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From YouTube: Governor Newsom's COVID-19 Update - April 3, 2020

Description

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has become the first state in the nation to secure FEMA approval to provide safe isolation capacity for tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness in California in order to protect them and the state from COVID-19.

The state's effort, Project Roomkey, has set an initial of securing up to 15,000 rooms for this purpose and county partners have moved 869 homeless individuals most vulnerable to COVID-19 off the street, out of shelters, and into isolation.

The announcement means state and local governments will receive up to 75 percent cost-share reimbursement from FEMA for hotel, and motel rooms, including wraparound supports such as meals, security, and custodial services. Essential behavioral health and health care services will also be provided by the local governments and community partners, as needed.

Project Roomkey will target hotels in counties with significant homeless populations that are also experiencing high concentrations of COVID-19 transmission. Local governments to date have secured 6,867 hotel and motel for this purpose.

To provide safer options during the COVID-19 pandemic, Project Roomkey isolation units serve three critical public health purposes:

- Prioritize individuals experiencing homelessness who are asymptomatic, but are at high risk, such as people over 65 or who have certain underlying health conditions, and move them into motel or hotel units where they can more safely self-isolate.

- Provide isolation capacity for individuals experiencing homelessness who have been exposed to COVID-19 that do not require hospitalization but need isolation or quarantine; and

- Provide isolation capacity for individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive, but who don't need hospitalization. Without these isolation units, their only choice is to return to a congregate shelter setting or back to an encampment -- both of which would lead to further spread of COVID-19.

Recorded April 3, 2020 in Sacramento

For more information regarding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Cupertino, please visit https://www.cupertino.org/coronavirus