(Santa Ana, CA) - The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted cold overnight temperatures throughout inland and coastal Orange County cities beginning Wednesday, March 1 through Thursday, March 2. Overnight temperatures in many areas throughout the county will dip to the mid-30s tonight and stay in the low-to-mid 40s through Saturday. Colder-than-normal temperatures increase the risk of cold-related illnesses like hypothermia, especially for those who are more sensitive to extreme weather changes.
When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Low body temperature may make you unable to think clearly or move well. Hypothermia occurs most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.
“When prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures occurs, it is important to make certain that you are protected from hypothermia. In addition, it is critical to check that seniors who live alone, your neighbors, pets and vulnerable populations are safe during this time,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer and OC Health Care Agency Acting Chief of Public Health Services.
The County of Orange Cold Weather Emergency Shelter is open to serve adults, ages 18 and older. For information on accessing the shelter, please visit OC Cold Weather Shelter Flyer 1.27.2023.pdf (ocgov.com) or call (657) 520-9185.
Residents are also cautioned against using their kitchen range or oven to heat their homes. Home furnaces and heaters should be inspected periodically, with needed repairs performed by a qualified and licensed heating or plumbing contractor. If space heaters are used, make sure there is nothing within three feet of the heater that could catch on fire, such as bedding, drapes, or furniture. Never cover your space heater and never leave children unattended near a space heater. If electric power is lost during a storm, never use a gasoline powered generator indoors, in a garage or near doors or windows where air may enter a home due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that at high levels of exposure can be fatal. Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning or other illnesses and can have a long-term health risk if left unattended. Some of the symptoms of low-level exposure include shortness of breath, mild nausea and mild headaches. Moderate levels of carbon monoxide exposure can present with headaches, dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness. Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector, which is very similar to a smoke detector.
Recommended precautions to prepare your household for cold weather or power outage:
Check on those who are at high risk to make sure they are staying warm – including seniors who live alone, as well as other vulnerable populations such as young children.
(Santa Ana, CA) - To continue protecting themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) encourages residents to stay informed on local COVID-19 community spread, stay vigilant about preventive measures and learn where to access vaccines, testing and treatment options as the California State of Emergency (SOE) and Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) end.
COVID Trends in Orange County
Orange County remains in the Low COVID-19 Community level according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Locally, COVID-19 case positivity worsened over the last 2 weeks with the case rate per 100,000 per day increasing from 4.9% to 6.2%, overall testing positivity increasing from 6.1% to 7.7%, hospitalizations increasing from 171 to 182, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hospitalizations increasing slightly from 17 to 19 between February 8th and February 22, 2023.
The highly transmissible Omicron variant XBB 1.5 remains the predominant strain locally and nationally. However, epidemiolocal studies revealed no difference in disease severity when compared with the most common previous subvariant of Omicron BQ.1.
COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Booster
With COVID-19 cases rising in the community, residents are strongly encouraged to continue practicing preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing severe illness. Studies continue to show that bivalent booster vaccines protect against severe COVID-19 disease and reduce the risk of developing complications such as Long COVID.
As of 2/27/2023, 73.5% of OC residents have completed a primary series, and 45.3% have received at least one booster. However, only 17.1% of all OC residents have received a bivalent booster vaccine and only 40.9% of those age 65+, those at highest risk for severe COVID-19 disease, received a bivalent booster.
Local data indicates that for persons 65 and older, hospitalizations has been 8.66 times more likely for those who did not receive the bivalent vaccine (includes those who received no vaccine and those who received some vaccine but no bivalent booster) compared to those who received the bivalent booster. For the same group, death was 5.67 times more likely for those who did not receive the bivalent vaccine.
According to a recently published article, vaccinated individuals who received the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine were 14 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who received no vaccine and 3 times less likely to die compared with those who received only the original COVID-19 vaccine.1
The HCA continues to utilize the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) vaccination platform, MyTurn. Vaccination appointments can be scheduled through myturn.ca.gov, www.vaccine.gov and www.ochealthinfo.com or by calling (800) 914-4887.
COVID-19 Testing
Testing continues to be an effective means to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Locations for free testing can be searched on No-Cost COVID-19 Testing locator and individuals can order at www.covidtests.gov or call (800) 232-0233 for support in multiple languages. Individuals with insurance can also order no-cost at home test kits from their service providers.
