Ventura County Poised to Move Back Into COVID-19 Red Tier on Wednesday, March 17th

According to the County of Ventura, there is a distinct possibility that the County will be moving from the Purple Tier that we’ve been in since November 18, 2020 to the less restrictive Red Tier. Here are the details from the County:

The state has announced that once 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are administered in the most vulnerable communities in the state that the state will modify the case rate requirements. The state reached 2 million doses were achieved on March 12th. As a result, Ventura County may achieve the Red Tier on Wednesday, the 17th.

Here's what can be open once the County is in the Red Tier:

• Hair salons: open indoors with modifications

• Retail: open indoors at 50% capacity

• Malls: open indoors at 50% capacity and limited food courts

• Places of worship: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Nail salons: open indoors with modifications

• Electrolysis: open indoors with modifications

• Personal care services (body waxing, etc.): open indoor with modifications

• Tattooing and piercing: open indoors with modifications

• Museums, zoos and aquariums: open indoors at 25% capacity

• Movie theaters: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Hotels: open with modifications, plus fitness centers can open at 10% capacity

• Gyms: open indoors at 10% capacity 6 feet social distancing

• Restaurants: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Wineries, breweries and distilleries: outdoor only until 8 pm

• Bars: closed

• Family entertainment centers: outdoor only, like mini golf, batting cages and go-kart racing

• Non-essential offices: remote work only

• Professional sports: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

• Schools: can reopen for in-person instruction after five days out of the purple tier

• Theme parks: can reopen at 15% capacity starting April 1

• Live performances: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

Once 2 million vaccine doses have been administered, a new set of metrics will be used for determining tier placement:

• Widespread (purple): Counties with more than 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

• Substantial (red): 4 to 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

• Moderate (orange): 1 to 3.9 daily new cases per 100,000

• Minimal (yellow): Less than 1 daily new case per 100,000

The County of Ventura has a current case rate of 9.1, which means the County will meet the new state metrics and be in the Red Tier by March 17.

Covid is still spreading in Ventura County. Continue wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick and not gathering to help slow the spread.

More info about the state's tiers at: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

On a related note, the County of Los Angeles moves to the Red Tier effective Monday, March 15th.

Regional Stay Home Order Has Been Lifted; Ventura County is Back to the Purple Tier Effective January 25th

From the County of Ventura:

State of California Lifts Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions

Ventura County in the State’s Purple Tier Effective Immediately

The California Department of Public Health has announced that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted in Southern California. Four-week ICU capacity projections for the region are above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order.

The action allows Ventura County to return to the rules and framework for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. Services and activities, such as outdoor dining and personal services, may resume immediately with required modifications. Tier updates will be provided weekly on Tuesdays by the California Department of Public Health

“We ask our residents to continue to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities from COVID-19 by limiting gathering with anyone you don’t live with, wearing a face covering whenever you leave home, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from anyone you don’t live with and washing your hands frequently,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Public Health Director.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are permitted for OUTDOOR operations only until further notice. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization):

• Restaurants

• Gyms and Fitness Centers (12 feet social distancing required)

• Places of worship

• Playgrounds and recreational facilities

• Family Entertainment Centers (e.g. bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, kart racing, and arcades)

• Movie theaters

• Museums, zoos, aquariums

• Wineries

• Cardrooms, satellite wagering

Bars, pubs, brewpubs and breweries may operate outdoors if they are offering sit-down, outdoor meals. Outdoor operations may be conducted under a tent, canopy, or other shelter if no more than one side is closed.

Additional information for outdoor dining establishments:

•Sit down dining may only take place with members of the same household, it must be outdoors and must end by 11 pm.

•Maximum time a patron may be on the premises is 1 and ½ hours.

