The newsletter is a weekly summary. This week's issue includes:
- Anaheim and OC case update
- Anaheim, OC enter red Tier 2
- Pandemic marks one year
- Vaccine update
- Anaheim to receive federal assistance
- Fight COVID: during reopening
We thank everyone in Anaheim for doing your part to stem the spread of coronavirus in our community, and we want you to know that as your city, we're here for you.
Actualización en español aquí.
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With cases going down and vaccinations going up, we're continuing to see a downward trend in community spread following the winter surge in cases.
Especially with additional reopening measures, it's important we continue to fight COVID in all we do so we can finally get past this pandemic together.
Anaheim saw an increase of 136 cases in the seven days from March 6-12, while Orange County saw 1,017 new cases in that time.
Anaheim is at a cumulative 41,146 cases, with 5,261 among children.
Orange County is at a cumulative 248,389 cases, with 25,781 among children.
Sadly, Anaheim has seen 778 people pass from complications of COVID-19, the condition caused by coronavirus. The county has seen a total of 4,408 deaths.
Our hearts go out to the families who have lost someone dear to them.
The county has processed a total of 3,161,601 polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests, the standard for diagnosing COVID-19 cases.
Anaheim and Orange County will transition to red Tier 2 on Sunday, March 14, marking an end to 17 consecutive weeks in the most restrictive purple Tier 1.
The state's tiers are primarily based on two measurements, each determined by calculating the seven-day average with a seven-day lag:
- Average positivity rate of testing
- Average new daily cases per 100,000 residents
The county's current case rate is 6 per 100,000 residents.
The county's current positivity rate is 3.2 percent.
The county's current positivity rate among our harder-hit, low-income communities is 4.1 percent.
We continue to dispense vaccines in our city and county at Anaheim's large POD sites and mobile clinics in harder-hit areas.
In our data below we now include the percent of eligible residents who have been vaccinated based on county data. Note that this data is incomplete, as it does not include those vaccinated outside the county system.
See more on vaccines below.
Here's a look at the latest data by ZIP codes in our city.
92804: southwest Anaheim
Knott Avenue to the west to Euclid Street to the east, and from Lincoln Avenue to the north to Ball Road to the south. The ZIP code is the most populous in Anaheim. It is also home to the most skilled nursing facilities along and near Beach Boulevard.
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Population: 92,854
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Total Cases: 10,078
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Nursing facility cases: 665
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Deaths: 275 with 130 from nursing facilities
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Seven-day positivity rate: 4.6 percent, down from 4.9 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 6, down from 8.3 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 21.7 percent, up from 20.3 percent the week prior
92805: central Anaheim
Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway to the west to State College Boulevard, and from the Riverside (91) Freeway to the north to Orangewood Avenue to the south. The ZIP code has the second highest population.
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Population: 75,069
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Total Cases: 9,715
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Nursing facility cases: 104
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Deaths: 142 with 20 from nursing facilities
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Seven-day positivity rate: 3.6 percent, down from 5 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 7, down from 9.5 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 27.4 percent, up from 25.6 percent the week prior
92801: northwest Anaheim
Western Avenue to the west to East Street to the east, Lincoln Avenue to the south to the Riverside (91) Freeway to the north. The ZIP code is home to third highest population.
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Population: 63,483
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Total cases: 7,586
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Nursing facility cases: 146
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Deaths: 138 with 33 from nursing facilities
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Seven-day positivity rate: 3.9 percent, down from 6.4 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 7.2, down from 11.9 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 22.3 percent, up from 20.7 percent the week prior
92802: central-south Anaheim
Euclid Street to the west to the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway to the west, and from Lincoln Avenue to the north to Orangewood Avenue to the south. The ZIP code has the fourth largest number of people.
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Population: 44,456
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Total cases: 5,267
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Nursing facility cases: 183
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Deaths: 109 with 45 from nursing facilities
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Seven-day positivity rate: 4.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 6.4, down from 11.2 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 26.4 percent, up from 24.5 percent the week prior
92806: central-east Anaheim
State College Boulevard to the west to Tustin Avenue to the east, and from Orangethorpe Avenue to the north to the Santa Ana River to the south. The ZIP code has the fifth largest number of people.