COVID-19 Treatment
Individuals who do contract COVID-19 are encouraged to seek treatment such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir, ritonavir), which can reduce the risk of severe illness if started early. Paxlovid remains effective against the current circulating COVID-19 variant and is readily available through community health care providers.
Impacts of the End of the California State of Emergency (SOE) and Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE)
Following the end of California COVID-19 SOE (February 28, 2023), coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, tests and several COVID-19 therapeutics will continue while the Federal PHE remains in place. Once the Federal PHE ends on May 11, 2023, California residents who are insured will continue to have coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, tests and COVID therapeutics for an additional 6 months after the end of the Federal PHE because of California Senate Bills 510 and 1473.
On December 15, 2022, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) adopted non-emergency COVID-19 preventions. These regulations took effect on February 3, 2023, and will remain in effect for two years after the effective date. Employers can read details HERE.
President Biden announced plans to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023 (White House Announcement). Governor Newsom announced an end to the COVID-19 State of Emergency (SOE) at 11:59 pm on February 28, 2023 (Governor Newsom’s Announcement). The Orange County Local Health Emergency and Local Emergency also end concurrently with termination of the California SOE on February 28, 2023.
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources.
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1. Johnson AG, Linde L, Ali AR, et al. COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Persons Aged ≥12 Years by Receipt of Bivalent Booster Doses and Time Since Vaccination — 24 U.S. Jurisdictions, October 3, 2021–December 24, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:145–152. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7206a3.
(Santa Ana, CA) - The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Mental Health & Recovery Services (MHRS) team is being awarded $10 million dollars to expand its behavioral crisis continuum in Orange County. Funding is awarded from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) program. The program provides funding for county and city behavioral health departments to implement new and enhanced CCMUs. The HCA is one of many recipients, with over $140 million already distributed to similar programs statewide.
These additional funds are planned to support and/or expand the mobile behavioral health crisis services across Orange County, including:
Purchasing new vehicles for the field crisis team
Crisis trainings for Peer Specialists
Upgraded technology for crisis teams and vehicles
Additional integrated resources for all county residents
The County’s current crisis system includes the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT), Outreach and Engagement team, and OC Links. Mobile crisis services are available to reach any person in the service area in a home, school, workplace, or any other field-based location.
“We are very excited to draw down these funds to better support the efforts of our crisis response system of care,” said Dr. Veronica Kelley, HCA Chief of Mental Health and Recovery Services. “These funds will allow us to better leverage current services, allowing more options for assistance with transportation to needed levels of care, technology, and training. This will help to ensure Orange County residents experiencing a behavioral health crisis get the help they need, when they need it.”
The County’s CAT program provides prompt response in the field when an individual is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. A behavioral health crisis may include a mental health crises, substance use crises, or co-occurring mental health and substance use crises. County clinicians respond to calls from anyone in the community and are dispatched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Individuals are connected to appropriate care and clinicians follow-up with individuals and/or their parents/guardians to provide information and referrals for ongoing mental health and recovery services.
California’s DHCS is utilizing funding for these grants from the broader Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), with focus being on the development and expansion of behavioral health CCMUs throughout California. For more information on California’s Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) grant program, visit: here
If you or someone you know is experience a mental health or substance crisis, call OC Links 24/7 at: (855) 625-4657 or visit OC Links.
(Santa Ana, CA) — Several public health messages were announced recently by a variety of government agencies, including the White House, California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency end dates, available resources for COVID-19 and HIV testing moving forward, and important product recalls.
Federal and State – COVID-19 Public Health Emergency End Date Planned
The Federal Government and State of California have each announced plans to end the COVID-19 public health emergency. President Biden announced plans to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023 (White House Announcement), while Governor Newsom announced an end to the COVID-19 State of Emergency on February 28, 2023 (Governor Newsom’s Announcement).
As COVID-19 continues to adversely affect individuals, everyone is strongly advised to make informed decisions to prevent severe COVID-19 illness. The County Health Officer strongly recommends all county residents consider creating the following COVID-19 Action Plan for themselves:
Know your risk. Those with a weakened immune system or live with someone who does, are strongly encouraged to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Protect yourself. Get an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, improve ventilation, wash hands often, wear a well-fitted mask.