•Restaurants can remain open for takeout or delivery past 11 pm as their permit allows.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are open for INDOOR operations. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization) and modifications:

•All retail (maximum 25% capacity)

•Critical infrastructure

•Hair salons and barbershops

•Libraries (maximum 25% capacity)

•Nail salons and electrolysis operations

•Personal care services (e.g. body waxing, estheticians, tattoo, massage)

•Professional sports (without live audiences)

•Shopping centers (e.g. malls, destination centers, swap meets, excluding food courts and common areas) (maximum 25% capacity)

To learn more about the State’s Tier system and specific allowable activities for Ventura County, visit the State of California's COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy website. More information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org

If You Don't Receive an Economic Impact Payment, You Can Still Receive a Recovery Rebate Credit on Your 2020 Federal Form 1040 Income Tax Return

There's another round of "Economic Impact Payments" that many of you may have already received in January via direct deposit. Generally, U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s income tax return are eligible.

You'll automatically receive payments of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for married couples and up to $600 for each qualifying child.

Generally, if you have adjusted gross income (AGI) on your 2019 federal income tax return up to $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 if filing as head of household and $150,000 for married filing joint returns, you will receive the full amount.

Payments are reduced if your income is more than that, phasing out 5% of the amount your AGI exceeds the amounts shown above. They phase out completely at an AGI of $87,000 for single or married filing separately, $124,500 for head of household and $174,000 for married filing joint taxpayers.

Question: My income precludes me from getting an Economic Impact Payment based on my 2019 tax return but it dropped in 2020. Do I still get a payment?”

Answer: YES! According to the draft IRS Form 1040 Instructions published December 31, 2020, “The recovery rebate credit was paid out to eligible individuals in two rounds of advance payments called economic impact payments. The economic impact payments were based on your 2018 or 2019 tax year information. The recovery rebate credit is figured like the economic impact payments except that the credit eligibility and the credit amount are based on your 2020 tax year information. If you didn’t receive the full amount of the recovery rebate credit as economic impact payments, you may be able to claim the recovery rebate credit on your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR.”

So in other words:

• The first two payments in 2020 and 2021 were called Economic Impact Payments

• They were based on your 2019 or 2018 tax information.

• If you did not receive them or did not receive the full amount, you can recalculate the payments on your 2020 tax return based on your 2020 adjusted gross income.

• The refundable credit for this stimulus on your tax return is called “Recovery Rebate Credit.”

• If you are indeed eligible for a payment based on your 2020 AGI and did not previously receive a full payment, you will receive a refundable credit on your tax return that you can either apply to any taxes due or, if no taxes are due, receive a refund.

Thousand Oaks Police Department Vulnerable Population Officers Help to Assist the Homeless

Thousand Oaks Police Department Vulnerable Population Officers continue their efforts to assist our homeless community, collaborating with area social services to arrange placement in assistance programs. The latest success was helping deliver a homeless man to a substance abuse rehabilitation program after months of interaction.

On January 6, 2021, deputies assisted Ventura County Behavioral Health in taking the homeless person to a facility to begin a 7-10 day program for substance abuse rehabilitation. The program includes housing and treatment. The process began after Vulnerable Population Officers assisted Ventura County Behavioral Health with an assessment on the person and space was located for him at the facility. After that, Ventura County Behavioral Health will follow-up to pursue additional placement for housing and further treatment. This opportunity was openly accepted by the homeless person to take the positive steps forward for help. This success is an example of the continuous and dedicated work by collaborators, sometimes over a span of weeks, months, or even years, to maintaining contact with and find placement for homeless persons in need of assistance in our community.

Over the past two years, Vulnerable Population Officers, Senior Deputy Juan Cordova and Deputy Josh Richter, have collaborated with stakeholders to find needed assistance for our homeless population. A local area focus group was established that includes the City of Thousand Oaks, Harbor House, Lutheran Social Services, Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Continuum of Care, Many Mansions, faith- based organizations, Ventura County Superior Court - Homeless Court, Ventura County Public Defender, and other non-profit organizations.

