Category Archives: Coronavirus

COVID-19 is still with us so caution is still very important.

When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Running essential errands like grocery shopping, take-out, banking, getting gas, and doctor visits
What you need to know
Stay home if sick.
Use online services when available.
Wear a cloth face covering when running errands.
Use social distancing (stay at least 6 feet away from others).
Use hand sanitizer after leaving stores.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
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Grocery Shopping
Deliveries & Takeout
Banking
Getting Gas
Doctor Visits & Getting Medicine
Grocery Shopping
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Tips for grocery shopping

Stay home if sick. Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

Order online or use curbside pickup
Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.

Protect yourself while shopping

Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
When you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).
If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.

After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer.

When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging play a significant role in spreading the virus in the United States.

What do COVID-19 scams look like in your state?

by Paul Witt Lead Data Analyst, FTC

We’ve been telling you about the scams related to COVID-19. But now we can tell you even more about the scams happening in your neck of the woods. Just today, the FTC released state-specific data on COVID-19-related issues, which you can check out with just a few clicks of your mouse. With user-friendly features, the FTC’s data dashboard lets you click on your state to see what people near you have been reporting. And see how people across the country are being affected, too.

Since January 1, people across the U.S. have made 91,808 COVID-19-related reports to the FTC. Most of these reports involve online shopping, with travel and vacations coming in second. The online shopping reports are mostly about people ordering products that never arrive, while most of the travel and vacation reports relate to refunds and cancellations. So far, people have reported losing $59.27 million on these and other COVID-related fraud reports.

So how have COVID-19-related consumer issues affected your state? Find out for yourself. Then tell your family, friends, and community what to look out for, and how to protect themselves. Also, be sure to visit ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams for alerts, infographics, videos, and more information about COVID-19 scams.

We’re excited to share our data with you — but it’s only as good as what we hear from you. If we don’t know about the issue, we can’t work to stop it. If you’ve experienced or heard about scams of any kind, please tell us at ftc.gov/complaint.

Ventura high schools hold graduation event at historic city hall

by Richard Lieberman

Graduation season is here, and Ventura city schools celebrated graduating seniors from local high schools, Buena High School, El Camino High School, Ventura High School, Pacific High School and Foothill Technology High School.

Graduating seniors were invited to join their principal and staff at City Hall to have their names read, receive their diploma, and have their photo taken on the steps of City Hall in their caps and gown, all while their family watched from cars below. With 1200 graduating seniors scheduled to walk officials knew the event would need to be held two days. Saturday June 13^th and Sunday June 14^th were selected.

“Much like our school year, everything changed on a dime, and our teams knew we could wait to see what happen in terms of mass gathering guidelines. We began working on alternative plans immediately in the event traditional graduation would not be possible.” Said Joe Bova, graduation committee coordinator.

Schools had been in the process of planning for pre-recorded virtual ceremonies, per restrictions put in place for large gatherings. That changed on May 27^th when a directive from Ventura Count Public Health allowed county schools to plan for a car line graduation ceremony, where students would be able to leave their vehicles for a photo opportunity and to receive their diplomas. The car line ceremonies only allow for the graduate and their families to attend.

The ceremony was filmed by CAPS Media with fixed and remote cameras and will be shared on-line by June 20^th.

Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent of Schools said “We want to thank the many dedicated VUSD employees who have been working tirelessly to make this magical moment a reality, never giving up on our student’s dream of an in-person celebration. A big thank you to our city of Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, city staff, and the Ventura Police Department. Due to the current mass gathering rules, making this ceremony a reality for our students has been no easy feat, and we appreciate you working with us to make this important milestone happen for our students.”

The front of Ventura City Hall was decorated with colorful shade tents, decorated arches and signs depicting the unique event.

Students exited their vehicles and walked to the steps of City Hall where they were presented with their diplomas. After receiving their diplomas students walked down the steps and were shown how to switch their tassel from right to left signifying this momentous occasion.

Growers were quick to respond when SEEAG put out the call for produce donations

SEEAG and growers provide over 4,000 bags of fresh produce to local farm workers.

Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) organized produce donations from 13 different growers to fill over 4,000 bags of fresh produce for farm workers in need. The produce was distributed weekly in April and May.

Participating growers were Gill’s Onions, Houweling’s Group, San Miguel Produce, Earthtrine Farm, Saticoy Lemon Association, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Petty Ranch, Calavo, Mission Produce, Tamai Family Farms, Fig Tree Farms, Chivas Skin Care and Bennett’s Honey Farm.

Growers were quick to respond when SEEAG put out the call for produce donations. “We want to thank our local growers for their tremendous generosity. They know that this has been a stressful time for our farmworker families in Ventura County,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “Parents are harvesting crops while their kids are learning at home. Families are struggling financially while taking extra precautions to stay healthy and safe.”

SEEAG is also delivering “Farm Fresh Kids Wellness Bags” filled with educational materials, jump ropes, dental kits and fresh produce (celery donated by Duda Farm Fresh Foods and pixie tangerines donated by Friend’s Ranches) to children of farm workers. So far, the nonprofit organization has delivered 1,175 the bags and plans to deliver another 400 by the end of June.

The bags are made possible by donations including $1,000 from Gold Coast Health Plan and $2,500 from Union Bank. We want to thank Union Bank, Gold Coast Health Plan and our other donors for helping SEEAG supply educational and health-related items to children during this time when many may feel disconnected from school,” says Maranville, SEEAG.

To learn more about SEEAG, go to www.SEEAG.org, Facebook www.facebook.com/SEEAG.org or contact Maranville at [email protected], 805-901-0213.

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program based in Ventura County teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs including Farm Day in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, over 65,000 elementary school students and community members in Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at [email protected].

“Feeding the Frontline” organizers expand local food distribution events

And even Mariachi music to workers in the fields.

Ventura County Latino and immigrant rights activists are taking action to support the region’s farm working families who continue to provide California residents with safe and healthy food options throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign, known as “Feeding the Frontline: Feeding our Farmworkers,” has launched a GoFundMe campaign to provide groceries, supplies, and even Mariachi music to workers in the fields. The all-volunteer group is seeking community support to raise $15,000, which will help cover the cost of distributing food, supplies, and public health literature to these “frontline” families.

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the value farmworkers provide our communities,” shared Roberto Juarez, CEO of Clinicas Del Camino Real, one of several organizations supporting Feeding the Frontline. “As always, these workers are operating under conditions few of us fully grasp, only they’re now doing it during a pandemic. That’s why Feeding the Frontline is committed to feeding those who feed us. Since many pantries help our community by providing food during normal business hours, our team visits local farms, as well as overlooked and underserved farm working communities, to directly provide much-needed food, supplies, and information to farmworkers while they work non-stop to feed California residents.”

Feeding the Frontline has hosted 15 events since beginning in April. The group has provided over 7,000 farmworkers and their families with 180 tons of warm meals, groceries, and personal protective equipment. Mariachi bands have even joined in on the action by serenading workers. These events have taken place in Oxnard, El Rio, Santa Paula, Saticoy, Fillmore, and Piru, garnering widespread media attention from local and national outlets including ABC 7, Univision, and Billboard. The group’s next distribution on Saturday, June 6, 2020 will take place in Nyeland Acres, a migrant neighborhood of Oxnard with approximately 920 K-12 students who receive free and reduced lunches.

Although farmworkers are more essential than ever to the community’s well-being, their contributions continue to go largely unrecognized. Ventura County’s economy and residents rely heavily on the work of farmworkers. In fact, according to the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, farming and farm-dependent businesses provide an estimated 43,000 jobs in the County, generating $2.1 billion in revenue and $76 million in indirect business taxes annually. Additionally, one in 10 county residents rely directly or indirectly on income earned from farming-related work.

The group’s efforts strike a personal chord for many volunteers whose families also work in Ventura County’s agricultural fields. “Keeping Ventura County families healthy is more important than ever before and we all want access to nutritious produce at our local grocery stores and markets,” said Richard Castaniero, a community volunteer and local educator.

