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The following statement can be attributed to Carla Hass, Communications Director for El Dorado County
“We are pleased to announce that El Dorado County is eligible to move from the Substantial/Red tier to the Moderate/Orange tier in the State’s COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy, meaning more indoor business operations can open with fewer modifications. The change becomes effective Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
“This relaxing of restrictions on our businesses and residents is a much-needed boost to those who have
struggled for more than a year, including those who own the impacted establishments, those who work there and customers alike.
“However, with several variant strains of the virus circulating throughout the country, neighboring counties
and two in El Dorado County, it remains important that our residents and visitors continue to wear masks and
remain physically distant as indicated by health officials even as we continue moving away from the height
of the pandemic.
“Governor Newsom also announced that on June 15th all industries across the state can return to normal operations, eliminating the Blueprint and tier system completely. This change will take place as long as there is enough vaccine supply and hospitalization rates remain low and stable. Common-sense health measures such as masking will remain across the state.
As we reach 20 million vaccines administered and COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations have stabilized, California is looking to move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy to fully reopening our economy. On June 15, all industries across the state can return to usual operations with common-sense risk reduction measures such as masking and vaccinations.
We will only progress to this stage if we continue to stay vigilant, keep wearing our masks and getting vaccinated. The state will monitor hospitalization rates, vaccine access, and vaccine efficacy against variants with the option to revisit the June 15 date if needed.
What triggers our move beyond the Blueprint?
On June 15, California will fully open its economy if two criteria are met:
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Equitable vaccine availability: If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years or older who wish to be inoculated. [i]
AND
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Consistently low burden of disease: Hospitalizations are stable and low, and specifically, hospitalizations among fully vaccinated individuals are low.
What happens beyond the Blueprint?
When California fully reopens the economy, the state will move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Common-sense health measures such as masking will remain across the state. Testing or vaccination verification requirements will remain in relevant settings. Additionally:
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All sectors listed in the current Blueprint Activities and Business Tiers Chart may return to usual operations in compliance with ETS/Cal OSHA and other statewide agency guidelines and standards with limited public health restrictions, such as masking, testing, and testing or vaccination verification requirements for large-scale higher-risk events. In addition, the following restrictions apply (via a narrow public health order):
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Unless testing or vaccination status is verified for all attendees, conventions will be capped at 5,000 persons until October 1.
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International convention attendees will only be allowed if fully vaccinated.
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Schools and institutions of higher education should conduct full-time, in person instruction, in compliance with Cal/OSHA emergency temporary standards and public health guidelines.
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Workplaces promote policies that reduce risk, including improved indoor ventilation, and mask wearing in indoor and other high-risk settings as well as remote work when possible without impacting business operations.
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Californians and travelers will be subject to any current CDPH and CDC travel restrictions.
California will also need to maintain the public health and medical infrastructure in these five priority areas:
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Continue to provide vaccinations and be prepared for the vaccination of Californians under 16 years old. It is critical that vaccines remain effective against circulating strains.
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Conduct equity-focused monitoring and surveillance by maintaining adequate testing capacity and strategies for the early detection of cases including variants via genomic sequencing.
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Contain disease spread through timely investigation of cases, contacts, and outbreaks.
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Maintain a statewide plan to scale up resources for isolation or quarantine.
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Monitor hospital admissions and maintain adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and healthcare surge capacity that can be easily mobilized.
The transition from Blueprint
Our strategy is to use various levers and incentives to increase protection of Californians and incentivize vaccination to move us towards community immunity. Since March we have adjusted the Blueprint to recognize the role of vaccines in reducing transmission. These strategies include:
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Reopening and expanding the capacity of outdoor sectors
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Adding the Vaccine Equity Benchmarks to adjust the case rate thresholds for Blueprint tiers
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Allowing increased capacity or numbers of persons allowed, including indoors, with proof of testing or vaccination
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Developing guidance or minimum standards to ensure equity, privacy, and ethical practices are integral in the deployment of vaccination and testing verification methods
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Focusing on equity allocations and implementation plans to improve vaccination coverage in our least advantaged and hardest-hit communities
The efforts Californians have taken to date have allowed us to fully reopen safely so we can move beyond the Blueprint.
Vaccine supply is sufficient for eligible individuals wanting a vaccine to obtain an appointment to receive the inoculation within 2 weeks.
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Fraud Alert: We have received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and we do not contact people prior to them registering for assistance. |
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
We are working with stakeholder groups to get their input on ways we can best provide this assistance, and to enlist their help with outreach to families and communities. FEMA will begin to implement COVID-19 funeral assistance in April.
Additional guidance is being finalized and will be released to potential applicants and community partners as soon as possible. In the meantime, people who have COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep and gather documentation.
FEMA will begin accepting applications for Funeral Assistance on Monday, April 12, 2021 through our dedicated call center.
For more details and FAQs click HERE.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:
- The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
- The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
- There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
How to Apply
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number
Applications begin on April 12, 2021
844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time
If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:
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An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
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Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
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Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.
How Funds are Received
If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose when you apply for assistance.
Additional Resources
 Update on COVID-19 in El Dorado County for Friday, April 9, 2021.
- 18 cases (9,580)
0 in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz;
7 in EDH;
0 Diamond Springs/El Dorado;
0 in North County;
3 in Greater Placerville;
4 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue;
1 South County;
3 in Lake Tahoe region;
(0) awaiting address confirmation (total awaiting address confirmation is 94)
- 5 aged 0-17,
8 aged 18-49,
3 aged 50-64,
2 aged 65+;
(0) date of birth unknown (total date of birth unknown is 11)
- 506 additional negative test results
- 12 assumed recoveries (9,094)
- 3 hospitalizations/3 ICU
- no additional deaths (108)
With respect to the tier assignment measures:
- Adjusted case rate: 5.0
- Positivity rate: 3.0%
- Health equity quartile positivity rate: 3.4%
Boating season is on the way. You can now book a watercraft inspection appointment online for a convenience fee of $15. All inspection stations will also take drop-ins. Inspections are available May 1 – September 30. Reserve your inspection appointment today at www.tahoeboatinspections.com.
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