HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-21; Coronavirus Response Update 9; Harrison, David
Fire Department
Safety Center 2560 Orion Way Carlsbad, CA 92010 760-931-2141
Memo ID# 2020035
Council Memorandum
March 21, 2020
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and members of the City Council
From: David Harrison, Assistant Director of Emergency Services
Via: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Re: Coronavirus Response Update 9
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the City Council with an update on city response
actions related to COVID-19. Please note this memo focuses on actions and information that
are new since the last update.
Emergency Operations Center
• Emergency Operations Center is activated to support COVID-19 mitigation and
response operations and information sharing.
Regional status of outbreak
California (as of Friday, March 20, 2020, at 2 p.m.)
• 1,224 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 218 more than the day before
o 96 were travel-related
o 122 acquired from person-to-person
o 325 acquired in the community
o 67 cases remain under investigation
o 24 cases from federal quarantine
• 23 deaths (four more than yesterday)
San Diego County (as of Friday, March 20, 2020, around 4 p.m.)
• 131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (26 more than the day before)
o 110 San Diego County residents, 10 from elsewhere
o 11 cases from the federal quarantine
o 27 people hospitalized (14 more than the day before)
• 0 deaths
Carlsbad
• Five confirmed cases
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 21, 2020
Page 2
City Clerk’s Office
• Performed a successful test of a new virtual City Council meeting format.
• Participants with speaking roles may not be in the chamber during the meeting due to
audio interference. All will participate remotely.
• Published and distributed March 24 City Council agenda with information on COVID-19-
related change to public meeting laws and instructions on how to view and participate.
Parks & Recreation
• Working with the Fire Department, posted signs Friday along the seven access points to
Carlsbad’s North Beach calling on all beachgoers to follow prescribed social distancing
practices.
• Prepared contingency plans for closing selected amenities within parks, and potentially
other areas of open space.
• Obtained additional supplies to make sure open restrooms remain stocked.
Fire Department
• One city firefighter was seen at a local hospital with flu-like symptoms that developed at
the end of the employee’s shift. The firefighter tested negative for COVID-19.
Police Department
• Obtained thermometers for department employees to check for possible COVID-19
symptoms to help prevent any spread of illness.
Public Works
• The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board informed city staff Friday that the
water board considers compliance with all permits, orders, regulations and contractual
obligations an essential function. This includes municipal storm water permit.
o If there is a specific order that cannot be fulfilled in a timely manner because of
the disruption from COVID-19, the city must notify the regional water board
immediately.
• Three additional hand-sanitizing stations have been mounted on walls in the Safety
Center.
Economic Development
• Created an online map showing which Carlsbad restaurants remain open for take-out
dining for the city’s website and social channels.
• Created blog on department’s Life in Action website tracking news stories and sharing
information on what Carlsbad businesses are doing to help combat COVID-19.
• Continuing to respond to COVID-19-related questions from local businesses.
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 21, 2020
Page 3
Community Development
• Having customers drop-off and pick-up plans and documents at the Faraday Administration
Center to maintain social distancing is working well.
o Reached out to Building Industry Association to inform its members of new city
practices
• Call volume is at normal levels, but most inquiries are about home improvements rather
than development permits.
• Investigating opportunities to encourage and accept more online submittals of building and
planning documents.
• Inspections are continuing while ensuring mandated physical distancing.
Human Resources
• Emailed all supervisors and called all directors to inform them about the availability of
paid administrative leave for all part-time employees who have no work.
• Latest tally of employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19:
o Six employees have been cleared to return to work
o Two employees self-quarantined after visiting a foreign country
o Four employees self-quarantined after indirect contact with someone who
tested positive
o One employee self-quarantined after showing symptoms
o One employee went on a cruise ship. No symptoms but in self-quarantine for
14 days
• Completed shut down of all city-run gyms.
• Researching:
o Possible COVID-19 testing facilities for the city
o New federal Family and Medical Leave Act and federal paid sick leave law
Library & Cultural Arts
• Increased the collection of youth e-books and audiobooks that are available remotely.
• Prepared newsletter for library youth newsletter list about library resources available
from home.
Communication & Engagement
• Shared the following information with the public on city communication channels:
o Governor’s stay at home order
o City storm patrol on the job
o Are you at higher risk for severe illness
o SD County Office of Education – School meal programs are an essential service
o County hotline for aging older adults
o State tax filing deadline
o North county job openings
o Promoting stress and anxiety relieving activities
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 21, 2020
Page 4
o Grocery stores and hours in Carlsbad area
o Red Cross – give blood if you can
o City’s first virtual City Council meeting 3/24
o Produced and distributed the video Public Works “storm watch”
• Live-tweeted County of San Diego’s news conference on COVID-19 update.
• Prepared and distributed four Instagram stories reinforcing key messages about health
orders.
• Responded to numerous comments and questions on city’s social media platforms and
communication email address.
• Created and distributed new daily City Manager’s Report on COVID-19 response for
public and employees.
• Created a dedicated Spanish language COVID-19 page on the city’s website.
• Compiled social media analytics for the past 7 days:
Twitter
• 409 new Twitter followers (16,049 total)
• 1,984 clicks, 1,638 engagements
• 307 posts
Facebook
• 184 new Facebook followers (48,606 total)
• 80,316 total reach, 34,061 engagements
• 52 posts
Instagram
• 146 new Instagram followers (9,780 total)
• 4,674 total reach, 796 actions taken
• 31 posts
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 21, 2020
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Seven-Day Facebook Overview
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Seven-Day Twitter Overview
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CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 21, 2020
Page 6
Seven-Day Instagram Overview
cc: Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Neil Gallucci, Police Chief
Maria Callander, Information Technology Director
Judy von Kalinowski, Human Resources Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director