Updated Stay Well at Home Order Issued by Ventura County Health Officer Today, April 18th

A new order was issued by Ventura County Public Health today, effective at 11:59PM, superceding all previous orders. The detailed 19 page order is posted on the vcemergency.com website in a pdf at vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/VCNC/2020-04-18_Signed_15V8544-Final-Final_Master_Ord.pdf. The order is in effect until 11:59 pm on May 15th.

Here are some highlights:

1. All persons are ordered to stay at their homes. Homeless are exempt from this, but are strongly urged to obtain shelter.

2. We can leave our homes to engage in Essential Activities, to provide an Essential Government Function or Service or to operate or work at an Essential Business. And of course follow social distancing requirements when doing so.

3. Residents 75+ and 70+ with active or unstable comorbidity are ordered to stay home, except as necessary to seek medical care or nutrition or to perform essential work.

4. Non-Essential Travel is prohibited within the county. Travel into or out of the county is allowed as necessary.

5. Non-Essential businesses must close. There are allowed exceptions for home based businesses and “Limited Business Operations.” Limited Business Operations have facilities with no more than 10 employees or contractors on site during any 24 hour period, there is no physical interaction with the public, the public is not allowed in the workplace, social distancing is practiced and there is no retail operations (e.g. products have to be delivered, not picked up by the public).

6. “Essential Businesses” may only sell goods and services that justify their classification as essential. Grocery stores, for example, may only sell food, beverages, pet supplies and household products. They may not sell clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, furniture, etc. (The reason for this is that they would be at an unfair advantage vs stores forced to close as nonessential that sell such products.)

7. Only businesses whose primary business is selling food, beverages, pet supplies or household products (cleaning and personal care) are considered Essential Businesses. If less than a third of a business’s gross sales constituted essential products over the last six months, they are not considered an Essential Business.

8. Food service requirements continue to be 1) takeout or delivery only; 2) food must be consumed elsewhere; and 3) social distancing must be maintained.

9. Other Essential Businesses must have proper social distancing protocols in place.

10. A partial list of Non-Essential Businesses and facilities includes bars and nightclubs that don’t serve food, movie theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys, etc., gyms, fitness centers and community pools, campgrounds and RV parks (except RV parks considered primary residences), clothing, sporting goods, jewelry, fabric, toy and game, book, arts and crafts, gun, bait and tackle, furniture, home decor, party decoration and tobacco and vaping stores, pawn shops, pet grooming, salons and barber shops. Door to door solicitations are banned.

11. Public or private gatherings of six or more people are prohibited. Essential Travel and Essential Activities are not prohibited for a single household or living unit.

12. Essential Activities includes medical visits, getting supplies, food , etc., funeral and wedding services (no more than 10 allowed, in addition to the couple and the officiant), outside gatherings to observe or participate in live or virtual presentations of no more than 10 people as long as the gathering is outdoors, persons from the same household must be in a motor vehicle (I’m not making this stuff up) with no more than 5 people, vehicles are at least six feet apart, etc.

13. Essential Activities also allow for outdoor activity, provided social distancing is applied. Examples of such activities given include golfing, tennis, pickleball, walking, hiking, running, bicycling, pleasure driving and working around their places of residence, including gardening. More specific requirements for golf are given in the Order, such as “a distance of at least 30 feet shall be maintained between groups of golfers at all times.”

14. The list of Essential Businesses is pretty long. Here goes:

    1. Healthcare providers

    2. Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, pet supply stores, etc.

    3. Agricultural production and processing.

    4. Businesses that provide food and shelter to those in need.

    5. Newspapers, TV, radio, other media.

    6. Gas stations, auto supply stores, auto repair.

    7. Banks, hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, house cleaners, gardeners, etc.

    8. Mailing and shipping providers, including PO boxes.

    9. Education providers for the purpose of providing distance learning.

    10. Laundromats, dry cleaners, etc.

    11. Restaurant and other facilities that prepare and serve food for delivery, pick-up or drive-thru.

    12. Drive-thru car washes.

    13. Businesses that supply other Essential Businesses with support or supplies necessary to operate.

    14. Airlines, taxis, other transportation providers for purposes authorized in the Order.

    15. Home-based care providers and residential facilities.

    16. Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities.

    17. Childcare facilities.

    18. Hotels, motels,. etc. for transient occupancy for visitors to the county.

    19. Bicycle stores, including the sales of bicycles, parts and supplies, andthe repair of bicycles. Bicycle rentals are not allowed.

    20. Real estate services, meeting requirements in the Order.

    21. In-person auto sales are now allowed, along with repair shops and auto part supply stores. Auto rentals are not allowed.

