “Requirements and Recommendations for All Individuals Pertaining to Screening, Self-Evaluation for COVID-19 Symptoms and Masking in a Business, Public Agency, Nonprofit, Faith-Based, Licensed Entity or Other Agencies and Organizations” that supersedes and replaces related Health Orders issued on May 8, 2020, entitled “Requirements for All Individuals Entering Certain Licensed Facilities and Other Agencies Who Are Not A Patient, Existing Resident or New Resident.”
This report will include information on the steps taken to control the spread of COVID-19, including the Health Order issued by the County Health Officer on June 15, 2021, which follows guidelines set forth by the California Department of Public Health. In accordance with County Charter Section 705, all orders issued by the County Health Officer addressed to the public at large shall be reviewed by the Board at a public meeting within 30 days of issuance.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Robert Messinger, Chief Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 1, 2021; Finance (Stephenie Shea, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) July 1, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on July 2, 2021.