Week of February 26, 2021

Orange County Continues Vaccine Distribution

The County continues to operate three Super Point of Dispensing (POD) vaccination sites at the Disneyland Resort, Soka University, and the Anaheim Convention Center, as well as a smaller POD site at Santa Ana College. The Anaheim Convention Center super POD is currently dispensing second doses of Moderna, by appointment only. While some County PODs have experienced closures in the past few weeks due to high winds and/or vaccine shortages, Orange County ranks as the third-highest county in California in administering vaccine doses. As of February 25, there have been 679,496 Orange County residents who have received at least one dose of a vaccine. However, the biggest challenge with vaccine distribution remains the limited allocation of the vaccine.
 
The County Super PODs are not the only options for folks wanting to receive a vaccine. Other health care providers are approved to dispense vaccines, including hospitals, pharmacies, and health clinics, and they play an essential role in vaccinating Orange County's population. Large retail pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, receive their vaccine allocation directly from the Federal Government.

Orange County Remains in the Purple Tier

Orange County remains in the Purple Widespread Tier 1 of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Orange County Health Care Officer Dr. Clayton Chau reported that the County has had at least five days where both the health equity metric and the test positivity rate have met the thresholds of the Red Tier. Today, the health equity rate is 7% and the test positivity rate is 5.4% for Orange County. The daily case rate per 100,000 is at 11.9 and needs to be below seven new daily cases per 100,000 to meet the qualifications for the Red Tier. If these three goals can be met for two consecutive weeks, Orange County will be eligible to officially move into the Red Tier.  To learn how a sector is able to operate in the Purple Tier in Orange County, visit the State’s website. Residents are encouraged to continue to stay home as much as possible, wear a face covering when outside the home, and wash hands often.

Current Vaccine Eligibility in Orange County

Appointments are being scheduled in the Othena platform for individuals eligible within Phase 1A, including first responders in high risk communities, people 65 years of age or older, healthcare workers and medical device manufacturing workers. The State has opened eligibility to Phase 1B and requires local health departments to dedicate a specific allocation to this group. The County PODs will begin scheduling appointments for people eligible under Phase 1B when this vaccine supply is confirmed.

Based on State guidelines, people eligible within Phase 1B include:

• Educators
• Food service
• Grocery and agriculture workers
• Child care providers, and; 
• Emergency services (emergency service providers who work in high COVID positivity rate areas were included with the County’s Phase 1A vaccinations)

Outdoor Sports Competition May Resume in Orange County 

Based on updated guidance for youth and recreational adult sports issued February 19, by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), outdoor sports competitions may resume in Orange County (OC) with modifications starting today. The State’s guidance applies to all organized youth and adult sports, including school and community-sponsored programs, and privately organized clubs and leagues. Outdoor sport competitions may resume in Purple Tier counties, including OC, with modifications that include testing requirements for certain outdoor high-contact sports. Outdoor moderate-contact sports, such as baseball, cheerleading, and softball, can be played in OC without the testing requirement. Youth and adult sports include varied activities that have different levels of risk for transmission of COVID-19 depending on the physical contact between players. More information on examples of sports with different levels of contact and risk by tier is available by clicking here.

Supervisor Chaffee’s Small Business Grant Relief Program 

Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee is taking applications for the Small Business Grant Relief Program. These grants will support small businesses and nonprofit organizations within the Fourth Supervisorial District (excluding the cities of  Anaheim and Placentia who have their own programs) impacted by COVID-19. The program will provide $5,000 awards to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Awardees will be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred from November 2020-present (as long as other relief program funds were not received for the same expense). Click here for more information on this opportunity.

Deadline for the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program Approaching

The County of Orange is continuing its Emergency Rental Assistance Program through February 28. The County will offer rental households up to $10,000 in financial assistance for unpaid rent or utility bills due to the impact of COVID-19.
More information on this program is available here.