Ventura County Public Health Comments About Use of Face Masks

Today, April, 2, 2020, the Ventura County Public Health Officer changes position on face masks, no longer advising against wearing them in public. Instead, he supports those residents who wish to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential travel to doctor appointments, grocery shopping or pharmacy visits. The face coverings should not be hospital grade at this time because there is a shortage and our health professionals need them. Masks should be homemade and cover the nose and mouth. There are numerous sites online which demonstrate or give patterns for how to make fabric masks.

The Camarillo Sewing Brigade provides video instruction at bit.ly/MakeMask.

Additional instruction at www.instructables.com/id/AB-Mask-for-a-Nurse-by-a-Nurse.

Fabric masks can be washed and used again.

For decades, Public Health officials nationwide and locally have said that wearing a mask for protection against the flu is unnecessary for the general public. Now, Ventura County Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin says circumstances have changed. “There is growing evidence that people can have COVID-19 without any symptoms and that they can pass it to others at this stage. Many people wear masks thinking it will protect them from a virus, and in certain cases it may. That may also be true for COVID-19 especially if accompanied by good hand hygiene and social distancing, but now there may be a better reason to wear a mask; it will decrease the chance of you spreading it to someone else if you have the infection asymptomatically.”

This is particularly important if decreasing spread means not infecting a senior or someone with other chronic conditions. “In light of building evidence, I support those who wish to wear a mask in public. I don’t think everyone must do so, but I look upon those who do as making a responsible decision. I never thought I’d say that.” It is imperative though, that the use of masks by members of the public not contribute to the shortage of personal protective equipment needed by first responders like health care workers. If someone chooses to wear a mask in public, it should be home made, at least until there is no more shortage. “I’m not ready to wear a mask yet but I will respect those who do. It’s going to be hard for me to not start wearing one,” said Doctor Levin. “Covering your face doesn’t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing, but it’s an extra layer of protection that I think is reasonable to add.”

The rationale for covering one’s face comes from the belief that transmission occurs primarily through droplets from an infected individual, which fabrics may filter. This not only helps to reduce the risk a well person can breathe those droplets in, but also protects others around someone with mild or no symptoms who may not yet realize they have the COVID-19 infection. Face coverings may be worn anytime a person is outside of their home, even in offices of essential businesses.

“We must work together to stop the spread and save lives in our County,” said Doctor Levin. “That means that flattening the curve may benefit from another layer of protection against the virus. Consider the additional step to cover your face.” Health officials continue to stress that frequent hand washing, social distancing and staying home are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Stay in your place, maintain your space and cover your face.

Ventura County Public Health Announces Additional Limitations on Activities and Businesses 3/31/20

The Ventura County Health Officer issued an order on March 31, 2020 that expands upon previous “Stay Well at Home” orders issued March 17th and March 20th. Here is what this additional order calls for:

• Restaurants offering takeout:

  • Must provide food completely contained in a suitable container to customers (e.g. an ice cream cone is not allowed unless served inside a covered container).

  • Patrons must consume food elsewhere (e.g. not within the line of sight of a person standing in front of the facility).

  • Everyone ordering or congregating at a food facility shall maintain at least a 6 foot distance from others.

• Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, convenience stores and other establishments that sell food, beverages, pet supplies or household (cleaning and personal care) products shall not sell other items such as clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, furniture, etc.

  • Only businesses whose primary business is the above items may operate. Other businesses whose gross sales over the last 6 months is less than 33% such items may not operate.

• Auto repair shops and supply stores may operate. Auto sales and showrooms may not.

• All swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, etc. must not operate, with the exception of single-family residences that may be used only by members of the household.

• All campgrounds and RV parks must close.

• Door to door solicitations must cease for any purpose - sales of goods, charitable contributions, signature gathering, etc.

The violation of any provision of the order constitutes a threat to public health. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

The order ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 19th.

View the order at cdn.ventura.org.

