Newsom hasn’t punished counties over COVID rules

Gov. Gavin Newsom this summer warned local officials they could lose out on $2.5 billion worth of state assistance if they didn’t enforce the state’s coronavirus orders.

“We have made contingent $2.5 billion of resources .... to counties that are unwilling to enforce their local health officers’ mandates,” he said at a July 2 news conference. “If we don’t see the level of enforcement ..... that’s precisely why we put up two and a half billion dollars of contingent money.”

The threat was supposed to be part of the state’s effort to fight the virus, which at that time had killed more than 6,200 Californians.

Nearly six months later, almost every Californian is under a stay-at-home order. Coronavirus

patients suffer in hospital gift shops. Healthcare workers in Los Angeles ration oxygen. An additional 23,000 Californians have lost their lives.

Yet the state has yet to withhold any county money. Two cities saw money redirected to support COVID-19 testing in their communities.

“Unless there’s clear consequences for our health orders, people will continue to ignore them,” said state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda. “Both businesses and individuals.”

Glazer for months has been calling on the state to focus on controlling the virus in order to restart the economy safely. While the majority of Californians are trying to do the right thing, he says, those who are not pay no price.

“I think the goal of the state should be COVID zero, and public health needs to be the driver behind all the decisions and restrictions that are made,” he said. “The administration has tried to balance the economy and health, and it is not working, and the numbers prove it.”

Newsom has used strong words when talking about his expectations for county compliance.

“The bottom line is, the rules are self-evident, if you refuse to comply, if you thumb your nose at the health of your constituency, the health of your community... you’re sending two messages,” he said late last month. “One, you don’t care about the health of your community in that respect... and you obviously don’t care to get the support of the state in regards to those dollars.”

The Democratic governor also says most counties have done a good job, however. Most of the $2.5 billion has already been distributed, according to the Department of Finance, although the state still has another $750 million it can redirect in the event the state finds that a county is not adhering to the public health rules.

Each month, counties must certify that they are in compliance with state health orders, and the state says compliance requirements will continue through June.

According to the state budget, compliance means adhering to federal guidance and the state’s stay-at-home requirements and any other health requirements as directed in state orders.

The county must have at least 15 staff per 100,000 people who can contact trace and provide other community support in the event of an outbreak. They must actively participate in the state’s reopening guidelines and support the use of such interventions as mask-wearing and social distancing.

Counties must also certify that they have not adopted an ordinance or resolution inconsistent with the public health orders, guidance, or other directives.

While no counties have been penalized, two cities have lost state funds for not adhering to the rules.

In July, the state sent letters to two cities, Coalinga and Atwater, saying they would lose out on a combined amount of about $600,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funds if they didn’t rescind recently-passed resolutions.

Coalinga had passed a resolution declaring local businesses to be essential businesses. The City of Atwater got a similar warning about a resolution declaring Atwater “a sanctuary city for all businesses.”

The cities never rescinded their resolutions, and financial officials said the money was redirected to use for testing in those communities.

Counties resist enforcement, with little consequence

In September, the Placer County Board of Supervisors issued a resolution ending an earlier COVID19 emergency declaration. Residents were expected to follow state guidelines, but the county said it wouldn’t enforce them.

The resolution prompted the county public health officer, Dr. Aimee Sisson, to resign. At that point, Placer County’s two-week positivity rate hovered around 4%. The rate was about 13% on Thursday.