If you know any homeless person in Thousand Oaks who is willing to take a positive step forward to get help, the Vulnerable Population Officers are interested in contacting those who suffer from mental health, drug addiction, disabilities, or are in need of medical assistance. You can reach out to Sr. Deputy Cordova at juan.cordova@ventura.org, dial 2-1-1 (in Ventura County), or call Ventura County Behavioral Health Homeless Services at (805) 981-4200.

local.nixle.com/alert/8465720

Ventura County Could Move to Red Tier October 6th; Playgrounds May Now Open in California

On Monday, the State of California announced that the County of Ventura has met the State COVID-19 metrics for one week. If Ventura County meets the metrics for an additional week, the state will allow the county to move into the Red Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

As of September 29, the Ventura County has met the threshold for the case rate for the Red Tier. Any county within this tier must indicate a daily case rate of between 4-7 cases and a positivity rate of between 5-8%. Ventura County currently has a daily case rate of 7.0. The County’s testing volume of 283 exceeds the state average of 248.9. This has allowed for an adjustment by the state of the case rate from 8 to 7. Exceeding the requirements for testing has helped the County advance.

The County anticipates that establishment in the Red Tier would become effective starting Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

Once in the Red Tier, personal care services, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, along with museums, zoos and aquariums will be able to open for indoor operations with modifications.

Stores with indoor operations that are open in the Purple Tier can increase indoor capacity to 50% in the Red Tier. Restaurants can open indoors at 25% capacity. Places of worship, higher education, and zoos and museums can open indoor operations at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is less. Fitness centers and gyms will be able to offer indoor operations at 10% capacity.

School openings for in-person instruction are only able to be considered once a county has been in the Red Tier for 14 consecutive days. At this time, only schools that have applied for school waivers and have been approved are allowed to be open for in-person instruction. If the county continues to meet the threshold for case rate and other metrics, K-12 schools across the County could reopen as early as Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

Additionally, as of September 28, the state has allowed for outdoor playgrounds operated by a city, state, county, or federal government to open. The County of Ventura is in line with the guidance that has been provided by the state. More details at THIS LINK.

Visitors to outdoor community playgrounds must comply with the following requirements:

1. Face masks over the mouth and nose are required for everyone 2 years of age or older with caregiver supervision at all times to ensure face mask use.

2. Do not use the playground when different households are unable to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or when the capacity limit has been reached.

3. Caregivers must monitor to keep adults and children from different households at least 6 feet apart.

4. Consider coming on different times or days to avoid wait times and potential crowded times.

5. No eating or drinking in playground, to ensure face masks are worn at all times.

6. Wash or sanitize hands before and after using the playground.

7. Elderly and persons with underlying medical conditions should avoid playground when others are present.

8. Limit visit to 30 min per day when others are present

Labor Day Weekend Cooling Centers in Ventura County

With the brutal heat anticipated for this weekend, a number of cities in Ventura County will be opening cooling centers for residents. Here’s a summary:

Thousand Oaks

Conejo Community Center, 1175 Hendrix Avenue - Saturday, Sept 5 to Monday, Sept 7 from 10am to 5pm

Simi Valley

Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi - Sept 4 to Sept 8 from 9am to 7pm

Camarillo

Camarillo Police Department Community Room, 3701 East Las Posas Road - Sept 5-6 10am to 6pm

Moorpark

Moorpark Community Center, 799 Moorpark Avenue - Sept 5-6 11am to 7pm

Ventura

River Community Church, 859 E. Santa Clara Street - Sept 5-7 9am to 5pm

Oxnard

Wilson Senior Center, 350 North C Street - Sept 5-6 10am to 5pm

South Oxnard Center, 200 E. Bard Road - Sept 5-6 10am to 5pm

Ojai

Boyd Center, 510 Park Road - Sept 5-7 11am to 5pm

Social distancing and masks will be required. If you have a fever, do not go.