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Population: 41,980
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Total cases: 4,496
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Nursing facility cases: none
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Deaths: 52
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Seven-day positivity rate: 2.4 percent, down from 2.9 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 9.5, up from 8.8 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 25.8 percent, up from 23.9 percent the week prior
92807: Anaheim Canyon, part of east Anaheim
Tustin Avenue to the west to Fairmont Boulevard to the east, Orangethorpe Avenue to the north to Serrano Avenue to the south. The area has the sixth most people.
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Population: 37,119
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Total cases: 2,569
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Nursing facility cases: none
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Deaths: 43
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Seven-day positivity rate: 3.6 percent, down from 4.6 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 6.5, down from 8.4 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 31.9 percent, up from 30.2 percent the week prior
92808: east Anaheim
Fairmont Boulevard to the west into the eastern open space, from Riverside (91) Freeway to the north to southern city boundary. The ZIP code includes part of Anaheim's eastern open space with no homes and has the fewest people.
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Population: 21,603
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Total cases: 1,200
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Nursing facility cases: none
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Deaths: 14
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Seven-day positivity rate: 2.9 percent, down from 5.3 percent the week prior
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Seven-day case rate: 4.6, down from 7.9 the week prior
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Seniors (65+) vaccinated: 33.4 percent, up from 32.7 percent the week prior
Among cities, Santa Ana has the most cumulative cases at 44,276, followed by Anaheim at 41,146, Garden Grove at 16,281, Orange at 11,629 and Fullerton at 11,122.
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Orange County to enter red Tier 2 Sunday |
Today the state announced that Anaheim and Orange County will advance to red Tier 2 of the coronavirus reopening framework effective Sunday, March 14.
While we were originally expecting to move to the less restrictive red tier next week, we are now able to move a couple days early because of a change in the way the state reopening system works, just announced today.
This means that due to increasing vaccination rates, coupled with declining case rates and positivity rates across the county, we'll be able to see more businesses reopen.
The state adjusted the reopening framework so that counties can meet less stringent metrics requirements for case rate and positivity rate for the purple and red tiers.
The threshold to launch this new framework was the state reaching 2 million vaccines given in the ZIP codes hardest hit by the pandemic statewide.
What can now be open?
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Indoor dining: open at 25 percent capacity
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Movie theaters: open at 25 percent capacity
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Museums: open indoors at 25 percent capacity
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Gyms, yoga studios: open indoors at 10 percent capacity
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Stores: indoor capacity increases to 50 percent
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Malls: indoor capacity increases to 50 percent
This is a big milestone for small businesses and working families in Anaheim and Orange County, especially as we recognize the one year mark of the pandemic this week.
We encourage you to take this opportunity to support local businesses that have been suffering amid coronavirus closures. But please continue to keep COVID safety in mind.
While this is a big step forward for our community, we can't forget what got us here: following health and safety guidelines and opting to get vaccinated when it's your turn.
We must continue to fight COVID in all we do in order to keep cases down, prevent deaths and advance to further reopening.
We're so close to getting back to normal, we don't want to throw it all away now!
Keep up the great work, Anaheim!
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Coronavirus pandemic marks one year |
One year ago, the pandemic became all too real.
Cases were beginning to rise and we were learning more about the virus, though we didn’t yet know how bad it would ultimately get.
Anaheim and many of its major businesses had to make major decisions to protect public safety.
On March 14, 2020, Disneyland closed its gates for only the third time in history. The other two times the park closed were on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and on Sept. 11, 2001.
The closure of Anaheim’s theme parks followed the cancellation of Natural Products Expo West, WonderCon and future events at Anaheim Convention Center, Big West Tournament at Honda Center, and a pause on Angels Baseball spring training and Ducks Hockey at Honda Center.
Our libraries, community centers and recreation programs also shut down that week due to coronavirus concerns.
The following week, California announced its first Stay Home Order.
It’s hard to believe we’re still dealing with this a year later. We’ve been through more than we ever imagined since then.
But right now is the brightest moment yet in this pandemic.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel, with COVID-19 cases going down and vaccinations going up. Some life has been breathed back into our major destinations, with vaccines being given at the convention center and Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland is set to reopen next month, and we’ll see fans in a limited capacity at Opening Day at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
We are hopeful. Anaheim is coming back!
Thank you all for continuing to do your part to keep Anaheim safe and fight COVID. We’re not completely out of the woods yet, but we’re looking ahead to better days.