    22. Household appliance stores.

    23. Shoe repair shops. But no selling in person.

    24. Boat yards.

Ventura County Public Health Officer Issues New Stay Well at Home Order Today

Public Health Officer Issues New Stay Well At Home Order Protecting Seniors in Long-Term Care Facilities, Placing Further Limitations on Gatherings, Adding to the List of Essential Businesses and Enacting Social Distancing Protocols

Ventura County Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin has enhanced the Stay Well At Home order to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19 in the County of Ventura. The Order supplements the Health Officer’s Orders dated March 17, 20 and 31, 2020. All prior Orders issued by the Health Officer remain in effect except where modified by the provisions of the latest Order.

The intent of the Order is to ensure that the maximum number of people stay in their place of residence to the maximum extent feasible to slow the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of critical healthcare services to those in need.

The Order supplements and amends existing orders by, among other things: prohibiting all gatherings, no matter the size, outside of places of residences with limited exceptions, adding certain businesses to the list of essential businesses, requiring essential businesses to adopt and implement social distancing protocols, providing guidance for hospital holding units and long-term care facilities and declaring that violations of Health Officer Orders constitute a threat to public health.

Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities

Ventura County Public Health Department seeks to protect vulnerable populations from COVID-19. The most vulnerable population is the elderly. Seniors confined together in a Long-Term Care Facility are at particular risk. An outbreak there might result in numerous deaths. The Order advises Long-Term Care Facilities to relocate COVID-19 positive patients to COVID-19 Holding Units within hospitals.

All Gatherings Prohibited:

• All public and private gatherings of two or more persons occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except for the limited purposes of operating an essential business or to perform essential governmental functions or services.

• Members of single household or living unit are permitted to engage in essential travel or essential activities together.

• Gatherings of 10 or fewer persons are permitted at graveside funeral services.

• Staff of organizations or associations may gather for the sole purpose of preparing and facilitating live-stream or other virtual communications with their members and are limited to as few as possible and no more than 7 people.

Additions to the List of Essential Businesses:

• Bicycle repair and supply shops may engage in the sale of bicycles on-line only and provided that all bicycles are delivered to a place of residence or Essential Business.

• Service providers that enable residential real estate transactions (including rentals, leases and home sales), including, but not limited to, real estate agents, escrow agents, notaries, and title companies, provided that appointments and other residential viewings must only occur virtually or, if virtual viewing is not feasible, by appointment with no more than two visitors at a time, both whom must reside within the same household or living unit, and one individual showing the unit (except in-person visits are not allowed when the occupant is present in the residence).

• Automotive dealerships may engage in the purchase or sale of automobiles (including cars, trucks, motorcycles and motorized scooters) on-line only and provided that all vehicles are delivered to a place of residence or Essential Business.

All Essential Businesses must have Social Distancing Protocol

• All essential businesses must prepare and post by no later than April 12, 2020, a “Social Distancing Protocol” for each of their facilities in the County frequented by the public or employees. The Social Distancing Protocol must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility and shall be easily viewable by the public and employees. A copy of the Social Distancing Protocol must also be provided to each employee performing work at the facility. All essential businesses shall implement the Social Distancing Protocol and provide evidence of its implementation to any authority enforcing the Order upon demand.

Detailed order (pdf) at https://vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/docs/2020-04-09_COVID19_PH_Order_April_9_2020.pdf

City of Calabasas to Require Face Coverings at Essential Business Effective April 10th

Face Coverings Requirement in Calabasas effective April 10, 2020

Any person shopping or working at a grocery store, restaurant, or other essential business within the City of Calabasas shall wear a face covering while they are at the location. A face covering can include bandanas, scarves, or cloth masks which covers both the mouth and nose of an individual. Employers are required to provide, pay for, or reimburse their employees for face coverings as needed to protect their employees.

Residents should not purchase N95 or surgical masks, as these are limited resources needed for the healthcare community and first responders. This is intended to protect employees, customers and residents.

A grocery store, restaurant, or other essential business may refuse admission or service to any individual who fails to wear a face covering as required by this order. All grocery stores, restaurants, or other essential businesses are further required to develop and implement a written, comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control plan, to be approved by the City within 3 days from the date of this Order, which includes control measures such as social distancing; face coverings and personal protective equipment, hygiene; decontamination procedures, and training.

Real Estate Sales Open Houses and Showings. Open houses and other group real estate events and showings of a property or condominium offered for sale or lease are prohibited gatherings. Pre-scheduled showings or inspections of a property or condominium offered for sale or lease are permitted, but only if the minimum number of persons necessary to show or inspect the property are present and only if all persons present maintain six feet minimum distance, face coverings, and other social distancing requirements at all times.

www.cityofcalabasas.com

City of Los Angeles to Require Use of Face Coverings at Non-Medical Essential Services Starting April 10th

Mayor Eric Garcetti on Tuesday, April 7th issued an emergency order that will require many workers providing non-medical essential services to wear face coverings while at work.

The order takes effect April 10 and also requires customers at grocery stores and many other essential businesses to wear face coverings.

