Contra Cost County is currently in PURPLE Tier. Click to find out more information.
Vaccine Supply Shortages Prompt Public Health Leaders Throughout the Bay Area to Urge Prioritization of Older Adults for Vaccination
For the time being, the scarcity of COVID-19 vaccination doses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area has led health officials in eight jurisdictions to urge all health systems to prioritize shots for patients aged 65 and older because of the virus’ high mortality rate within that group. In Contra Costa, 82% of COVID-19 deaths have been in the 65-and-up age group. Thus, focusing vaccination efforts on those at greatest risk of death will have the biggest immediate impact on saving lives. Contra Costa residents can learn the latest information about vaccine distribution and prepare for when it’s their turn for a shot by visiting the Contra Costa Health Services website.
Contra Costa County Passes Ordinance to Extend Eviction Protection and Rent Freeze.
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Urgency Ordinance No. 2021-04 that continues a temporary eviction moratorium for certain residential tenants and a moratorium on certain residential rent increases through June 30, 2021. The Urgency Ordinance also continues a temporary eviction moratorium for certain commercial tenants through March 31, 2021. To read the full document Ordinance No. 2021-04, click here.
California’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act was signed into law on January 29, 2021 and extends eviction protections to COVID-19 impacted tenants and establishes the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is available to households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Qualified tenants will also be able to access funds to cover 25 percent of prospective rent for the months of April, May, and June of 2021, subject to funding availability. Past due utilities will also be eligible to be paid, subject to funding availability. The program is set to begin accepting applications no later than March 15, 2021. To read more about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program as well as protections for property owners, visit https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/covidrelief/visit.
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Pass Ordinance to Cap Food Delivery Service Fees
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an urgency ordinance to put a temporary cap on commissions and fees charged by third-party food delivery services to local restaurants. The Urgency Ordinance became effective immediately and applies throughout Contra Costa County except in cities that have adopted their own meal delivery ordinance. Under the ordinance, if a customer places an online order for delivery or pickup at a restaurant through a platform operated by a third-party delivery firm, the delivery firm cannot charge the restaurant more than 15 percent of the order. Similarly, if a third-party delivery firm provides a service such as processing online orders for a restaurant, the delivery firm cannot charge the restaurant more than 10 percent of the order for providing that service. The ordinance will expire when public health orders allow all restaurants in the County to seat customers at their indoor dining at 100 percent capacity. To read the full document Ordinance No. 2021-05 click here. For information and resources, visit Contra Costa County at www.contracosta.ca.gov.
Deadline Approaching for Second Application Round for California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program
California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate announced that Round 2 of the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is open. The $500 million program is intended for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Grants range in size from $5,000 to $25,000. The application portal opened at 8:00 a.m. on February 2, 2021 and will remain open through 6:00 p.m. February 8. Eligible applicants who submitted all necessary documents in Round 1, but did not receive a grant, will be rolled over for consideration in this second round – there is no need to reapply. For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, along with links to application tips and webinars, visit CAReliefGrant.com
COVID-19 Youth Ambassador Program
The City of Pittsburg has partnered with Contra Costa Health Services to co-sponsor 20 youth and young adults between 15-24 years of age for a new paid ambassador program centered around raising awareness about COVID-19 and helping reduce the spread of the virus. The youth ambassadors will learn how to create focused messages about COVID-19 and once these messages are created, the ambassadors will be asked to use their social media platforms to share these messages with family, friends, and followers. In addition, this cohort of ambassadors will serve as spokespersons for the City of Pittsburg and Contra Costa Health Services. Ambassadors will receive a $525 stipend for successful completion of 35 hours of work. Training will also be provided. The deadline to apply for this program on March 1, 2021. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3thRNKn.
Ways to Celebrate Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month with Contra Costa County Libraries. The library system has partnered with local authors, artists, historians, activists and regular folks doing extraordinary things, to bring our community virtual programs: art exhibits, and conversations with poets. To view the full line-up and to register, please visit https://ccclib.org/black-history-month/.
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