COVID-19 Community Response

 

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Resources

Important Information and Resources

Santa Cruz Community –

We understand the concern surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) across our communities, and we are closely monitoring the ongoing pandemic. Many of you are concerned not only about the health of yourself and your families but the financial hardships you are facing as a result of prolonged work and event closures. United Way of Santa Cruz County is here to help you through the coronavirus crisis. 

We continue to update this page regularly to provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding the coronavirus, along with resources you need to help guide you through this crisis. 

 

 

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Latest COVID-19 Updates

  • COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly, and it is important that we all do our part to slow the spread. Wear a face covering, keep your distance, wash your hands often, avoid group gatherings, and stay home if you are sick. For local information on COVID-19, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus.
  • California Department of Public Health announces Limited Stay at Home Order. Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, all non-essential activities and gatherings must stop between 10pm-5am for counties in the Purple Tier, including Santa Cruz. The curfew order is in place through December 21st. Click here for more information. More restrictions may be imposed if cases continue to rise.
  • Additional COVID-19 testing available in Santa Cruz County. The OptumServe community testing site at Ramsay Park, has expanded testing availability and can now offer testing for up to 330 individuals per day. Located at 1301 Main St. in Watsonville, the site is open Wednesday-Sunday, 7am-7pm. To make an appointment, go to https://lhi.care/covidtesting. Additionally, Senneca Diagnostics has recently opened a community testing site at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Dr., Aptos. Open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am-4pm. Testing is available for up to 300 individuals per day. To make an appointment, go to https://my.portal-sennecadx.com/?m=b2c.
  • Santa Cruz County is in the Purple Tier. Places of worship, movie theaters, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers will only be allowed to have outdoor services with health and safety modifications. Please take this seriously, and do your part to protect your community. For more information on the state framework, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/.
  • Holiday Gathering Guidance. How much are you willing to risk exposing your loved ones to COVID-19? The safest way to celebrate this holiday season is virtually, with members of your household or outdoors. If you choose to gather in person, keep it safe, small, short, and stable. Click here for a press release on holiday gathering guidance Click here for a downloadable flier (English | Spanish). Click here to read California Department of Public Health’s updated guidance for private gatherings
  • Avoid travel during the holidays. Travel outside the Bay Area increases your risk for getting infected and spreading COVID-19. If you must travel, plan ahead and take steps to reduce your risk. State health officials are advising travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving or returning to California. Click here to read the full holiday travel guidance (pages 3-4). Click here for a downloadable flier summarizing this guidance (English | Spanish). Click here to read the travel advisory from the California Department of Public Health.
  • Fight flu by getting a flu shot. Health officials from across the Bay Area urge everyone six months and older to get a flu shot. Vaccines are available at doctors’ offices and many pharmacies provide them free or low-cost to the public. Click here for a downloadable flier (English | Spanish) and infographic (English | Spanish) to share with your community members. Visit the Santa Cruz County Public Health’s Updated Flu Webpage for more information on how to protect yourself and your family from the flu.

Quick Covid-19 Updates

  • Have you signed up to get notified when it's your turn to get vaccinated? Get notified when it’s your turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine at myturn.ca.gov. My Turn is where you can find out if it’s your turn to get vaccinated. If it isn’t your turn yet, you can register to be notified when you become eligible.

  • Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Guidelines. Beginning March 15, the California Department of Health will begin allowing healthcare providers to vaccinate individuals age 16-64 with certain severe health conditions that put them at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. Click here for more information.
  • Community Bridges COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline. If you are over 65, call the Bridges to Access Vaccination Helpline to get assistance in obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine. Community Bridges’ bilingual staff are available to provide information and help make appointments. Please call (831) 219-8607 and leave a message with your name, phone number, age, and zip code. They will call you back within 48 hours. 
  • California Department of Public Health Announces State Safe Schools for All Plan. The new framework will support schools to continue operating safely in-person and provide a phased approach to expand the number of schools safely resuming in-person instruction. Interactive maps are now available to view each school district’s status on reopening. For more information, visit https://schools.covid19.ca.gov

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 Guidance

COVID-19 Signs and Media Materials

Workplace and Businesses

·         Questions about COVID-19 and your rights at work? California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc (CRLA) offers free legal services for agricultural and low-wage workers. For more information visit the bilingual website at: California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. | (crla.org)

  • Businesses can apply for a Blue Check sign via the Office for Economic Development at www.sccvitality.org.