"Watch for Wild Animals" Signs on State Route 23 Between Thousand Oaks, Moorpark

You may have noticed these Caltrans "Watch for Wild Animals" signs placed in the north/southbound directions of the State Route 23 between Thousand Oaks and Moorpark. According to Caltrans District 7, the signs were placed as part of a mitigation plan after a road-kill study done prior to widening of the highway.

Caltrans counted 222 road-kill in a three year study and decided to do something about it, including setting up 12 one-way wildlife gates, cleaning out culverts to allow for animals to cross underneath the highway, increasing the height of fencing to prevent animals from hopping over, and placing these signs to alert motorists.

CIF Southern Section Announces New 2020-2021 Sport Calendars, Pushing Start of Fall Sports to Mid-December 2020

Today, the CIF Southern Section announced updates to the 2020-2021 sports season in response to COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Fall, Winter and Spring sports will be condensed this year into two seasons - Fall and Spring. Fall sports will include cross country, field hockey, football, gymnastics, competitive traditional cheer, volleyball and water polo. Spring sports will include badminton, baseball, basketball, competitive sport cheer, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis, track and field and wrestling.

Sports calendars were announced as follows:

FALL SPORTS

BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY

• First Contest – Saturday, December 26, 2020

• SOP Date – Friday, January 29, 2021 (35 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, March 4, 2021 (70 days)

• Last Allowable Contest – Friday, March 5, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Prelims – Friday/Saturday, March 12/13, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 20, 2021

• CIF State Championships – Saturday, March 27, 2021

FIELD HOCKEY

• First Contest – Friday, December 18, 2020

• SOP Date – Friday, January 22, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, February 26, 2021 (71 days)

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 27, 2021

11-MAN FOOTBALL

• First Practice Date - Monday, December 14, 2020

• Week 1 Contest Date – Friday, January 8, 2021

• SOP Date – Monday, February 8, 2021 (32 days)

• Week 10 Contest Date – Friday, March 12, 2021 (64 days)

• CIF Southern Section Playoffs – March 19, March 26, April 2, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, April 9/10, 2021

• CIF State Championships Bowl Games – Friday/Saturday, April 16/17, 2021

8-MAN FOOTBALL

• First Practice Date - Monday, December 14, 2020

• Week 1 Contest Date – Friday, January 8, 2021

• SOP Date – Friday, February 5, 2021 (29 days)

• Week 9 Contest Date – Friday, March 5, 2021 (57 days)

• CIF Southern Section Playoffs – March 12, March 19, March 26, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, April 2/3, 2021

GYMNASTICS

• First Contest – Monday, January 4, 2021

• SOP Date – Wednesday, February 3, 2021 (31 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, March 5, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, March 6, 2021 (62 days)

TRADITIONAL COMPETITIVE CHEER

• First Contest Date – No Established Date

• SOP Date – Monday, November 16, 2020

• Last Allowable Contest Date – No Established Date

• CIF Southern Section Championships – Saturday, April 3, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, April 17, 2021

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

• First Contest Date – Saturday, December 12, 2020

• SOP Date – Tuesday, January 12, 2021 (32 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, February 11, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 13, 2021 (64 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 6, 2021

• CIF Southern Regionals – March 15-20, 2021

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

• First Contest Date – Saturday, December 19, 2020

• SOP Date – Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (32 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, February 18, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 20, 2021 (64 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 12/13, 2021

• CIF State Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 19/20, 2021

BOYS WATER POLO

• First Contest Date – Monday, December 21, 2020

• SOP Date – Monday, January 11, 2021 (31 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, February 18, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 20, 2021 (62 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 6, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 19/20, 2021

GIRLS WATER POLO

• First Contest Date – Monday, December 28, 2020

• SOP Date – Monday, January 18, 2021 (31 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, February 25, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 27, 2021 (62 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 13, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 19/20, 2021

SPRING SPORTS

BADMINTON

• First Contest Date – Saturday, March 6, 2021

• SOP Date – Saturday, April 10, 2021 (36 days)

