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DATE: |
October 11, 2022 |
13 |
SUBJECT
Title
RECEIVE UPDATES AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS REGARDING THE COVID-19 AND MONKEYPOX EMERGENCY RESPONSES, AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTINUANCE OF TELECONFERENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
As seen nationwide, community transmission of the COVID-19 and monkeypox (MPOX) viruses are occurring locally and as a result, San Diego County currently has two active emergency responses. As a leader in infectious disease control within California and across the United States, the preparation for and response to communicable disease events, outbreaks, and emerging infectious disease threats remain high priorities for the County of San Diego (County). The County continues to make significant, ongoing efforts to address these health emergencies with sustainable approaches.
Today’s actions request the Board to receive an update on the local COVID-19 response; adopt a resolution entitled RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTINUANCE OF TELECONFERENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953; and receive an update on the monkeypox local health emergency response and to find that there is a continuing need for the local health emergency.
This item supports the County’s vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind, as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by protecting the health of residents against the COVID-19 pandemic and the monkeypox outbreak.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Receive update on the COVID-19 response.
2. Adopt a resolution entitled RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTINUANCE OF TELECONFERENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953.
3. Receive update on the monkeypox response and find that there is a continuing need for the local health emergency for monkeypox until no longer needed subject to the California Health and Safety Code Section 101080 requirements.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
In order to support the most vulnerable, an equity lens and risk-based approach was used to prioritize, when appropriate, the distribution of COVID-19 response and recovery-related federal, State, and local funding and resources, and the distribution of monkeypox (MPOX) vaccine and related resources. This was based on a data-driven approach, identifying communities that have the highest need for support in relation to the number of positive COVID-19 cases and the number of positive MPOX cases.
Through press conferences and presentations at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors meetings, the County of San Diego (County) has been able to disseminate critical information about the efforts being done to address and combat the COVID-19 pandemic and MPOX outbreak to a wide audience, as well as providing a forum to receive public comment. Helping people make the best-informed decisions to protect their health and the health of their community requires providing key health promotion and harm reduction prevention information to the public and working with partners and trusted messengers to ensure information reaches affected communities. In order to continue the County’s commitment to transparency and open government and to remove traditional barriers to access and participation in government affairs, today’s actions provide the mechanism to present updates on the current COVID-19 and monkeypox outbreak response efforts that have an impact on the lives of Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, youth, the LGBTQ+ community, and the economically disadvantaged.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions align with the County of San Diego Sustainability Goals, including engaging the community and protecting health and wellbeing. Implementation of the proposed actions will provide an opportunity to engage the community by transparently sharing any results of the pandemic and outbreak response and/or outcomes and to protect the health and wellbeing of the residents of San Diego County.
FISCAL IMPACT
COVID-19 Response
It is estimated that through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) ending June 30, 2022, the County of San Diego (County) will have spent over one billion dollars on overall COVID-19 response costs, excluding federally dedicated program funds for programs such as rental assistance and nutrition services. Funding sources include Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), County General Fund Balance, Realignment, and program revenues available for response efforts. In FY 2022-23, the County will rely on ARPA funding, as well as FEMA, other stimulus funds, program revenues, Realignment, and County General Fund Balance to cover response costs as needed. The County will continue to pursue other federal and State stimulus revenue and funding sources as made available.
Monkeypox Outbreak Response
It is estimated that the cost in responding to the monkeypox outbreak is approximately $1.8 million as of September 30, 2022. Costs are being covered by existing Realignment and General Purpose Revenue. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency will continue to pursue federal and State revenues to cover response costs. There is no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
This action will help support individuals, families, and small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
As a result of community transmissions of COVID-19 and monkeypox (MPOX) in San Diego County, as with other areas throughout the nation, the County of San Diego (County) is actively engaged in emergency responses to both outbreaks. As a leader in infectious disease control within California and across the United States, the preparation for and response to communicable disease events, outbreaks, and emerging infectious disease threats remain high priorities for the County. The emergency responses allow for:
• other political subdivisions to provide mutual aid in accordance with local ordinances, plans, and agreements;
• state agencies to provide mutual aid including personnel, equipment, and other resources;
• protections for medical personnel who provide medical services during the response at the request of local officials; and
• enhanced community awareness as the County continues its COVID-19 and MPOX response efforts.
COVID-19 Response
A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in China in December 2019. Since then, the virus has rapidly spread across the globe, resulting in the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. On February 14, 2020, the San Diego County Public Health Officer issued a Declaration of Local Health Emergency, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 101080. Additionally, on that day, pursuant to California Government Code 8630, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), serving as the County of San Diego Director of Emergency Services and the Coordinator of the Unified San Diego County Emergency Services Organization, issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency regarding COVID-19. The requirements to renew the Declaration of Local Health Emergency and Proclamation of Local Emergency for COVID-19 were explicitly waived on March 4, 2020, in the Proclamation of a State of Emergency for California by Governor Gavin Newsom and remain in effect for the duration of the State of Emergency.
As with other areas throughout the nation, there is community transmission of COVID-19 in San Diego County. In order to maintain transparency and to protect the health of the public, the County continues regular updates to disseminate critical information about the efforts being done to address and combat the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the public remains informed and safe in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. The County has made significant efforts to slow down the spread of the virus, which in turn helps to avoid an increase in the cases that overwhelm the healthcare system.
MPOX Response
In May 2022, clusters of MPOX cases were identified in multiple countries. The first case of MPOX in the U.S. was confirmed in Massachusetts on May 20, 2022, and the first case in California was confirmed on May 27, 2022. The first case of MPOX in San Diego County was reported on June 15, 2022. The global outbreak of MPOX is rapidly changing day-to-day. MPOX is an unusual disease caused by infection with the MPOX virus. It is spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and symptoms of MPOX include rash, fever, muscle aches, and respiratory symptoms. Although most cases of MPOX resolve within a few weeks, MPOX can cause serious symptoms, including severe pain, hospitalization and, in rare cases, death.
On July 23, 2022, the WHO declared the multi-country spread of MPOX to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which constitutes its highest alert level. On August 1, 2022, Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency as part of California’s response to the MPOX outbreak. On August 2, 2022, the San Diego County Public Health Officer issued a Declaration of Local Health Emergency, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 101080, as a result of the global outbreak of MPOX and the local impacts to public health. On August 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the ongoing spread of the MPOX virus a public health emergency. On August 9, 2022 (1), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) ratified the Declaration of Local Health Emergency regarding MPOX. Unlike COVID-19, the MPOX local health emergency must be reviewed by the Board at least every 30 days until the earliest possible date that conditions warrant the termination.
The County has made significant efforts to slow down the spread of the virus, through the activation of community leaders and trusted messengers, enhanced contracted services to provide person-centered messaging and foot teams in communities most impacted, increased contact tracers with training in sexual health interviewing, enhanced communication with healthcare providers for testing and treatment, and additional health promotion and harm reduction communication, education, and outreach to other communities that are at risk for MPOX outbreaks.
The County continues to make significant, ongoing efforts to address these health emergencies with sustainable response approaches. Today’s actions request the Board to receive an update on the local COVID-19 and MPOX responses and find that there is a continuing need for the local health emergency, related to MPOX, until no longer needed subject to the California Health and Safety Code 101080 requirements. In addition, the Board is requested to adopt a resolution entitled, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTINUANCE OF TELECONFERENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Equity (Health) and Community (Safety) initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, as well as the regional Live Well San Diego vision, by protecting the population from the COVID-19 pandemic and from the global outbreak of monkeypox virus.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTINUANCE OF TELECONFERENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953