All Ventura County School Districts to Close Campuses Through Remainder of School Year

All Ventura County School Districts to Close Campuses Through Remainder of School Year

Distance Learning and School Meals Will Continue

All Ventura County School Districts today agreed to keep their campuses closed through the end of the school year in support of the coronavirus mitigation effort. The decision was made in consultation with Ventura County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin. It comes after recommendations from California Governor Gavin Newsom and California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond for schools to continue providing distance learning in lieu of in-class instruction for the remainder of the current semester.

“While we would like nothing more than to welcome students back to campus before the end of the year, the health and safety of our communities has to be the first priority,” said Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth. “We realize the situation is fluid and schools are prepared to alter their plans as conditions warrant.”

Superintendent Mantooth emphasized that the closure of school facilities does not mean the current school year is over. Ventura County school districts are already providing distance learning opportunities for students and will continue making them more robust. Many have transitioned to online learning platforms and provided laptops and wi-fi hot spots to students who need them. Others are using paper-based materials when technological solutions are not practical.

“We understand that these closures place a tremendous burden on families and we will do everything we can to expand distance learning and continue providing meal service to students in need,” Mantooth said. Grab-n-go school meals continue to be widely available throughout Ventura County. A list of pick-up locations is available at www.vcoe.org/meals.

One of the most difficult aspects of the closure is the disruption to traditional end-of-year activities including graduation ceremonies. Schools are already exploring alternative ways to celebrate the end of the year and recognize our students for their accomplishments.

The Ventura County school districts that jointly agreed to extend their campus closures are listed below. Most Ventura County charter schools are expected to follow suit.

• Briggs School District

• Conejo Valley Unified School District

• Fillmore Unified School District

• Hueneme Elementary School District

• Las Virgenes Unified School District*

• Mesa Union School District

• Moorpark Unified School District

• Mupu Elementary School District

• Oak Park Unified School District

• Ocean View School District

• Ojai Unified School District

• Oxnard School District (K-8)

• Oxnard Union High School District

• Pleasant Valley School District

• Rio School District

• Santa Clara Elementary School District

• Santa Paula Unified School District

• Simi Valley Unified School District

• Somis Union School District

• Ventura Unified School District

For the latest updates on the impact of the coronavirus on Ventura County public schools including closures, meal service and distance learning, please visit the Ventura County Office of Education website at www.vcoe.org.

* Las Virgenes Unified School District is based in Los Angeles County, but serves a portion of Ventura County.

All California State Parks in Los Angeles County Closed Effective March 31st

Effective March 31, 2020, all California State Park Trails in LA County are currently closed at this time. In support of the state's efforts, California State Parks has taken various safety measures to avoid dangerous visitation surges and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as closing vehicle access at ALL 280 state parks, and fully closing others.

A list of closures can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30355. State Park Peace Officers, in cooperation with allied law enforcement entities, will continue patrolling all state park units and enforcing all regulations.

trails.lacounty.gov/Alert/4161/ca-state-park-trails-in-la-county-closed

National Park Service to Close Trails in Ventura County on Weekends

The National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains is Modifying

Operations to Implement Local Health Guidance

Trails in Ventura County Will Be Closed on Weekends

The National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains, in response to guidance from the State of California and Ventura County, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The NPS is offering very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. The following services and operations will be modified to support health orders issued by the state and county:

Trails, trailheads, restrooms, pullouts and overlooks in Ventura County will be closed from 2 p.m. on Fridays until 6 a.m. on Mondays until further notice beginning April 3. This includes:

• Rancho Sierra Vista, including the Wendy Trailhead.

• All trails within Circle X, including Sandstone Peak, Mishe Mokwa, the Grotto trail, the Backbone Trail and all connecting trails and overlooks along Yerba Buena Road.

• Cheeseboro Canyon trailhead.

• Deer Creek, including all lands, pullouts and overlooks.

All hiking, biking and equestrian trails in Ventura County will remain accessible from 6 a.m. Monday until 2 p.m. on Fridays. All visitors are required to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and others.

