📋
Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Monterey County Grand Jury
• 2021-2022
Monterey County’s Initial Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
Page 99
Monterey County does not have a Pandemic Response Plan that focuses on processes and procedures for addressing the public health needs of the public during a pandemic.
F2
Page 99
The Monterey County Health Department’s “Pandemic Influenza Plan” (last updated June 11, 2013) does not address how the Health Department would continue to provide essential county services to Monterey County during a pandemic crisis.
F3
Page 99
Monterey County did not use the existing AMC system to communicate public health information to the Monterey County residents and businesses subscribing to the service.
F4
Page 99
Monterey County’s EOC did not have sufficient certified speakers or translators to provide accurate and timely communication or messaging to the non-English speaking population in the County.
F5
Page 99
The County Health Department did not acknowledge its lead role and responsibilities as Incident Commander in the County EOC during a public health emergency.
F6
Page 99
The County Health Officer did not appear to use the full authority of his office to command and direct the County response to COVID-19 in Monterey County.
F7
Page 99
Monterey County did not follow the unified chain of command protocols of SEMS and ICS to communicate pandemic information to the public.
F8
Page 99
The County’s communications to the public did not address the needs of the hearing-impaired residents in Monterey County.
Recommendations 9
-
R1Page 99The County use the AMC system to communicate public health emergency information to County residents by Dec. 31, 2022. 83
-
R2Page 100The County implement a public service campaign to significantly increase the number of County residents signed up for the AMC system by Dec. 31, 2022.
-
R3Page 100The County Health Officer and Health Department management staff receive SEMS and ICS training to provide the requisite education on the roles and responsibilities of the Health Department during medical disaster or pandemic incidents by Dec. 31, 2022.
-
R4Page 100All County personnel that are assigned to fulfill duties in the EOC must be trained in SEMS and ICS by Dec. 31, 2022.
-
R5Page 100Monterey County develop an Infectious Disease Response Plan that addresses the health and safety requirements of county residents during infectious disease outbreaks
-
R6Page 100The County adopt the SEMS and ICS protocols for communicating public health emergency information to the public during an ongoing incident by Dec. 31, 2022.
-
R7Page 100Public communications during an emergency incident address effective communication with the hearing impaired and non-English speaking County residents by Sept. 1, 2022.
-
R8Page 100The CAO clarify the authority and responsibilities of the Health Department and Health Officer under State Law in responding to medical disaster or infectious disease outbreaks and memorialize them in emergency response plans by Dec. 31, 2022.
-
R9Page 100The County enter Memorandums of Understanding with all hospital systems in Monterey County to establish the terms and conditions for cooperation and resource allocation during a designated countywide medical disaster or infectious disease outbreak by Jun. 30, 2023.