We continue to collectively struggle as a society with all of the effects of COVID-19, including

impacts to our physical health and safety, our mental and behavioral health, and the livelihood
and overall well-being of our 2.5 million residents. While we continue to closely track and
monitor our direct COVID-related statistics, we have now broadened our monitoring of other
key determinants of public health that have also been impacted by COVID. As you can see in
the attached report, we are seeing increasingly negative trends in key public health metrics
such as substance abuse, food and rent insecurity due to job loss, CALFRESH and Medi-Cal
resource needs, and many other factors that are placing a greater public health strain on our
population and on the county’s ability to effectively deliver essential safety-net social services.

We must therefore broaden our collective strategy to best balance and meet all of these key
public health needs during this time, and to do so in a way that is thoughtful, gradually
implemented, and sustainable to be able to combat COVID for the foreseeable future.

The intent of this Advocacy Platform is to actively engage with CDPH on an earnest discussion
of the steps that we can take together to achieve positive outcomes and plan for the gradual
re-opening of our society and economy in a measured and safe way, one which balances the
many aspects of public health needs that we collectively are tasked to address. It proposes a
multi-phased, risk-based approach that reopens sectors, proposed to start after the Labor Day
Holiday, after we have made a significant push during August to encourage our residents and
businesses to embed into their routine the interventions that have proven effective to combat
COVID-19 – including face coverings, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing and
good hygiene practices. The segments that would be allowed to re-open would do so under
the guidance criteria for best safety practices that the state has previously issued for these
sectors, subject to any updated changes made by CDPH.

Having a plan which set target dates and expectations will provide a tangible goal to our
residents and create a groundswell toward achieving the realistic metrics within the 30-day
timeframe. A commitment from the state will provide clarity to our residents that the sacrifices
being asked of them will have a connected purpose to both achieve a more stable and
sustainable spread of the disease and to reopen portions of our society and economy.

We respectfully request your review and consideration of the material that we are providing
herein, and would greatly welcome and appreciate the opportunity to have further discussions
with you and your staff as we seek to tackle these difficult challenges together. For any plan
related questions, please contact Kim Saruwatari, Riverside County Director of Public Health
at

Sincerely,

George A. Johnson
Chief Executive Officer

ROBERT T. ANDERSEN COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER

4080 LEMON STREET • FOURTH FLOOR • RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA 92501 • (951) 955-1110 • fax (951) 955-1034
 COVID-19 State Advocacy Platform
(August 10, 2020)
Riverside County believes in a holistic approach to the Public Health of our communities,
which values the physical health and safety, mental health, livelihood, and overall well-
being of our 2.5 million residents.
As such, this Advocacy Platform sets forth our request to the State to form an effective
partnership with Riverside County to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in a measurable,
socially equitable, and sustainable way.
1. Implement a comprehensive Community Action Plan focused on improving our
COVID-19 health outcomes over the next 30 days. The attached plan creates a
comprehensive blueprint to promote safe practices including wearing face
coverings, practicing physical distancing, and proper hygiene.
2. Allow Riverside County to gradually reopen our economy in a safe and measured
way, with constant consideration of the ability of the local hospital system to handle
a surge in COVID positive patients, as shown on the attached Phased Re-Opening
Plan and in accordance with established State Sector Guidance. The proposed plan
is risk based and allows for evaluation of health outcomes before proceeding
through the phases.
3. Grant Riverside County flexibility to interpret State Sector Guidance so that we can
create a shift towards a culture of safety that promotes voluntary compliance with
safety measures, builds community support, and focuses enforcement on the
highest public health and safety priorities.
4. Authorize Riverside County to be the primary provider to the State of all hospital
data collection and reporting. There are several different Federal and State
partners requesting data from our local hospitals and it has caused some confusion
about which entity needs what information by when in which format. Making
Riverside County the hub, a position in which we normally sit and as outlined in the
California Public Health and Medical Emergency Operations Manual, will make the
process go more smoothly.
5. Modify the monitoring list metric for positivity rate to 14%. With the ebb and flow
of testing and resulting supplies, greater priority is being given to symptomatic
individuals, resulting in a positivity rate that is not truly representative of
community spread.

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Proposed Phased Reopening Plan

Phase I - September 8, 2020

Allow the resumption of indoor services in accordance with State Guidance:

• Dine-in restaurants, wineries, and breweries

• Places of worship
• Non-essential indoor office
• Personal Care (barbershops, nail salons, hair salons, body art, etc.)

Evaluate health metrics and effects of Phase I reopening before proceeding to

Phase II. Determination to proceed to Phase II shall be made by the County CEO,
serving as the Director of Emergency Services, in consultation with Public Health
and other County Policy Advisors.

Phase II - September 22, 2020

Allow limited indoor activities in accordance with State Guidance:
• Wedding receptions
• Group meetings and events
• Indoor shopping malls
Evaluate health metrics and effects of Phase II reopening before proceeding to
Phase III. Determination to proceed to Phase III shall be made by the County CEO,
serving as the Director of Emergency Services, in consultation with Public Health
and other County Policy Advisors.
Phase III - October 6, 2020
Allow the resumption of indoor operations in accordance with State Guidance:

• Gyms
• Movie theaters
• Bars
FUTURE PHASES TO BE DETERMINED BY STATE GUIDANCE

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