Take action if exposed. Monitor symptoms, consider wearing a mask around others when in public and test for COVID if you develop symptoms or if you plan to come into contact with someone who may have a weakened immune system.
Take action if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Get tested and consider treatment- visit the Test to Treat website to find a location for treatment.
Receiving an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine remains the most effective way to prevent severe COVID-19 illness. Eligible individuals who have not yet received their bivalent booster are encouraged to do so. Visit www.vaccines.gov.
Additionally, testing and treatment are important measures to help immediately detect illness and reduce chances of developing severe illness from COVID-19 for those at high risk. CDPH recently launched a public message campaign “Test It, Treat It, You Can Beat It!” Visit CDPH website www.youcanbeatit.org for more information on prevention, testing and treatment.
Increased Community Access to COVID-19 Testing Program
Last month, CDC launched the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program. The ICATT program provides access to COVID-19 testing in communities at greater risk of being impacted by the pandemic, for people without health insurance, and for surge testing in state and local jurisdictions.
The ICATT program created the No-Cost COVID-19 testing locator webpage to help residents find COVID-19 testing locations and to provide contact information for the providers. The testing locator searches for testing providers using a ZIP Code or street address and will prompt users to the nearest location(s) to make an appointment for a test.
New At-Home HIV Test Kits Website Launched
To support ongoing efforts to end the HIV epidemic, CDPH, Office of AIDS (CDPH-OA) recently announced the launch of an OraQuick HIV self-testing program to all counties in California through the Building Healthy Online Communities: Take Me Home program (BHOC-TMH).
This program puts an effective free HIV screening tool directly into the hands of Californians (ages 17+) who request it via the BHOC-TMH website. The BHOC partnership developed the National Home Test Kits program for state and local health departments to offer confidential HIV and comprehensive sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing delivered securely and discreetly directly to constituents.
“HIV remains a public health challenge and knowing your HIV status helps prevent new infections,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the County Health Officer and HCA’s Acting Chief of Public Health Services. “This new resource supports testing through a secure and discreet at-home option and increases access for people with limited transportation or mobility.”
Local support is available at the OC Health Care Agency/17th Street Testing, Treatment and Care Clinic: Call (714) 834-8787 to make an appointment or visit.
Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas Infection Associated with Artificial Tears
On February 1, 2023, CDC issued a Health Alert Advisory about infections with an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (VIM-GES-CRPA) in 12 states. Most patients reported using more than 10 different brands of artificial tears with some patients using multiple brands. Many patients reported using EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product packaged in multidose bottles.
Patients and health care providers are advised to immediately discontinue using EzriCare Artificial Tears pending additional guidance from CDC and FDA, and patients should follow up with their health care provider for an alternative artificial tears product to use.
Anyone using EzriCare Artificial Tears and who has signs or symptoms of an eye infection, such as discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, feeling of something in the eye, increased sensitivity to light, or blurry vision, should seek timely medical care. At this time, CDC does not recommend testing of patients who have used this product and who are not experiencing any signs or symptoms of infection.
The full CDC Health Alert Notification can be viewed HERE.
FDA Recalls “Diep Bao Cream” for Lead Contamination
FDA recently issued a recall of Shop Me Ca’s “Diep Bao Cream” baby cream because the 10-gram tubes have the potential to be contaminated with lead. Diep Bao Cream was sold nationwide through Shop Me Ca’s Facebook page and Vietnamese Moms’ Facebook groups.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about infections with an extensively drug-resistant strain of Verona Integron-mediated Metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Guiana-Extended Spectrum-β-Lactamase (GES)-producing carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (VIM-GES-CRPA) in 12 states. Most patients reported using artificial tears. Patients reported more than 10 different brands of artificial tears, and some patients used multiple brands. The majority of patients who used artificial tears reported using EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product packaged in multidose bottles. CDC laboratory testing identified the presence of the outbreak strain in opened EzriCare bottles with different lot numbers collected from two states. Patients and healthcare providers should immediately discontinue using EzriCare artificial tears pending additional guidance from CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The entire CDC Health Alert Notification can be viewed at:
