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SIMI VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Advocate to Reopen Small Business in letter to Governor Newsom

9/28/2020

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Last week, the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Governor Newsom advocating for the safe, efficient reopening of industries in our County. The letter urged the Governor to reexamine the metrics that determine where a county sits on the County Risk Level tier system, and specifically mentioned the number of positive cases being inflated by the cases from individuals who are in prison.

Read the full letter below: 

Dear Governor Newsom:

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, representing over 600 businesses and thousands of employees, fights to protect and promote business in Simi Valley. More than 80% of the businesses represented employ fewer than 10 employees, and 95% of these businesses have been forced to alter their business practices, reduce their operations, or forced to close entirely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We appreciate your efforts to protect the health and safety of Californians to slow the spread of the COVID-19. However, the related shutdowns and the dimmer switch approach have many small businesses hanging by a thread, if they have not already permanently shut their doors.

We were hopeful that the Blueprint for a Safe Economy and the four tiers announced in late August would provide some relief to these businesses, but the reality is that many of these businesses are struggling even more and feel as though there is no possibility of reopening their doors any time soon.

The metrics that are being assessed to determine a county’s risk level are inconsistent, at best. In Ventura County, our positivity rate has consistently been in the Moderate (Orange) level since the new evaluation metrics were released. However, our county continues to sit in the Widespread (purple) tier due to our adjusted cases sitting slightly above 7. One major factor adding to this higher number of adjusted cases is the number of positive cases among prisoners.

We don’t believe that positive cases among prisoners should be counted toward the adjusted positive cases that factor into the county risk level metrics. As we understand many of these individuals are not from Ventura County. Additionally, these individuals are isolated and not out in our communities spreading the virus. If this group could be removed from the numbers, we believe our County would be able to move closer towards safely reopening our businesses.

To add insult to injury, the smoke from the wildfires that have overwhelmed much of California combined with the extreme heat we have been experiencing has had an even more devastating impact on these business trying to survive and run their indoor business outdoors. It would be a healthier environment for individuals to exercise or enjoy a meal indoors while distanced than by sitting outside surrounded by excessive heat or wildfire smoke.

The affected businesses in Simi Valley have worked diligently to refit their indoor operations to meet California Department of Public Health (CDPH) industry guidance. Over these past seven months they have shown remarkable resilience and have complied with the countless regulations which comes with a huge financial and emotional price tag. Many of these small business owners have already lost or significantly reduced their revenue stream, while their expenses remain the same or higher in many cases.

The struggles that our businesses are experiencing are not a result of anything they have done. This is of no fault of their own; in fact, many of these businesses were thriving prior to the pandemic. They need assistance to keep their doors open, and they need their government to work for them.

In closing, we urge you to reevaluate the adjusted positive cases less the positive cases from prisoners when assessing the county’s risk level. Our small businesses have worked hard to provide a safe, clean indoor environment for customers. They are the backbone of our state and local economies and they deserve to reopen their doors as they strictly comply with state guidelines.

Respectfully,

​Kathi Van Etten
President & CEO
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
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County Vaccine Update
Click Here for Ventura County Vaccine Information Portal

​As of 1/19/21 31,553 individuals have been vaccinated in Ventura County. The County has received 44,625 first dose vaccines. All appointments are filled this week.
More appointments will be opened next week. A notice will be sent when they open up.

The County has to wait each week on the amount of vaccines provided to the County from the State and then more appointments can be made. All vaccines coming in are going out to the people in Phase 1A and 75 and older. We have more eligible people wanting the vaccine than vaccines available.

It will take months to vaccinate all people. Vaccine supply is the biggest barrier to making this effort move more quickly. This is impacting Counties throughout the State.

Once appointments are opened you can register on the Ventura County Recovers website at the following link:

www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

You can also call their hotline to make an appointment next week. Currently, the hotline has a recording saying all appointments are full. Once more appointments are open an operator will be able to help callers make appointments. 
The phone number is: 805-477-7151.

