Monterey County Grand Jury • 2021-2022 • Agency Response
Response to: (Spanish) - Respuesta Inicial Del Condado De Monterey a La Pandemia De COVID-19/Monterey County's Initial Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Monterey County’s Initial Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Published: May 11, 2020 17 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The County use the AMC system to communicate public health emergency information to County residents by Dec. 31, 2022. 9
F2
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The County implement a public service campaign to significantly increase the number of County residents signed up for the AMC system by Dec. 31, 2022.
F3
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The 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.
F4
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
All County personnel that are assigned to fulfill duties in the EOC must be trained in SEMS and ICS by Dec. 31, 2022.
F5
The County Health Department did not acknowledge its lead role and responsibilities as Incident Commander in the County EOC during a public health emergency.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Monterey County develop an Infectious Disease Response Plan that addresses the health and safety requirements of county residents during infectious disease outbreaks
F6
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The County adopt the SEMS and ICS protocols for communicating public health emergency information to the public during an ongoing incident by Dec. 31, 2022.
F7
Monterey County did not follow the unified chain of command protocols of SEMS and ICS to communicate pandemic information to the public.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Public communications during an emergency incident address effective communication with the hearing impaired and non-English speaking County residents by Sept. 1, 2022.
F8
The County’s communications to the public did not address the needs of the hearing-impaired residents in Monterey County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The 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.