Please stay tuned as conditions and health guidance could change. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at the NPS is our number one priority. The NPS is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the park resumes full operations, the public will be notified via the website www.nps.gov/samo and our social media channels (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook). For updates regarding general NPS operations, visit www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

If contemplating a visit to a national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.

IRS Issues an Update on "Economic Impact Payments"

Economic impact payments:

What you need to know

Check IRS.gov for the latest information: No action needed by most people at this time

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.

Who is eligible for the economic impact payment?

Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.

Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.

How will the IRS know where to send my payment?

The vast majority of people do not need to take any action. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the economic impact payment to those eligible.

For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.

The IRS does not have my direct deposit information. What can I do?

In the coming weeks, Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.

I am not typically required to file a tax return. Can I still receive my payment?

Yes. People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.

How can I file the tax return needed to receive my economic impact payment?

IRS.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information instructing people in these groups on how to file a 2019 tax return with simple, but necessary, information including their filing status, number of dependents and direct deposit bank account information.

I have not filed my tax return for 2018 or 2019. Can I still receive an economic impact payment?

Yes. The IRS urges anyone with a tax filing obligation who has not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 to file as soon as they can to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include direct deposit banking information on the return.

I need to file a tax return. How long are the economic impact payments available?

For those concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return, these economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.

Where can I get more information?

The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus as soon as it becomes available.

The IRS has a reduced staff in many of its offices but remains committed to helping eligible individuals receive their payments expeditiously. Check for updated information on IRS.gov/coronavirus rather than calling IRS assistors who are helping process 2019 returns.

Ventura County Library Provides Virtual Services During COVID-19 Shutdown

Ventura County Library continues to provide services during the COVID-19 emergency while staff and customers are sheltering at home.

DATE: Ongoing

Ventura County Library continues to provide services during the COVID-19 emergency while staff and customers are sheltering at home. Many library services continue to be available.

Those services include: eBooks and eAudiobooks are available in our CloudLibrary collection at: https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/venturacountylibrary/Featured. Ventura County Library has recently dedicated extra funds to this collection to aid our customers during the County’s Stay Well at Home order.

eLibrary online resources at https://www.vencolibrary.org/elibrary including streaming music and movies, reference resources, newspapers, language learning, and literacy resources.

Storytimes – recorded on our YouTube channel at: https://bit.ly/VCLstory and https://bit.ly/vclSTEAM

Storytimes – live streamed on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Ventura-County-Library-68759970694/

• Monday-Friday at 10:30am and Friday at 3:30pm

  • Including a STEAM storytime on Thursdays at 10:30am

• Bilingual Storytime Monday at 3:30pm

Don't have a card? Check our Get a Library card page https://bit.ly/VCLcard to get a temporary number.

Due to the local COVID-19 emergency all Ventura County Library branches have closed and all programs and events canceled.

During this time, due dates for borrowed materials are being automatically extended, with no late fines assessed. Once the library reopens, customers may return materials. Until then, customers are asked to enjoy the items at home. Book drops are locked during our closure.

Placing holds is suspended and we encourage customers to keep lists of items and place holds once we reopen. The holds queue for materials is also paused, and when we reopen customers will have one week to pick up held items.

Ventura County Library is in constant communication with other departments, local officials, and health authorities. Stay updated on the latest regional developments of COVID-19 at https://www.vcemergency.com.

For additional information, contact Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director at (805) 256-8535

National Park Service Closes All Trails in Los Angeles County Until Further Notice

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is Modifying

Operations to Implement Local Health Guidance

All Trails in Los Angeles County Closed

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), in response to guidance from the State of California and Los Angeles County, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

As of March 28, 2020, SMMNRA will offer very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. At SMMNRA, the following services and operations will be modified to support health orders issued by the state and county:

All trails and restrooms in Los Angeles County are now closed.

We ask that the public please observe all posted signs.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at SMMNRA is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the park resumes full operations, the public will be notified via the website www.nps.gov/samo and our social media channels (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook). For updates regarding general NPS operations, visit www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Park rangers at SMMNRA are available to answer questions at 805-370-2301 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

If contemplating a visit to a national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.