Under the Mayor’s emergency order, employers of many non-medical essential businesses must either provide workers with cloth face coverings that shield their noses and mouths or reimburse employees for their cost. Essential businesses must also implement physical distancing measures for employees, customers, and visitors; make sure employees have access to a clean and sanitary restroom, stocked with all necessary cleansing products like soap and sanitizer; and allow employees to wash their hands at least every 30 minutes. Non-medical essential businesses described in the order will be allowed to refuse service to customers who do not wear face coverings. The order also recommends that, whenever possible, businesses install plexiglass barriers between cashiers and customers.

Los Angeles residents should limit trips outside their residences to only the most necessary and vital tasks — and this week, should postpone trips to the grocery store and other important errands as much as possible. Mayor Garcetti’s “Safer at Home” emergency order requires City of Los Angeles residents to remain in their homes except for the most essential activities — including critical tasks such as securing food and health, safety and medical necessities, as well as caring for children, elder adults, family, friends and people with disabilities.

The order is at www.lamayor.org/sites/g/files/wph446/f/page/file/WorkerProtection.pdf.

City of Ojai to Require Use of Face Coverings at Essential Businesses Effective April 10th

On April 8, 2020, the City of Ojai announced the implementation of executive order 20-02, requiring that, effective April 10, 2020, employees and customers at an essential business wear a face covering over their nose and mouth. Face coverings are not required when driving or when you are outside in a location where you are unlikely to encounter others in close proximity; but residents are reminded to practice good social distancing at all times.

The notice requests that residents not purchase N95 or surgical masks needed by medical professionals, but instead requires face coverings from bandanas, scarves, or cloth masks. The City will provide signage to essential businesses advising customers of the requirement.

This order is intended to protect both residents and employees who are performing essential services.

Community Market at Oxnard College to Close Until Further Notice (Reopening June 6, 2021)

UPDATE: The Community Market is reopening on June 6, 2021.

The Community Market at Oxnard College, which operates every Sunday on the Oxnard College campus, will be closed until further notice. It will reopen as soon as public health orders allow. The closure follows the guidelines from the California Department of Public Health, which recommends increasing social distancing to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Over 150 vendors sell fresh produce, pre-packaged food, household products, appliances, tools, plants, arts/crafts, antiques/collectibles, toys, shoes, jewelry/accessories, cosmetics and other items. Credits will be provided to vendors who have already paid for booth space.

The public can contact Connie Owens, Oxnard College Foundation, at cowens@vcccd.edu with questions. Questions from vendors should be directed to Maria Olivares, C.M. office manager, at maria_olivares2@my.vcccd.edu

About Oxnard College Foundation

The mission of the Oxnard College Foundation is to provide support to campus development, student scholarships, educational programs, and other college needs in order to promote the progressive and continuing advancement of Oxnard College, to further educational excellence and enable the college to serve as an exemplary multicultural community resource.

About Oxnard College

Oxnard College is one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District and annually serves more than 7,000 students. Founded in 1975, Oxnard College is fully accredited and has been ranked the 4th Best Community College in California. It is also a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Oxnard College’s signature programs include marine biology; culinary arts, restaurant management and hospitality management; auto technology and fire technology, among many other undergraduate study and career technical education programs. The Dream Resource Center is a valuable student and community resource. Oxnard Colleges’ dental hygiene program has a 99.99% pass rate on national and board exams. To learn more, visit oxnardcollege.edu and Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Councilmember Rob McCoy Has Resigned from the Thousand Oaks City Council

Councilmember Rob McCoy has resigned his seat on the Thousand Oaks City Council effective immediately. Originally elected to the City Council in 2015, McCoy served as Mayor from December 2018 through December 2019.

In commenting on the resignation, Mayor Al Adam said “Rob was a voice of strength and healing as the City recovered from two simultaneous tragedies - Borderline and Woolsey Fire. I appreciate his contributions and wish him and his family well. While these circumstances are unfortunate, the remaining members of the Council and I are very much focused on moving forward.”

Based on the City’s ordinance for filling vacant seats, it is likely that the seat will remain vacant until filled during the upcoming November election.

Spoke w/ Mayor Al Adam this AM. Told me McCoy texted council last night to tell them.
“I think he’s doing the right thing,” Adam said of the resignation. “He can’t be an elected official and at the same time go forward with this (the communion). . . Now he’s a private citizen.”

— Kyle Jorrey (@KyleBJorrey) April 5, 2020

City of Ventura Closes All Parks and Beaches in Response to COVID-19 Emergency (Reopened April 20th)

UPDATE: City of Ventura beaches were reopened for active use only on April 20th.

Effective April 1st, all parks and beaches in the City of Ventura will be closed until further notice in order to support the urgent need for physical distancing during the COVID-19 emergency period. This includes the Promenade, Pier, and Wastewater Treatment Plant wildlife ponds.

The County’s modified Stay Well at Home order asks community members to stay inside their homes, limiting all outside movement beyond what is necessary to take care of essential needs and ordering all non-essential businesses to close. Those orders also include restrictions against non-essential travel and gatherings.

www.cityofventura.ca.gov