To donate to Feeding the Frontline’s efforts, visit https://bit.ly/frontline805.

Ventura Botanical Gardens announces re-opening with new hours

With the re-opening, new COVID protocols are in play.

The Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG) recently announced the COVID reopening date of Saturday, June 6. The Gardens have been closed due to both the pandemic and subsequent new construction including sponsorship sites and entrance development.

With the re-opening, new COVID protocols are in play. The Merewether Welcome Center entrance is now set up for non-contact social distancing. The exit has been moved to the back of the education structure—signs will point the way. There will be a limited entry of 50 visitors in the entirety of the Gardens. These protocols are based on National Public Gardens guidelines and are subject to change.

The Gardens are open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays and temporarily on Tuesdays). Entrance is free on Fridays (formerly on Tuesdays)—the change was made in part to facilitate opportunities for long weekends. Admission is $7 per person. Visitors can same day pay online at vbgpay.com, or pay at the door. Non-contact credit card payment is preferred over cash, but not required. Members are free. Children under 18 are free. EBT cardholders are free. The upper gardens north of Summit Drive are free and open to pedestrians when Grant Park is open. The upper gardens are accessible by walking from Summit Drive, Brakey Road, or Ferro Drive. Leashed dogs are welcome on Fridays and Wednesdays. The Gardens will also be open and free to the public on International Climate Change Day, June 21.

Aside from these public health and safety guidelines, visitors will be treated to a new entrance walkway. Local architects, Noah Greer and Martha Picciotti, designed the entrance. Halter-Encinas Landscaping did the construction.

“It was a real challenge starting with a long, steep asphalt driveway. We used redwood pickets set on stepped walls to add texture and frame the entry,” said Noah, lead designer. “Those pickets will soon enclose the new nursery, so visitors will be able to look into the heart of the gardens as they walk by.”

Additionally, both the Fynbos Garden and the Karoo Gardens, located near Summit Plateau, are showing substantial changes. In the Fynbos Garden, the protea are enjoying a full bloom of reds, yellows and oranges and in the Karoo Garden, the young aloe trees are beginning to mature.

For more information or to learn more about the Gardens, please visit our website, Facebook or Instagram pages.

The nonprofit organization has a 40-year Master Plan dedicated to creating a botanical garden celebrating the Mediterranean climate regions. The setting is a world-class site with spectacular views of the California coastline, verdant agricultural vistas, the Channel Islands and Ojai’s Topa Topa peak. VBG will continue to create new outdoor opportunities for training, research, and educational programs ranging from horticulture and botany to sustainability.

We stand and kneel together

Ethan Messecar and Phil Taggart getting ready to roll camera at the VUSD graduation.

Citizens all across the nation are letting their voices be heard in peaceful protest, condemning the reprehensible actions of police officers in Minneapolis that resulted in the horrific death of George Floyd. All of us at CAPS Media were sickened and saddened by what we saw. We do not condone racism, discrimination, inequality, or violence towards anyone. We stand in solidarity with our community and support everyone in exercising their first amendment right to assemble and to petition government to redress grievances.

CAPS Media is a Community Public Access Center that offers everyone in our community a place to share your voice and be heard on television, radio and online. CAPS Board and staff members are committed to encouraging and ensuring every one’s opinion can be expressed freely and openly to the public. We respect and thank those who have stood up for justice and knelt in solidarity during peaceful demonstrations. We stand and kneel together.

Congratulations 2020 Grads! Recently CAPS Media crews joined the celebration of 2020 high school graduates from Buena, El Camino, Foothill Technology, Pacific and Ventura high schools. The two-day extravaganza was held in front of City Hall where more than 1,000 grads, dressed in cap and gowns, walked up the steps to receive their diploma while family members cheered from the street below. The massive event was coordinated by Ventura Unified School District in collaboration with the City and Ventura City Police. CAPS crews were on-hand from sunup to sundown on Saturday and Sunday to document the parade of graduates. The nearly twenty hours of video will be archived by VUSD.

