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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 1, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-f <br /> SUBJECT: Update on COVID-19 Response and Funding Allocations <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1) County Department Operational <br /> Status Summary Travis Myren, 919-245-2308 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive an update on the County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a <br /> focus on the use of supplemental State and Federal funding. <br /> BACKGROUND: Since March, all County operations have been adjusted in response to the <br /> COVID-19 pandemic. County employees have been asked to work from home if possible, and <br /> those employees who are reporting to a physical work location are providing services using new <br /> protocols and procedures to minimize person to person contact and avoid potential exposure to <br /> COVID-19. A summary of the current operational status for each County department is included <br /> as Attachment 1. <br /> The Health Department has guided the County's response efforts. At a policy level, the Health <br /> Department has provided recommendations on local regulations, general public health <br /> protocols, personal protective equipment, and re-opening strategies. At the clinical level, the <br /> Health Department has executed communicable disease protocols and case investigations and <br /> organized community testing events. The Department has led the County's public information <br /> and education campaign by producing daily text messages and social media content, <br /> maintaining a Countywide website and dashboard, and issuing weekly newsletters. <br /> The Emergency Services Department has coordinated emergency support functions through the <br /> Emergency Operations Center. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated <br /> on a continuous basis since March 9, 2020. The EOC has responded to over 1,012 resource <br /> requests from municipal and community organizations and provided over 121,000 items. <br /> Emergency Services has also facilitated daily briefings for key staff members, organized a multi- <br /> jurisdictional information sharing meeting, and through the Emergency Support Functions, the <br /> Department has supported direct services related to food distribution, community testing, hotel <br /> occupancy for the homeless population, and continues to track, report, and request federal <br /> reimbursement for related expenses through the Federal Emergency Management Agency <br /> (FEMA). <br /> This update focuses on the application of supplemental State and Federal resources designed <br /> to respond to the pandemic. These allocations are included in Budget Amendment #1 which is <br /> on the consent agenda for the September 1 meeting. This report does not include direct <br />