The Area Agency on Aging provides transportation services for older adults that are in need of transportation to a vaccine appointment or for COVID-19 testing. This includes people that need lift assist as well as gurney transportation. The driver will take you, wait for you, help you at the site and take you home. 
To schedule a ride call 805-477-7300. 

You must have a vaccine appointment before you schedule a ride.

View all phase information at the following link: 
www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/prioritization/
Who is allowed to be vaccinated now per State Guidelines:
Phase 1A, Tiers 1 - 3: ​
​
  • COVID holding unit staff
  • Acute care hospital staff  (staff includes all workers that work in the individual unit: janitors, housekeepers, maintenance, security, ward clerks, nurses, physicians, techs, respiratory therapists, lab techs, etc.):
  • ICU staff
  • ER staff
  • Registry nurses working in the above units
  • All other healthcare workers in the acute care hospital (nurses, doctors, janitors, housekeepers, maintenance, security, ward clerks, nurses, techs, respiratory therapists, lab techs, etc.)
  • Staff at Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and similar settings that have registered with the Federal Pharmacy Participation Program (which has contracted Walgreens and CVS to carry out on site vaccination) will have both staff and residents vaccinated together.
  • All other hospital support units (laboratory, radiology, etc.)
  • Remaining hospital ancillary staff not previously mentioned
  • Following vaccination of acute care hospital staff, proceed with the following:
  • Staff at psychiatric hospitals/residential and in-patient mental health facilities
  • Residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
  • Jail infirmary staff
  • Staff and residents of special needs group living
  • Paramedics, EMTs (only those who are currently active and, in the field,)
  • Dialysis Centers
  • Vaccinators

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Copyright Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce.  All Rights Reserved.
40 W. Cochran St, Suite 100  | Simi Valley, CA 93065​ 
Phone: (805) 526-3900 | info@simichamber.org | sitemap

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  • Continued, Phase 1, Tiers 1 - 3:

  • Staff at Intermediate Care Facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care.
  • Residents of Intermediate Care Facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care.
  • Intermediate Care Facilities that have registered with the Federal Pharmacy Participation Program (which has contracted Walgreens and CVS to carry out on site vaccination) will have both staff and residents vaccinated together.
  • Primary Care Clinics, including FQHCs, rural health centers and urgent care clinics in zip codes 93015, 93030, 93033, 93036, 93040 and 93060. 
  • Jail staff
  • Home health care and in-home supportive services/Hospice staff
  • Public Health high risk workers and field staff
  • Primary Care Clinics, including FQHCs, rural health centers, correctional facility clinics and urgent care clinics not in the above-mentioned zip codes
  • Private MD Office Staff
  • Surgical Centers
  • Dental and other oral health clinics
  • Jail medical staff
  • Behavioral health outpatient staff/psychologists and social workers/staff of outpatient substance use disorder and crisis stabilization units
  • Community health workers including promotors
  • Midwives (not vaccinated as in-hospital staff)
  • Medical Examiner Investigators
  • CDPH Licensing & Certification Surveyors
  • COVID Testing Site workers/COVID hotel site workers
  • Regional center staff
  • Other health settings and healthcare workers
  • Specialty clinics
  • Laboratory workers
  • Blood bank workers
  • Pharmacy staff not working in settings in higher tiers
  • Physical therapists
  • Ombudsmen for long term care facilities
  • Mortuary and cemetery workers
  • Persons aged ≥75 years
  • *Veterinarians are not included in Phase 1A. Message from the State: There are many workers within the California Essential Critical Infrastructure Sector of Health Care and Public Health who do not work in the riskier settings that qualify for Phase 1A. Examples include workers in veterinary clinics or health care manufacturing, whose work is essential but risk of occupational exposure is typically lower than worker eligible for Phase 1A. Workers in the Health Care and Public Health Sector are eligible in Phase 1B, Tier 2 if they do not otherwise qualify for an earlier phase or tier.


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