More congratulations are in order for the talented media students at ECTV – El Camino Television, who won two awards at the National Community Media Hometown Awards. The Creative Community 2.0 Series won for the Best of Entertainment & Arts Series and the ECTV episode featuring Ventura Deputy Mayor, Sofia Rubalcava won for the best show in the Community Events category. Kudos to the entire ECTV team as well as instructor and mentor, Phil Taggart

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis the CAPS Media crews have continuously provided extensive communication services to the City and County to help inform the public. CAPS produces updates by City officials and CAPS continues to direct the broadcast and streaming of City Council meetings and other committee meetings with remote participation by board members, committee members and city staff. CAPS Crews record the live County COVID-19 updates at the County government center and then edit/format the updates with titles and subtitles in Spanish. In addition, CAPS crews continue to produce numerous videos for Ventura County Fire, Public Health and other agencies

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis the CAPS Media Center continues to remain closed to Members and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org. for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM. Upcoming Orientation, Camera, Editing, Studio and Radio classes will be posted on the website.

City of Ventura eases restrictions at local parks and beaches

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the Ventura City Council unanimously voted to ease limited closure restrictions of Ventura’s beaches and parks. The City’s decision provides access to its parks, beaches, the Promenade, Pier, public restrooms, and select parking lots.

For the last several weeks Ventura’s parks and beaches have been open for active recreational use, such as walking, jogging, swimming, and surfing. Beginning on May 29, these areas will open for passive use, such as sitting and sunbathing as long as the public maintains a safe physical distance of six feet and avoids congregating in large groups outside of their immediate household. Group activities such as volleyball, football, soccer, and other contact sports are not allowed.

Bathrooms and parking lots will also gradually re-open at parks and beaches throughout the City, starting with the Harbor Boulevard parking structure at the Pier. Public bathrooms will be cleaned daily with high touch surfaces properly disinfected regularly.

“As we move forward on a path to reopening safely, the City Council approved easing restrictions for our parks and beaches based on public health guidance and in support of our partnering public agencies at the State and County of Ventura,” commented Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere. “Now, open space guidelines at all parks and beaches throughout the area will share a common education message and encourage the same guidelines to be followed.”

Sidewalks, walking paths, trails, and tracks within all public parks continue to remain open for active recreational use, including walking, hiking, jogging, running, or biking. Please follow public health guidance in the “Stay Well at Home” order, set by the Ventura County Health Officer.

Playgrounds, pools, courts, indoor facilities like museums and visitor centers, and sports and recreational fields will remain closed until further notice. If a park or beach becomes overcrowded or difficult for safe social distancing to be observed, the Ventura Police Department may order the area to be closed.

“The City wants to provide an opportunity for our residents to recreate responsibly this summer while supporting our local business community as they reopen throughout Ventura,” said City Manager Alex McIntyre. “The gradual reopening of city parks and beaches is another positive step forward as we work together to reopen gradually, cautiously, and successfully with community members, businesses, and government agencies.”

City signs will be posted to remind the public to continue to practice physical distance of six feet or more and abide by the County’s “Stay Well at Home” order to limit the risk of exposure to the virus.

For the latest updates on impacts to the City of Ventura, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/COVID19. For public health information and updates happening in Ventura County, visit www.VCEmergency.com.

Do not let life-threatening ailments go unchecked during the pandemic

by Kathleen A. Cameron, BSPharm, MPH

Hospitals across the country report that emergency department (ED) visits have declined significantly for illnesses not related to COVID-19. In particular, heart attacks and strokes appear to be going unchecked. Some hospitals also observe a decline in fall-related ED visits.

Doctors believe that people are so scared of contracting COVID-19 that they’re not seeking help for life-threatening ailments. Nationwide, nearly a third of adults say that they have delayed or avoided medical care because they are concerned about contracting COVID-19, according to a poll from the American College of Emergency Physicians. Nearly 75% of poll respondents also expressed concern about overstressing the health care system; more than half worried they won’t be able to see a doctor.

Strokes and heart attacks demand immediate attention

CardioSmart infographic outlining the symptoms of heart attacks and strokes

Use this helpful CardioSmart infographic to look for signs of stroke and heart attacks. Visit CardioSmart.org/Coronavirus to download

While stay-at-home guidance is a critical part of reducing the spread of COVID-19, if you are having symptoms of a stroke or heart attack or have experienced a fall and suffered a fracture, broken bone, or brain injury, it is important to seek medical care right away.

For strokes, in order for clot busters—medicines that break up clots and prevent long-term problems like paralysis—to work, or for surgeries to be successful, it’s crucial to get to the hospital within 3 hours after the first symptoms appear. Some patients are not eligible for treatments if they get to the hospital too late.

Heart attack victims also may suffer more if care is delayed. A report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at treatment of heart attack patients in March 2020, when COVID-19 cases were climbing, compared to the previous year and found a 38% reduction in patients being treated for a life-threatening event known as a STEMI—the blockage of one of the major arteries that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the heart, which results in a serious type of heart attack.

The bottom line

Our country is experiencing an unprecedented crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, but we cannot add to any suffering that might result from not seeking prompt care for many serious, but treatable, conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, and falls with injuries.

The bottom line is that hospitals have safety measures in place to protect us from infections and have allocated beds for patients with non-COVID illnesses. If you are experiencing symptoms of a stroke or heart attack or if you’d had a fall and suspect an injury, it’s important to get prompt treatment that may save your life or avoid long-term complications. The “Cardiosmart” campaign from the American College of Cardiology encourages those with symptoms to call 911 for urgent care and continue routine appointments through telemedicine.

Don’t delay care.

Car graduation guidance issued by Ventura County

The Public Health Department has issued guidance to Ventura County education leaders regarding high school graduation ceremonies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance, created in collaboration with the Ventura County Office of Education, was issued at the request of superintendents and other school leaders who are making extremely difficult decisions about graduation ceremonies, as the 2019-2020 school year comes to an end.

The Ventura County Public Health Department’s protocol for drive through car line ceremonies takes into consideration public health concerns, social distancing recommendations and the state restrictions on social gatherings. The protocol includes the best available guidance to make sure the Class of 2020 can celebrate safely.

“Our thoughts are with the high school seniors and families in our county and others who will be missing out on the traditional graduation and promotion ceremonies that signify an important rite of passage,” said Mike Powers, County Executive Officer. “Graduations will look different this year, but I know the future is very bright as these students move forward. Many of our local students have been instrumental in providing innovative personal protective equipment for medical providers when it has been needed most. As these students embark on their next chapter, we wish them the very best and appreciate the sacrifices they have had to make during this time. We hope this public health guidance will still allow for meaningful graduations to celebrate our local students.”

Gatherings remain prohibited by the state of California therefore traditional in-person graduations are not possible at this time. The protocol allows graduates to briefly exit their vehicles on a timed schedule to receive their diplomas. Diplomas may be distributed using a no-contact pick-up method, maintaining physical distancing of six feet or greater. The protocol allows school personnel to take photos of graduates outside of their vehicles. Family members will be permitted to take photos from inside their vehicles.

“With so many senior year traditions altered or canceled by the coronavirus crisis, we’re grateful that our graduates will have the opportunity to receive their diplomas in person with their families looking on,” said Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth.

Local school communities must assess their unique needs and capacities, and many variables will impact decisions around graduation celebrations. Many schools are hosting virtual events or postponing the ceremonies, but for those who are planning an in-person event, this guidance addresses important safeguards and considerations for a drive through graduation.

Decisions around whether to host graduation ceremonies will remain at the discretion of local school boards and superintendents and must be conducted in accordance with the Public Health Car Line Celebration Protocol. As we remain in a state of emergency, planners of important events are urged to consider the fact that regulations and recommendations are subject to change, due to the dynamic nature of this situation.

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