HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-23; Coronavirus Response Update 11; Harrison, David
Fire Department
Safety Center 2560 Orion Way Carlsbad, CA 92010 760-931-2141
Memo ID# 2020037
Council Memorandum
March 23, 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 11
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 activated to support COVID-19 mitigation and
response operations and information sharing.
• President approved a major disaster declaration for California.
• City Community Emergency Response Team volunteers conducting community sector
information sharing and health order checks.
• Monitoring essential functions and reviewing central function telecommuting capability.
Regional status of outbreak
California (as of Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m.)
• 1,733 confirmed cases of COVID-19
• 27 deaths
San Diego County (as of Sunday, March 22, 2020, around 4 p.m.)
• 205 confirmed cases (46 more than the day before)
o 178 San Diego County residents, 13 from elsewhere
o 11 cases from the federal quarantine
o 41 people hospitalized, 15 in intensive care
• 1 death, a man in his early 70s died in Santa Clara County after traveling to Hawaii
Carlsbad (as of Sunday, March 22, at 10 a.m.)
• 12 confirmed cases
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 23, 2020
Page 2
Police Department
• Created fliers on the requirements of the state and county public health orders. These
fliers will be handed out by officers to encourage businesses and community members
to voluntarily comply with the orders.
• Creating an enforcement plan in case citations or arrests are necessary. This would only
occur as a last resort, after ample notice and attempts to obtain compliance with the
orders have failed.
• Forming a “Community Care Unit” composed of officers trained in negotiations and
tactical communications who will be temporarily assigned to engage people and
businesses when potential violations of the health orders are observed. The goal is to
handle these emotionally charged issues in a way that preserves a positive relationship
with the community while educating the public on the order.
• Officers allowed to take their patrol vehicles home during their work week to maintain
separation between personnel and reduce exposure opportunities. Their use of the
vehicles in this manner is consistent with existing police policy.
Fire Department
• Lifeguards and a battalion chief drove through heavily trafficked areas and announced
over public address speakers, “Please do your part in preventing the spread of the
coronavirus and practice social distance.”
• Obtained 10 additional thermometers to support potential health screening for all city
employees reporting to work at city facilities.
Parks & Recreation
• Monitored the closure of the golf course and selective amenities within parks.
Coordinated with Police Department for patrols and enforcement of these sites.
• Worked with Communications staff to produce signs calling for the required social
distancing to be placed at prominent entries to beaches, lagoons and preserves with
trails.
• Outreach to California State Parks staff
o Coordinated the installation of the new advisory signs to be placed at prominent
entries to beaches
o Requested State Parks immediately close its beach parking lots (those on the
west side of Ocean Street, Tamarack Avenue, Solamar Avenue, North Ponto and
South Ponto)
o Informed the state agency of city’s intent to close the east side of the Ocean
Street parking lot
• Developed plan for reducing staffing levels at city facilities, as appropriate, while
maintaining capability to perform essential functions.
• Created telecommuting solutions for applicable staff.
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 23, 2020
Page 3
Human Resources
• Preparing to begin employee self-screening for fever and symptoms at facility
entrances.
• Finalizing telecommuting agreement to be emailed citywide for employee
acknowledgement.
• 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 who went on a cruise ship showed no symptoms but has self-
quarantined as a precaution
Public Works
• Working with departments to accommodate cleaning and hand sanitizing supplies
requests from departments
o Providing alternate solutions such as disinfectant spray and paper towels and
handwashing to reserve hand-sanitizing bottles for field crews or others without
ready access to soap and water.
Communication & Engagement
• Created and shared the following information with the public on all city communication
channels:
o Clarifications to governor’s stay-at-home order
o Social distancing strategies and examples
o Importance of following social distancing strategies
o Updated cases in Carlsbad
o Encouragement to support local restaurants, provided map as resource
o 2-1-1 resources available
o Closure of athletic fields, courts and playgrounds
o Blood donors needed
o County’s need for health care professional volunteers
• Live-tweeted:
o County of San Diego news conference on COVID-19 update
• Created and shared the following videos:
o Social distancing examples
o Importance of social distancing
o Flatten the curve
o Spanish community public service announcement
o Fire Department notifying beach goers
• Participated in News 8 Facetime interview regarding new Carlsbad closures and general
health tips
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 23, 2020
Page 4
• Distributed employee update 15:
o New orders from governor
o Essential functions
o How to telecommute
• Developed and distributed City Manager’s Update to staff and public
• Responded to numerous comments and questions on city’s social media platforms and
communication email address.
• Prepared and produced 325 additional signs for posting at community gathering places,
including the beach sea wall.
• Researched and compared expanded lists of essential services
CORONAVIRUS ACTIONS
March 23, 2020
Page 5
cc: Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
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
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer
Judy von Kalinowski, Human Resources Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director