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Vaccines: 250,000 and counting in Anaheim |
Anaheim has delivered more than 250,000 vaccines since December, helping to save lives, stop the spread of COVID-19 and put our city on a path back to normal.
We continue to provide vaccines seven days a week at the Super POD at Anaheim Convention Center and the Anaheim POD at Disneyland.
Starting this week, we began giving Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine at the convention center site.
The vaccine, the third authorized by the Food Drug and Administration, expands our supply.
For many, Johnson & Johnson is preferred for the single shot and a high level of immunity in a couple weeks.
After a robust week of administering Johnson & Johnson, we will see a pause next week as the manufacturer ramps up production. We expect to see J&J back soon.
Our second site, the Anaheim POD at Disneyland, converted to drive-thru this week.
That makes it easier for seniors, the disabled and those with special needs to get vaccinated.
The Disneyland site also serves everyone with an appointment, including those who don’t need special assistance. So if you have an appointment there, come on down as scheduled.
Right now, we continue to vaccinate those 65 and older as well as educators and food service workers.
As with all who are eligible, you must have an appointment to be vaccinated. You'll likely get an email to make an appointment about two to four weeks after you register. You cannot just show up at a vaccine site.
While we are doing thousands of vaccines each day, there still isn’t enough supply to vaccinate everyone at once.
For those ages to 16 and 17 with preexisting conditions, you will only be able to be vaccinated with Pfizer, as that vaccine was tested on those as young as 16.
For Moderna and J&J, you must be 18 and older to receive those shots. Sorry, there are no exceptions.
For those 16 and 17 with preexisting conditions, you’ll want to make sure you go to a site that offers Pfizer. Anaheim’s sites on occasion do, but you’re more likely to find Pfizer at other county sites as well as pharmacies and healthcare providers.
When you get an appointment at Anaheim’s sites, you’ll either be given a choice of Moderna or J&J, or assigned one of those two shots. It all depends on availability and which vaccines come in the county's shipment each week.
We encourage everyone to get vaccinated with whatever vaccine is available to you. All three are great medicines that are helping us to bring an end to coronavirus in Anaheim.
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Anaheim set to receive $100 million in federal assistance |
Anaheim is set to receive more than $100 million in direct federal aid to help offset lost revenue due to COVID-19 and continue serving residents, businesses and visitors.
The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, signed by President Joe Biden on March 11 and that provides $130 billion to city and county governments as well as $1,400 directly to many residents.
Funding for Anaheim, estimated to come in at about $107 million, will be provided to the city in two payments, the first in 60 days and the second in a year from now.
Anaheim can use the funds to offset revenue loss due to the pandemic, which will help fill part of a budget deficit and allow the city to provide essential services to the community.
The prolonged and ongoing coronavirus economic downturn has created a $114 million city budget deficit.
Anaheim’s theme parks, convention center and sports and entertainment venues have been closed for a year, drastically impacting city revenue from hotel stays and visitor spending, Anaheim’s largest source of funding for public safety and community services.
In addition to federal aid, Anaheim is evaluating borrowing as well as more cost cutting to close the budget gap. Any potential borrowing could address the city’s current budget deficit through June and a $71.5 million shortfall projected for the following fiscal year as well.
The City Council will hear a budget update and provide direction on potential borrowing in coming weeks.
Find more on the city’s budget discussions here.
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Fight COVID: during reopening |
With Orange County moving into the state's red Tier 2 on Sunday, that means more businesses and activities in Anaheim and Orange County will be open.
We're all excited to get back out there, enjoy dinner at our favorite restaurant, go to the movies or hit up the gym. But with reopening comes greater responsibility to keep our guard up and follow public health best practices.
So how do you fight COVID amid more reopening?
Wear your mask, wash your hands and clean surfaces such as your phone or car steering wheel after you go out somewhere.
Limit outings with other households, and if you do gather with others be sure to keep your distance and wear your mask. If everyone has been vaccinated, you can go to dinner with others without a mask, but limit those groups to three households.
If you haven't been vaccinated yet, be sure to get your shot as soon as you are eligible and given the opportunity to make an appointment. Getting everyone vaccinated, and ultimately reaching herd immunity, is the best way for us to stop the spread and save lives.
We're almost there! We must keep our guard up to beat this virus.
Thanks for keeping Anaheim safe and fighting COVID in all you do!
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More at Anaheim.net/coronavirus |
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