Food & Basic Needs

·         Nutrition Assistance Resources in Santa Cruz County – Information on major local resources to help you and your loved ones get the food and nutrition you need (English and Spanish)

Medical Care

  • Medi-Nurse for those who are uninsured but have symptoms of COVID-19, (877) 409-9052
  • If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, see your provider for testing and follow up care. The Optum Serve testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville is also open Wednesday-Sunday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. by appointment. Appointments can be made online by visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting. Individuals without internet access can call 888-634-1123 to arrange an appointment.

Mental Health

Wildfire Resources

 

COVID-19 Vaccines will be available for people who are 50 years old or older starting April 1st. It will also be available for those who are 16 years or older starting April 15th. 

 

Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine:

/sites/unitedwaysc.org/files/COVID-19%20Vaccine%20is%20Here!%20ENG.pdf

 

Spanish Version:

/sites/unitedwaysc.org/files/COVID-19%20Vaccine%20is%20Here!%20SPA.pdf

 

Check Vaccine Locations: 

https://www.santacruzhealth.org/HSAHome/HSADivisions/PublicHealth/CommunicableDiseaseControl/CoronavirusHome/Vaccine.aspx

 

As vaccines become more available for people, we still have to remember to be careful and safe. We must still remember to social distance, wear masks, wash hands, and meet outside (if a gathering is necessary). By taking these precautions while more people get vaccinated, it will greatly help reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Learn about Double Masking: 

https://cityofwatsonville.org/2182/16688/Double-Mask?activeLiveTab=widg…

 

Learn about Prevention Formula and MyTurn:

https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/2181/16682/Prevention-Formula-My-Turn…

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

  • California Department of Public Health Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility. Beginning April 1st, individuals age 50 years and older are eligible to be vaccinated. On April 15th, eligibility will further expand to those 16 and older. Eligibility does not necessarily mean immediate access. It will still take time to vaccinate everyone who wants to be, and access will be based on local vaccine supply. To learn when and where you can be vaccinated, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine. You can also sign up at https://myturn.ca.gov to be notified when it is your turn. 

 

  • MyTurn Website. We are aware of a message on the My Turn website (https://myturn.ca.gov/) that says no COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available in Santa Cruz County. Please disregard this message and scroll down to the Other Locations listed. Currently there are open appointments for those who are eligible at several locations.

 

  • The Best COVID-19 Vaccine Is the One You Can Get the Soonest. All three vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, speak to your medical provider. Learn more about vaccines on the state’s COVID-19 website. Click here to read the full statement from Bay Area Health Officers.

 

  • How to Protect Yourself and Others When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated. People who have been fully vaccinated can do some things they had stopped doing because of the pandemic. Keep taking precautions in public places. Wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart from others, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Click here to view the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on safe activities after being fully vaccinated.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

  • Bridges to Access: Community Bridges COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline. If you are over 65, call the Bridges to Access Vaccination Helpline for help in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Bilingual staff provide information and help make appointments. Please call (831) 219-8607 and leave a message with your name, phone number, age, and zip code. They will call you back within 48 hours.

 

  • Vaccine Townhall Recordings Available. Recordings of community information sessions discussing the COVID-19 vaccine are available to view online.
    • Click here to view the Pajaro Valley Community Group’s townhall recording in English and Spanish.
    • Click here to view recordings from Community Bridges’ online community forum.

 

 

General COVID-19 Updates

  • Santa Cruz County Moves to the Orange Tier. Beginning March 31st, Santa Cruz County will move into the Orange Tier, based on improving COVID-19 transmission rates. Economic restrictions will be further lifted and additional sectors will be allowed to resume operations. For sector-specific guidance, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy

 

  • Travel Advisory Updated April 1st. The California Department of Public Health advises all Californians to avoid non-essential travel outside of California. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 including new virus strains that could be introduced to Santa Cruz County. Anyone arriving in or returning to California should get tested 3-5 days upon arrival and self-quarantine for 7 days after arrival, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals who do not get tested should quarantine for 10 days after travel. Click https://covid19.ca.gov for more information.

 

  • Variant Identified in Santa Cruz County. Two cases of the U.K. variant have been identified in local patients. Residents should assume the variant is circulating in the community. Fortunately, current vaccines have been shown to maintain effectiveness against variants. Click here for more information on state monitoring of COVID-19 variants. 

 

  • Changes to Hours of Operation at OptumServe Testing Site. Beginning April 5th, the OptumServe testing site at Ramsay Park will be open 5 days a week, Wednesday-Sunday, from 7am-7pm. Click here to make an appointment. For additional testing locations visit www.santacruzhealth.org/testing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Send us a link to your resources and we will share them here! Email your link to agonzalez@unitedwaysc.org