New COVID-19 quarantine orders issued by Contra Costa County Health services

   RICHMOND - A set of even more stringent orders - these using the term quarantine - were issued by the Contra Costa County Health Services today.
     The following is a press release about the orders. Below the text of the press release are links to the full orders.

PRESS RELEASE:

"Contra Costa Issues Mass Isolation and Quarantine Orders for People with COVID-19 and Their Close Contacts 

Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano announced today that the County is issuing a mass order for residents with COVID-19 and their close contacts to isolate and quarantine themselves. 

The mass order is being issued to help slow COVID-19’s spread, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent the healthcare system in the County from being overwhelmed. The county’s public health staff no longer have the capacity to individually notify and track everyone with COVID-19 and their close contacts who may have been exposed to the virus.   

As of Friday, 307 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and five people have died from the virus. Contra Costa County had no local cases at the beginning of March. 

“We’ve reached a critical point in the COVID-19 crisis here in Contra Costa,” Dr. Farnitano said. “Our resources are stretched extremely thin and business as usual is not an option. We believe this mass order is a creative and effective way of getting the job done to keep the sick isolated from others.” 

Residents must isolate themselves in their home or another residence if they test positive for COVID-19. They may not leave their home except to receive necessary medical care or during an emergency that requires evacuation.   

COVID-positive individuals without symptoms must isolate for 7 days from the date of a positive test. Those with symptoms must isolate at least 7 days have passed since their symptoms started. Initially symptomatic people must also wait at least 72 hours have passed since after symptoms go away. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing and shortness of breath. 

County residents who test positive for COVID-19 will now be required to tell their close contacts that they need to quarantine themselves if they may have been exposed. Close contacts must then remain at home or another residence for 14 days from the last date that they were in contact with the person infected or with COVID-19. 

People considered “close contacts” are persons who, during the sick individual’s infectious period, live in, or have stayed overnight, at the individual’s residence; are intimate sexual partners of the individual; or provided care to the individual without wearing a mask, gown, and gloves. 

People can access instructions on how to isolate and quarantine themselves at cchealth.org/coronavirus. "
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LINKS TO Health Department ORDERS:
ORDER 1
ORDER 2

COVID-19 outbreak at Orinda senior facility, officials urge citizens to wear masks

  ORINDA - Contra Costa County Health Services said today that 27 people who live or work at a skilled nursing facility in Orinda have tested positive for COVID-19.
     No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak at the Orinda Care Center which has 45 residents.

Orinda Care Facilty (Photo by Erik K/Yelp)

    " Public health has prepared for the possibility of outbreaks happening in skilled nursing facilities and other congregate care settings," Contra Costa Public Health Director Dan Peddycord said. "We are working closely with the facilities now to protect residents and staff."
     CCHS began investigating after two staff members sought medical care. Test results were positive for the workers and for two patients at the facility Wednesday.
     By Thursday all patients and staff had been tested with 24 residents testing positive so far. Two are receiving care at local hospitals.
     The county is also testing two other senior care facilities in the county.
     "The situation is very serious and we are deeply concerned about residents of our senior care facilities," Dr. Chris Farnitano, county health officer said. "That is why we need everyone to follow the stay-at-home order, social-distance guidance and other measures in recent health orders."
     Health officials also issued a "strong recommendation" that residents wear masks or other protective face covering when going to the grocery store or when engaged in other essential activities.
     There have been five confirmed deaths and more than 300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in Contra Costa County, health officials reported.

Craneway Pavilion being converted to a 250-bed hospital for COVID-19 patients

   RICHMOND - The Craneway Pavilion on South Harbour Way is in the process of being converted into a 250-bed hospital/medical station to treat COVID-19 patients.

Beds being set up in the Craneway for COVID-19 patients

     Trucks loaded with beds and equipment began arriving and unloading Thursday morning. By noon public access to the Craneway - including the walkway around the building - was gated and closed.
     At present, the facility is planned to be used only for COVID-19 patients who do not need to be placed in a hospital Intensive Care Unit. The beds and supplies were brought in by the National Guard.
     Officials said the facility is expected to be up and running by the third week of April, the time health officials expect to see a peak in the number of COVID-19 patients in the Bay Area.
     "This is one more step to be better prepared for the anticipated COVID-19 surge," Candace Andersen, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors said.
     The medical facility will only be used if local hospitals cannot handle the expected surge.
     The site will be secured and no visitors will be allowed.
     The county is also establishing other alternative care sites include using hotels for homeless county residents, officials said.
   The parking lot across the street - previously used for ferry patron parking and public access - is expected to be closed to the public also to be reserved for medical and hospital support personnel.

 Public access around the Craneway will be closed while it is used as a medical facility

State and law enforcement officials were on hand for the deliveries of beds & medical supplies

Inside the Craneway - now a medical facility