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 15, 2021 (71 days)

• CIF Southern Regional Individual Qualifier – Wednesday/Thursday, May 26/27, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, May 29, 2021

BASEBALL

• First Contest Date – Friday, March 19, 2021

• SOP Date – Friday, April 23, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 28, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (72 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, June 18/19, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Championship Finals – Saturday, June 26, 2021

BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL

• First Contest Date – Friday, March 12, 2021

• SOP Date – Friday, April 16, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 21, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 22, 2021 (72 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, June 11/12, 2021

• CIF State Championship Finals – Friday/ Saturday, June 18/19, 2021

COMPETITIVE SPORT CHEER

• First Contest Date – Saturday, March 27, 2021

• SOP Date – Monday, May 1, 2020 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Saturday, June 5, 2021 (71 days)

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, June 5, 2021

BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF

• First Contest Date – Saturday, March 20, 2021

• SOP Date – Saturday, April 24, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 28, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (71 days)

• CIF Southern Section Individual Regionals – Monday, May 31, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Team Championships – Monday, June 7, 2021

• CIF-SS Individual Championship/Team Qualifier – Thursday, June 10, 2021

• CIF/SCGA Southern Regional Championships – Thursday, June 17, 2021

• CIF State Championships – Wednesday, June 23, 2021 (Note – CIF-SS Individual Championship/Team Qualifier, CIF/SCGA Regional Championships and CIF State Championships dates are subject to change, due to course availability.)

BOYS AND GIRLS LACROSSE

• First Contest Date – Friday, March 12, 2021

• SOP Date – Friday, April 16, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, May 20, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 22, 2021 (72 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, June 12, 2021

BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER

• First Contest Date – Saturday, February 27, 2021

• SOP Date – Saturday, April 3, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, May 6, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, May 8, 2021 (71 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, May 28/May 29, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Finals – Saturday, June 5, 2021

SOFTBALL

• First Contest Date – Friday, March 19, 2021

• SOP Date – Friday, April 23, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Thursday, May 27, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (72 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, June 18/19, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Championship Finals – Saturday, June 26, 2021

BOYS AND GIRLS SWIMMING/ DIVING

• First Contest Date – Saturday, March 13, 2021

• SOP Date – Saturday, April 17, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 21, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 22, 2021 (71 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Monday, May 24 – Saturday, May 29, 2021

• CIF State Championships – Friday/ Saturday, June 4/5, 2021

BOYS TEAM TENNIS

• First Contest Date – Monday, March 1, 2021

• SOP Date – Monday, April 5, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 14, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 15, 2021 (71 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday, May 28, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, June 5, 2021

GIRLS TEAM TENNIS

• First Contest Date – Monday, February 22, 2021

• SOP Date – Monday, March 29, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 7, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 8, 2021 (71 days)

• CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday, May 21, 2021

• CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, June 5, 2021

BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

• First Contest Date – Saturday, March 20, 2021

• SOP Date – Saturday, April 24, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Friday, May 28, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (72 days)

• CIF Southern Section Preliminaries – Saturday, June 5, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Divisional Championships – Saturday, June 12, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Masters Meet – Saturday, June 19, 2021

• CIF State Championships – Friday/ Saturday, June 25/26, 2021

BOYS AND GIRLS WRESTLING

• First Contest Date – Friday, March 5, 2021

• SOP Date – Friday, April 9, 2021 (36 days)

• Last League Contest – Tuesday, May 11, 2021

• Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, May 15, 2021 (72 days)

• CIF Southern Section Dual Meet Championships – Saturday, May 15, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Individual Championships – Friday/Saturday, May 28/29, 2021

• CIF Southern Section Masters Meet – Friday/Saturday, June 4/5, 2021

• CIF State Championships – Thursday, June 10, 2021 – Saturday, June 12, 2021

More details at cifss.org.